Editing Junkers Ju 87 (section)

==Operational history==

===Spanish Civil War===
[[File:Junkers Ju 87A with Spanish rebel markings.jpg|thumb|Condor Legion's Junkers Ju 87A with [[Aviación Nacional|Spanish Nationalist]] markings]]

Among the many German aircraft designs that participated in the [[Condor Legion]], and as part of other [[German involvement in the Spanish Civil War]], a single Ju 87 A-0 (the V4 prototype) was allocated serial number 29-1 and was assigned to the VJ/88, the experimental ''Staffel'' of the Legion's [[Wing (military aviation unit)|fighter wing]]. The aircraft was secretly loaded onto the ship ''[[Usaramo]]'' and departed [[Hamburg]] harbour on the night of 1 August 1936, arriving in Cádiz five days later. The only known information pertaining to its combat career in Spain is that it was piloted by ''Unteroffizier'' Herman Beuer, and took part in the [[Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War)|Nationalist]] [[Battle of Bilbao|offensive against Bilbao]] in 1937. Presumably the aircraft was then secretly returned to Germany.<ref name="Weal 1997, p. 15">{{harvnb|Weal|1997|p=15}}</ref>

In January 1938, three Ju 87 As from the Legion Condor arrived. Several problems became evident—the spatted undercarriage sank into muddy airfield surfaces, and the spats were temporarily removed. The maximum {{convert|500|kg|lb|abbr=on}} bomb load could only be carried if the gunner vacated his seat, therefore the bomb load was restricted to {{convert|250|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. These aircraft supported the Nationalist forces and carried out anti-shipping missions until they returned to [[Nazi Germany|Germany]] in October 1938.<ref name="Weal 1997, p. 15"/> During the [[Catalonia Offensive]] in January 1939, the Junkers Ju 87 returned to Spain. On the morning of 21 January 1939, 34 [[Heinkel He 111]], along with some escorts and three Ju 87B, attacked the [[Port of Barcelona]], five days before the city was captured by the Nationalists.<ref>{{harvnb|Gesalí|Íñiguez|2012|pp=470–472}}</ref> 29 Republican fighters were defending the city. There were more than 100 aircraft operating over the city and, while a Ju 87 was dive-bombing a ship, a Republican [[Polikarpov I-15]] pilot, Francisco Alférez Jiménez, claimed it destroyed near [[El Vendrell]], in [[Comarruga]], but the Stuka was capable of landing on the beach without crashing. That was the only time a Stuka attacked the capital of [[Catalonia]].<ref>{{harvnb|Gesalí|Íñiguez|2012|pp=478–480}}</ref> On 24 January 1939, a group of Stukas prevented the destruction of a bridge near Barcelona by strafing the demolition engineers on [[Molins de Rei]]. During the attack the Republican ground defenders, equipped with a quadruple [[PM M1910]] mounting, hit one pilot (Heinz Bohne) in both legs and the Stuka crashed, seriously injuring Bohne, and his machine gunner, Albert Conrad. Those two were the only Stuka casualties of the war.<ref>{{harvnb|Gesalí|Íñiguez|2012|pp=482–484}}</ref>

As with the Ju 87 A-0, the B-1s were returned discreetly to the Reich.<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1997|pp=15–16}}</ref> The experience of the Spanish Civil War proved invaluable—air and ground crews perfected their skills, and equipment was evaluated under combat conditions. The Ju 87 had however not been tested against numerous and well-coordinated fighter opposition; this lesson was learned later at great cost to the Stuka crews.<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1997|p=17}}</ref>

===Second World War===
All Stuka units were moved to Germany's eastern border in preparation for the invasion of Poland. On the morning of 15 August 1939, during a mass-formation dive-bombing demonstration for high-ranking commanders of the Luftwaffe at [[Świętoszów|Neuhammer]] training grounds near [[Żagań|Sagan]], 13 Ju 87s and 26 crew members were lost when they crashed into the ground almost simultaneously. The planes dived through clouds, expecting to release their practice bombs and pull out of the dive once below the cloud ceiling. They were unaware that the ceiling was too low and unexpected ground mist formed, leaving them no time to pull out of the dive.<ref name="Weal 1997, pp. 18–19">{{harvnb|Weal|1997|pp=18–19}}</ref>

====Poland====
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-1210-502, Polen, Stukas.jpg|thumb|Ju 87 Bs over Poland, September/October 1939]]

On 1 September 1939, the Wehrmacht invaded Poland, beginning [[World War II]]. ''Generalquartiermeister der Luftwaffe'' records indicate a total force of 366 Ju 87 A and Bs were available for operations on 31 August 1939.<ref name="Griehl 2001, p. 61"/> The first Ju 87 operation was to destroy Polish demolition charges fixed to the rail bridges over the [[Vistula]], that linked Eastern Germany to the [[Polish Corridor|Danzig corridor]] and [[East Prussia]] as well as Polish [[Pomerania]]. To do this, Ju 87s were ordered to perform a low-level attack on the [[Polish Army]] Garrison headquarters. II. and III./[[StG 1]] targeted the cables along the embankment, the electricity plant and signal boxes at [[Dirschau]] (now [[Tczew]], Poland. At exactly 04:26 [[Central European Time|CET]], a ''Kette'' ("chain" or flight of three) of Ju 87s of 3./StG 1 led by ''[[Staffelkapitän]]'' ''[[Oberleutnant]]'' Bruno Dilly carried out the first bombing attack of the war. The Stukas attacked 11 minutes before the official German declaration of hostilities and hit the targets. The Ju 87s achieved complete success. The mission failed as the [[German Army (Wehrmacht)|German Army]] delayed their advance allowing the Poles to carry out repairs and destroy all but one of the bridges before the Germans could reach them.<ref name="Boyne 1994, p. 30"/><ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1997|pp=21–22}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Smith|2011|pp=87–88}}</ref>

A Ju 87 achieved the first air victory during World War II on the morning of 1 September 1939, when ''[[:de:Rotte (Luftfahrt)|Rottenführer]]'' ''[[Leutnant]]'' [[Frank Neubert]] of I./[[StG 2]] "Immelmann" shot down a Polish [[PZL P.11]]c [[fighter aircraft|fighter]] while it was taking off from [[Balice, Lesser Poland Voivodeship|Balice]] airfield; its pilot, Captain Mieczysław Medwecki, was killed. In air-to-air combat, Ju 87 formations were well protected by German fighter aircraft and losses were light against the tenacious, but short lived opposition.<ref name="Weal 1997, p. 22.">{{harvnb|Weal|1997|p=22}}</ref>

The Ju 87s reverted to ground attack missions for the campaign after the opening air attacks. Ju 87s were involved in the controversial but effective attacks [[Bombing of Wieluń|at Wieluń]]. The lack of [[anti-aircraft artillery]] in the Polish Army magnified the impact of the Ju 87. At [[Piotrków Trybunalski]] I./StG 76 and I./StG 2 destroyed a Polish infantry division de-training there. Troop trains were also easy targets. StG 77 destroyed one such target at [[Radomsko]].<ref>{{harvnb|Smith|2011|p=98}}</ref> During the [[Battle of Radom]] six Polish divisions trapped by encircling German forces were forced to surrender after a relentless four-day bombardment by StG 51, 76 and 77. Employed in this assault were {{convert|50|kg|lb|abbr=on}} fragmentation bombs, which caused appalling casualties to the Polish ground troops. Demoralised, the Poles surrendered. The Stukas also participated in the [[Battle of Bzura]] which resulted in the breaking of Polish resistance. The dive bomber wings (''[[Organization of the Luftwaffe (1933–1945)#Geschwader|Sturzkampfgeschwader]]'') alone dropped 388&nbsp;tonnes (428&nbsp;tons) of bombs during this battle.<ref>{{harvnb|Hooton|2007|p=91}}</ref> During the [[Siege of Warsaw (1939)|Siege of Warsaw]] and the [[Battle of Modlin]], the Ju 87 wings contributed to the defeat of well-entrenched and resolute Polish forces. IV(Stuka)./[[LG 1]] was particularly effective in destroying the fortified [[Modlin Fortress|Modlin]].<ref>{{harvnb|Smith|2011|p=101}}</ref>

The ''Luftwaffe'' had a few anti-shipping naval units such as 4.(St)/TrGr 186 to deal with Polish naval forces. This unit performed effectively, sinking the 1540-ton destroyer [[ORP Wicher (1928)|''Wicher'']] and the minelayer [[ORP Gryf (1936)|''Gryf'']] of the [[Polish Navy]] (both moored in a harbour).<ref name="Weal 1997, p. 22."/> The torpedo boat ''Mazur'' (412 tons) was sunk at [[Oksywie]]; the gunboat ''General Haller'' (441 tons) was sunk in [[Hel, Poland|Hel Harbour]] on 6 September—during the [[Battle of Hel]]—along with the minesweeper ''Mewa'' (183 tons) and its sister ships ''Czapla'' and ''Jaskolka'' with several auxiliaries. The Polish naval units trapped in the Baltic were destroyed by Ju 87 operations.<ref>{{harvnb|Smith|2011|pp=96–97}}</ref> Once again, enemy air opposition was light, and the ''Stukawaffe'' (Stuka force) lost 31 aircraft during the campaign.<ref name="Weal p. 34">{{harvnb|Weal|1997|p=34}}</ref>

====Norway====
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-760-0165N-26, Norwegen, Erhard Milch bei Stuka-Staffel.jpg|thumb|[[Erhard Milch]] addressing a Ju 87 ''staffel'' on a Norwegian airfield]]
{{See also|Norwegian campaign}}
[[Operation Weserübung]] began on 9 April 1940 with the invasions of Norway and Denmark. Denmark capitulated within the day; Norway continued to resist with British and French help. The campaign was not a ''[[Blitzkrieg]]'' of fast-moving armoured divisions supported by air power as the mountainous terrain ruled out close Panzer/Stuka cooperation. Instead, the Germans relied on [[Fallschirmjäger (Nazi Germany)|paratroops]] transported by [[Junkers Ju 52]]s and specialised [[Ski warfare|ski troops]]. The Ju 87s were given the role of ground attack and anti-shipping missions; they proved to be the most effective weapon in the Luftwaffe's armoury carrying out the latter task.<ref name="Weal p. 34"/>

On 9 April, the first Stukas took off at 10:59 from occupied airfields to destroy [[Oscarsborg Fortress]], after the loss of the German cruiser [[German cruiser Blücher|''Blücher'']], which disrupted the amphibious landings in [[Oslo]] through [[Oslofjord]]. The 22 Ju 87s had helped suppress the Norwegian defenders during the ensuing [[Battle of Drøbak Sound]], but the defenders did not surrender until after Oslo had been captured. As a result, the German naval operation failed.{{sfn|Weal|1997|pp=34–35}} StG 1 caught the 735&nbsp;ton Norwegian destroyer [[HNoMS Æger (1936)|''Æger'']] off [[Stavanger]] and hit her in the engine room. ''Æger'' was run aground and scuttled.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{harvnb|Weal|1997|p=35}}</ref> The Stuka wings were now equipped with the new Ju 87 R, which differed from the Ju 87 B by having increased internal fuel capacity and two 300l underwing drop tanks for more range.<ref name="Weal p. 34"/>

The Stukas had numerous successes against Allied naval vessels and in particular the Royal Navy which posed a formidable threat to German naval and coastal operations. The British heavy cruiser [[HMS Suffolk (55)|HMS ''Suffolk'']] was attacked on 17 April. Her stern was virtually destroyed but she limped back to [[Scapa Flow]] with 33 dead and 38 wounded crewmen. The [[light cruiser]] squadron consisting of the sister ships [[HMS Curacoa (D41)|''Curacoa'']] and [[HMS Curlew (D42)|''Curlew'']] were subjected to lengthy attacks which badly damaged the former for one Ju 87 lost. A witness later said, "they threatened to take our masthead with them in every screaming nerve-racking dive".<ref>{{harvnb|Smith|2011|p=114}}</ref> The same fate nearly befell the [[sloop-of-war|sloop]] [[HMS Black Swan (L57)|''Black Swan'']]. On 27 April, a bomb passed through the quarterdeck, a wardroom, a water tank and 4-inch (10.2&nbsp;cm) ammunition magazine and out through the hull to explode in the fjord. The muffled explosion limited the damage to her hull. ''Black Swan'' fired 1,000 rounds, but failed to shoot down any of her attackers. The sloop {{HMS|Bittern|L07|6}} was sunk on 30 April. The [[Guépard class destroyer|French large destroyer ''Bison'']] was sunk along with {{HMS|Afridi|F07|6}} by ''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 1 on 3 May 1940 during the evacuation from Namsos. ''Bison''{{'}}s forward magazine was hit, killing 108 of the crew. ''Afridi'', which had taken off some of ''Bison''{{'}}s survivors, was sunk in a later attack with the loss of 63 sailors.<ref name="autogenerated2" /> 49 officers and men, 13 soldiers and 33 survivors from ''Bison'' were lost aboard ''Afridi''.<ref name="Smith 2011, p. 118">{{harvnb|Smith|2011|p=118}}</ref> All ships were targeted. Armed trawlers were used under the German air umbrella in an attempt to make smaller targets. Such craft were not armoured or armed.{{clarify|reason=How is an "armed trawler" not armed?|date=August 2021}} The Ju 87s demonstrated this on 30 April when they sank the ''Jardine'' (452 tons) and ''Warwickshire'' (466 tons). On 15 May, the Polish troopship ''Chrobry'' (11,442 tons) was sunk.<ref>{{harvnb|Smith|2011|pp=113–115}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1997|p=37}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Ward|2004|pp=68–69}}</ref>

The ''Stukas'' also had an operational effect, even when little damage was done. On 1 May 1940, [[Vice Admiral]] [[Lionel Wells]] commanded a [[Home Fleet]] expedition of seven destroyers, the heavy cruiser ''Berwick'', the aircraft carriers [[HMS Glorious|''Glorious'']] and [[HMS Ark Royal (91)|''Ark Royal'']], and the battleship [[HMS Valiant (1914)|''Valiant'']]. The carriers mounted fighter patrols over the ships evacuating troops from Andalsnes. The ''Stuka'' waves (accompanied by He 111s) achieved several near misses, but were unable to obtain a hit. Nevertheless, Wells ordered that no ship was to operate within range of the Ju 87s' Norwegian airfields. The Ju 87s had, in effect, driven British sea power from the Norwegian coast. Moreover, Victor reported to the [[Commander-in-Chief]] of the Home Fleet, Admiral [[Charles Forbes (Royal Navy officer)|Charles Forbes]], that carrier operations were no longer practical under the current conditions.{{sfn|Smith|2011|p=116}}

In the following weeks, StG 1 continued their sea operations. Off Namsos on 5 May 1940, they caught and sank the [[Royal Norwegian Navy]] transports ''Aafjord'' (335 tons) and ''Blaafjeld'' (1,146 tons). The Ju 87s then took to bombing the town and the airstrip to support the German forces under the command of [[Eduard Dietl]]. The town fell in the first week of May. In the remaining four weeks of the campaign in Norway, the Ju 87s supported German forces in containing the Allied land forces in [[Narvik]] until they withdrew in early June.<ref name="Smith 2011, p. 118"/>

====France and the Low Countries====
[[File:Duitse Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka" 2157 008308.jpg|thumb|right|Campaign in the Low Countries]]

The Ju 87 units had learned lessons from the Polish and Norwegian campaigns. The failures in Poland, and of the ''Stukas'' of I./StG 1 to silence the Oscarsborg fort, ensured even more attention was paid to pin-point bombing during the [[Phoney War]] period. This was to pay off in the Western campaign.<ref name="Weal 1997, p. 43.">{{harvnb|Weal|1997|p=43}}</ref>

When ''[[Fall Gelb]]'' (Case Yellow) began on 10 May 1940, the ''Stuka'' helped swiftly neutralise the fortress of [[Eben Emael]], Belgium. The headquarters of the commander responsible for ordering the destruction of the [[Belgian Army]]-held bridges along the [[Albert Canal]] was stationed in the village of [[Lanaken]] (14&nbsp;km/&nbsp;mi to the north). The ''Stuka'' demonstrated its accuracy when the small building was destroyed by four direct hits. As a result, only one of the three bridges was destroyed, allowing the German Army to rapidly advance in the opening days of the [[Battle of Belgium]].<ref name="Weal 1997, p. 43."/> The Ju 87 proved to be a useful asset to [[Army Group B]] in the [[Low Countries]]. In pitched battles against French armoured forces at [[Battle of Hannut|Hannut]] and [[Battle of Gembloux (1940)|Gembloux]], Ju 87s effectively neutralised artillery and armour.<ref name="Smith 2011, p. 124">{{harvnb|Smith|2011|p=124}}</ref>

The Ju 87s also assisted German forces in the [[Battle of the Netherlands]]. The [[Dutch Navy]] in concert with the British were evacuating the [[Dutch royal family]] and Dutch gold reserves through the country's ports. Ju 87s sank the Dutch ships [[HNLMS Van Galen (1928)|''Jan Van Galen'']] (1,316 tons) and [[HNLMS Johan Maurits van Nassau (1932)|''Johan Maurits Van Nassau'']] (1,520 tons) as they provided close-shore artillery support at [[Waalhaven]] and the [[Afsluitdijk]]. The British [[HMS Valentine (L69)|''Valentine'']] was crippled, beached and scuttled while [[HMS Winchester (L55)|''Winchester'']], [[HMS Whitley (L23)|''Whitley'']] and [[HMS Westminster (L40)|''Westminster'']] were damaged. ''Whitley'' was later beached and scuttled after an air attack on 19 May.<ref name="Smith 2011, p. 124"/>

The Ju 87 units were also instrumental in the [[Battle of France]]. It was here that most of the Ju 87-equipped units were concentrated. They assisted in the breakthrough [[Battle of Sedan (1940)|at Sedan]], the critical and first major land battle of the war on French territory. The ''Stukawaffe'' flew 300 sorties against French positions, with [[Sturzkampfgeschwader 77|StG 77]] alone flying 201 individual missions. The Ju 87s benefited from heavy fighter protection from [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]] units.<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1997|p=46}}</ref> When resistance was organised, the Ju 87s could be vulnerable. For example, on 12 May, near Sedan, six French [[Curtiss H-75]]s from Groupe de Chasse I/5 (Group Interception) attacked a formation of Ju 87s, claiming 11 out of 12 unescorted Ju 87s without loss (the Germans recorded six losses over Sedan entire).<ref>{{harvnb|Ward|2004|pp=73–74}}</ref><ref name=Boyne>{{harvnb|Boyne|1994|p=78}}</ref> For the most part, Allied opposition was disorganised. During the battles of [[Battle of Montcornet|Montcornet]], [[Battle of Arras (1940)|Arras]], [[Battle of Boulogne (1940)|Bolougne]], and [[Siege of Calais (1940)|Calais]], Ju 87 operations broke up counterattacks and offered pin-point aerial artillery support for German infantry.<ref>{{harvnb|Smith|2011|pp=124, 131–140}}</ref>

The Luftwaffe benefited from excellent ground-to-air communications throughout the campaign. Radio equipped forward liaison officers could call upon the Stukas and direct them to attack enemy positions along the axis of advance. In some cases the Stukas responded in 10–20 minutes. {{Lang|de|[[Oberstleutnant]]}} [[Hans Seidemann]] (Richthofen's [[Chief of staff (military)|Chief of Staff]]) said that "never again was such a smoothly functioning system for discussing and planning joint operations achieved."<ref>{{harvnb|Hooton|2007|p=67}}</ref>

During the [[Battle of Dunkirk]], many Allied ships were lost to Ju 87 attacks while [[Operation Dynamo|evacuating British and French troops]]. The French destroyer {{ship|French destroyer|L'Adroit|1927|2}} was sunk on 21 May 1940, followed by the [[paddle steamer]] ''Crested Eagle'' on 28 May. The French Channel-steamer ''Côte d'Arzur'' (3,047) followed. The Ju 87s operated to maximum effectiveness when the weather allowed. RAF fighter units were held back and Allied air cover was patchy at best. On 29 May the Royal Navy destroyer [[HMS Grenade (H86)|HMS ''Grenade'']] was severely damaged by a Ju 87 attack within Dunkirk's harbour, and subsequently sank. The [[French destroyer Mistral|French destroyer ''Mistral'']] was crippled by bomb damage the same day. [[HMS Jaguar (F34)|''Jaguar'']] and [[HMS Verity (D63)|''Verity'']] were badly damaged while the trawlers ''Calvi'' and ''Polly Johnson'' (363 and 290 tons) disintegrated under bombardment. The merchant ship ''Fenella'' (2,376 tons) was sunk having taken on 600 soldiers. The attacks brought the evacuation to a halt for a time. The ferries ''Lorina'' and [[SS Normannia (1911)|''Normannia'']] (1,564 and 1,567 tons) were sunk also.<ref>{{harvnb|Smith|2011|p=138}}</ref> By 29 May, the Allies had lost 31 vessels sunk and 11 damaged.<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1997|pp=52–53}}</ref> On 1 June the Ju 87s sank the [[Halcyon-class minesweeper|''Halcyon''-class minesweeper]] ''Skipjack'' while the destroyer [[HMS Keith|''Keith'']] was sunk and [[HMS Basilisk (H11)|''Basilisk'']] was crippled before being scuttled by [[HMS Whitehall|''Whitehall'']]. ''Whitehall'' was later badly damaged and along with [[HMS Ivanhoe (D16)|''Ivanhoe'']], staggered back to [[Dover]]. [[HMS Havant (H32)|''Havant'']], commissioned for just three weeks, was sunk and in the evening the [[French destroyer Foudroyant (1929)|French destroyer ''Foudroyant'']] sank after a mass-attack. Further victories against shipping were claimed before nightfall on 1 June. The steamer ''Pavon'' was lost while carrying 1,500 Dutch soldiers most of whom were killed. The oil tanker ''Niger'' was also destroyed. A flotilla of French minesweepers were also lost—''Denis Papin'' (264 tons), the ''Le Moussaillon'' (380 tons) and ''Venus'' (264 tons).<ref>{{harvnb|Smith|2011|pp=138–140}}</ref>

In total, 89 merchantmen (of 126,518 grt) were lost, and of 40 RN destroyers used in the battle, eight were sunk (one to an E-boat and one to a submarine), and a further 23 damaged and out of service.<ref>{{harvnb|Hooton|2007|p=74}}</ref>
The campaign ended after the French surrender on 25 June 1940. Allied air power had been ineffective and disorganised, and as a result, ''Stuka'' losses were mainly due to ground fire. 120 machines, one-third of the Stuka force, were destroyed or damaged by all causes from 10 May to 25 June 1940.<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1997|p=55}}</ref>

====Battle of Britain====
For the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe's [[order of battle]] included bomber wings equipped with the Ju 87. [[Lehrgeschwader 2]]'s IV.(St), Sturzkampfgeschwader 1's III. Gruppe and [[Sturzkampfgeschwader 2]]'s III. Gruppe, Sturzkampfgeschwader 51 and Sturzkampfgeschwader 3's I. Gruppe were committed to the battle. As an anti-shipping weapon, the Ju 87 proved a potent weapon in the [[Kanalkampf|early stages of the battle]]. On 4 July 1940, StG 2 made a successful attack on a convoy in the [[English Channel]], sinking four freighters: ''Britsum'', ''Dallas City'', ''Deucalion'' and ''Kolga''. Six more were damaged. That afternoon, 33 Ju 87s delivered the single most deadly air assault on British territory in history, when 33 Ju 87s of III./StG 51, avoiding [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) interception, sank the 5,500 ton anti-aircraft ship {{HMS|Foylebank}} in [[Portland Harbour]], killing 176 of its 298 crew. One of ''Foylebank's'' gunners, [[Jack Foreman Mantle|Leading Seaman John F. Mantle]] continued to fire on the Stukas as the ship sank. He was awarded a posthumous [[Victoria Cross]] for remaining at his post despite being mortally wounded. Mantle may have been responsible for the single Ju 87 lost during the raid.<ref>{{harvnb|Ward|2004|p=94}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1997|pp=66–67}}</ref>

During August, the Ju 87s also had some success. On 13 August the opening of the main German attacks on airfields took place; it was known to the Luftwaffe as ''[[Adlertag]]'' ("Eagle Day"). Bf 109s of [[Jagdgeschwader 26]] (JG 26) were sent out in advance of the main strike and drew off RAF fighters, allowing 86 Ju 87s of StG 1 to attack [[RAF Detling]] in Kent unhindered. The attack killed the station commander, destroyed 20 RAF aircraft on the ground and a great many of the airfield's buildings. Detling was not an [[RAF Fighter Command]] station.<ref>{{harvnb|Ward|2004|p=105}}</ref>

The Battle of Britain proved for the first time that the Junkers Ju 87 was vulnerable in hostile skies against well-organised and determined fighter opposition. The Ju 87, like other dive bombers, was slow and possessed inadequate defences. Furthermore, it could not be effectively protected by fighters because of its low speed, and the very low altitudes at which it ended its dive bomb attacks. The Stuka depended on air superiority, the very thing being contested over Britain. It was withdrawn from attacks on Britain in August after prohibitive losses, leaving the Luftwaffe without precision ground-attack aircraft.<ref>{{harvnb|Bungay|2000|pp=251–257}}</ref>

Steady losses had occurred throughout their participation in the battle. On 18 August, known as [[the Hardest Day]] because both sides suffered heavy losses, the Stuka was withdrawn after 16 were destroyed and many others damaged.<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1997|p=83}}</ref> According to the Generalquartiermeister der Luftwaffe, 59 Stukas had been destroyed and 33 damaged to varying degrees in six weeks of operations. Over 20% of the total Stuka strength had been lost between 8 and 18 August;<ref name="Ward 2004, pp. 108–109">{{harvnb|Ward|2004|pp=108–109}}</ref> and the myth of the Stuka shattered.<ref name="Ward 2004, pp. 108–109"/><ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1997|p=66}}</ref> The Ju 87s did succeed in sinking six warships, 14 merchant ships, badly damaging seven airfields and three [[Chain Home]] radar stations, and destroying 49 British aircraft, mainly on the ground.<ref name="Smith, p. 51">{{harvnb|Smith|2007|p=51}}</ref>

On 19 August, the units of [[8th Air Corps (Germany)|VIII. Fliegerkorps]] moved up from their bases around [[Cherbourg-Octeville]] and concentrated in the [[Pas de Calais]] under [[Luftflotte 2]], closer to the area of the proposed invasion of Britain.<ref name="Smith, p. 51"/> On 13 September, the Luftwaffe targeted airfields again, with a small number of Ju 87s crossing the coast at [[Selsey]] and heading for [[RAF Tangmere|Tangmere]].<ref>{{harvnb|Wood|Dempster|2003|p=228}}</ref> After a lull, anti-shipping operations attacks were resumed by some Ju 87 units from 1 November 1940, as part of the new winter tactic of enforcing a blockade. Over the next 10 days, seven merchant ships were sunk or damaged, mainly in the [[Thames Estuary]], for the loss of four Ju 87s. On 14 November 19 Stukas from III./St.G 1 with escort drawn from [[JG 26]] and [[JG 51]] went out against another convoy; as no targets were found over the estuary, the Stukas attacked Dover, their alternative target.<ref name="Smith, p. 51"/>

Bad weather resulted in a decline of anti-shipping operations, and before long the Ju 87 [[Group (military aviation unit)|groups]] began re-deploying to Poland, as part of the concealed build-up for [[Operation Barbarossa]]. By spring 1941, only St.G 1 with 30 Ju 87s remained facing the United Kingdom. Operations on a small scale continued throughout the winter months into March. Targets included ships at sea, the Thames Estuary, the [[Chatham Dockyard|Chatham naval dockyard]] and Dover and night-bomber sorties made over the Channel. These attacks were resumed the following winter.<ref name="Smith, p. 51"/><ref>{{harvnb|Ward|2004|p=109}}</ref>

====North Africa and the Mediterranean====
[[File:Captured Ju 87B in North Africa 1941.jpg|thumb|left|A Ju 87 B of 5/StG 2 is examined by British troops after making an emergency landing in the North African desert, December 1941.]]

After the Italian defeats in the [[Italo-Greek War]] and [[Operation Compass]] in North Africa, the [[Oberkommando der Wehrmacht]] ordered the deployment of German forces to these theatres. Amongst the Luftwaffe contingent deployed was the command unit StG 3, which touched down in [[Sicily]] in December 1940. In the next few days, two groups—80 Stukas—were deployed under [[10th Air Corps (Germany)|X. Fliegerkorps]].

The first task of the ''Korps'' was to attack British shipping passing between Sicily and Africa, in particular the [[Malta Convoys|convoys aimed at re-supplying Malta]]. The Ju 87s first made their presence felt by subjecting the British aircraft carrier {{HMS|Illustrious|87|6}} to heavy attack. The crews were confident that they could sink it as the flight deck had an area of about {{convert|6500|m2|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1998|p=7}}</ref> On 10 January 1941, the Stuka crews were told that four direct hits with {{convert|500|kg|lb|abbr=on}} bombs would be enough to sink the carrier. The Ju 87s delivered six and three damaging near-misses but the ship's engines were untouched and she reached the [[Siege of Malta (1940)|besieged harbour of Malta]].<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1998|p=9}}</ref>

The ''Regia Aeronautica'' was equipped for a while with the Stukas.<ref name="Gunston 1984, p. 137">{{harvnb|Gunston|1984|p=137}}</ref> In 1939, the Italian government asked the RLM to supply 100 Ju 87s. Italian pilots were sent to [[Graz]] in Austria to be trained for dive-bombing aircraft. In the spring of 1940, between 72 and 108 Ju 87 B-1s, some of them ex-Luftwaffe aircraft, were delivered to 96° ''Gruppo Bombardamento a Tuffo''. The Italian Stuka, renamed ''Picchiatello'', was in turn assigned to ''Gruppi'' 97°, 101° and 102°. The ''Picchiatelli'' were used against [[Malta]], Allied convoys in Mediterranean and in North Africa (where they took part in conquering Tobruk). They were used by the Regia Aeronautica up to 1942.<ref name="Gunston 1984, p. 137"/>

Some of the ''Picchiatelli'' saw action in the opening phase of the Italian invasion of Greece in October 1940. Their numbers were low and ineffective in comparison to German operations. The Italian forces were quickly pushed back. By early 1941, the Greeks had pushed into Italian-occupied Albania. Once again, Hitler decided to send military aid to his ally.<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1998|p=23}}</ref> Before the Luftwaffe could intervene, the Italian Ju 87s achieved some successes. 97 ''Gruppo'' (group) and its 239 ''Squadriglia'' (squadron) sinking the [[Hellenic Navy]] freighter ''Susanah'' off [[Corfu]] on 4 April 1941 while the torpedo boat ''Proussa'' was sunk later in the day. On 21 April the Greek freighter ''Ioanna'' was sunk and they accounted for the British tanker ''Hekla'' off Tobruk on 25 May and then the [[Royal Australian Navy]] destroyer [[HMAS Waterhen (D22)|''Waterhen'']] on 20 June. The British gunboat [[HMS Cricket (1915)|''Cricket'']] and supply submarine [[HMS Cachalot (N83)|''Cachalot'']] became victims. The former was crippled and later sunk by Italian warships.<ref>{{harvnb|Smith|2011|p=218}}</ref>

In March, the [[Yugoslav coup d'état|pro-German Yugoslav government was toppled]]. A furious Hitler ordered the attack to be expanded to include [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]. [[Operation Marita]] commenced on 7 April. The Luftwaffe committed StG 1, 2 and 77 to the campaign.<ref>{{harvnb|Ward|2004|p=120}}</ref> The Stuka once again spearheaded the air assault, with a front line strength of 300 machines, against minimal Yugoslav resistance in the air, allowing the Stukas to develop a fearsome reputation in this region. Operating unmolested, they took a heavy toll of ground forces, suffering only light losses to ground fire. The effectiveness of the dive bombers helped bring about Yugoslav capitulation in ten days. The Stukas also took a peripheral part in [[Operation Retribution (1941)|Operation Punishment]], Hitler's retribution [[Operation Retribution (1941)|bombing of Belgrade]]. The dive bombers were to attack airfields and anti-aircraft gun positions as the level bombers struck civilian targets. Belgrade was badly damaged, with 2,271 people killed and 12,000 injured.<ref>{{harvnb|Ciglic|Savic|2007|p=59}}</ref>

In Greece, despite British aid, [[Battle of Greece|little air opposition was encountered]]. As the Allies withdrew and resistance collapsed, the Allies began evacuating to [[Crete]]. The Stukas inflicted severe damage on Allied shipping. On 22 April, the 1,389&nbsp;ton destroyers ''[[Greek destroyer Psara|Psara]]'' and ''[[Greek destroyer Hydra (D97)|Ydra]]'' were sunk. In the next two days, the Greek naval base at [[Piraeus]] lost 23 vessels to Stuka attack.<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1998|p=32}}</ref>

During the [[Battle of Crete]], the Ju 87s also played a significant role. On 21–22 May 1941, the Germans attempted to send in reinforcements to Crete by sea but lost 10 vessels to "Force D" under the command of [[Rear Admiral]] [[Irvine Glennie]]. The force, consisting of the cruisers {{HMS|Dido|37|6}}, {{HMS|Orion|85|2}} and {{HMS|Ajax|22|2}}, forced the remaining German ships to retreat. The Stukas were called upon to deal with the British naval threat.<ref>{{harvnb|Ward|2004|p=121}}</ref> On 21 May, the destroyer {{HMS|Juno|F46|6}} was sunk and the next day the battleship {{HMS|Warspite|03|6}} was damaged and the cruiser {{HMS|Gloucester|62|6}} was sunk, with the loss of 45 officers and 648 ratings. The Ju 87s also crippled the cruiser {{HMS|Fiji|58|6}} that morning, (she was later finished off by [[Messerschmitt Bf 109|Bf 109]] fighter bombers) while sinking the destroyer {{HMS|Greyhound|H05|6}} with one hit.<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1998|p=38}}</ref> As the Battle of Crete drew to a close, the Allies began yet another withdrawal. On 23 May, the Royal Navy lost the destroyers {{HMS|Kashmir|F12|6}} and {{HMS|Kelly|F01|2}}, followed by {{HMS|Hereward|H93|6}} on 26 May; ''Orion'' and ''Dido'' were also severely damaged.<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1998|pp=38–39}}</ref> ''Orion'' had been evacuating 1,100 soldiers to North Africa; 260 of them were killed and another 280 wounded.<ref>{{harvnb|Ward|2004|p=123}}</ref>

The dive bomber wing supported ''[[Generalfeldmarschall]]'' [[Erwin Rommel]]'s [[Afrika Korps]] in its two-year campaign in North Africa; its other main task was attacking Allied shipping.<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1998|pp=45–51}}</ref> In 1941, Ju 87 operations in North Africa were dominated by the [[Siege of Tobruk]], which lasted for over seven months.<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1998|p=44}}</ref> It served during the [[Battle of Gazala]] and the [[First Battle of El Alamein]], as well as the decisive [[Second Battle of El Alamein]], which drove Rommel back to [[Tunisia]]. As the tide turned and Allied air power grew in the autumn of 1942, the Ju 87 became very vulnerable and losses were heavy. The entry of the Americans into North Africa with the [[Operation Torch]] invasion of French North Africa made the situation far worse; the Stuka was obsolete in what was now a fighter-bomber's war. The Bf 109 and Fw 190 could at least fight enemy fighters on equal terms after dropping their [[shell (projectile)|ordnance]] but the Stuka could not. The Ju 87's vulnerability was demonstrated on 11 November 1942, when 15 Ju 87Ds were shot down by [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF) [[Curtiss P-40]]Fs in minutes.<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1998|p=65}}</ref> According to Ring and Shores there were 15 Ju 87s on the mission, 2 Squadron SAAF shot down eight with four probable and three were shot down by 57th Fighter Group. Two South-African and one American lost shot down by German fighter escort. Three Stuka crews were captured, one was wounded.<ref>{{citation |first1=Hans |last1=Ring |first2= Christopher |last2=Shores |title= Luftkampf zwischen Sand und Sonne |location=Stuttgart |date=1968 |trans-title=Fighters over the Desert }}</ref>{{page needed|date=January 2022}}

By 1943, the Allies enjoyed air supremacy in North Africa. The Ju 87s ventured out in ''Rotte'' strength only, often jettisoning their bombs at the first sight of enemy aircraft.<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1998|p=67}}</ref> Adding to this trouble, the German fighters had only enough fuel to cover the Ju 87s on takeoff, their most vulnerable point. After that, the Stukas were on their own.<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1998|p=68}}</ref>

The dive bombers continued operations in southern Europe; after the Italian surrender in September 1943, the Ju 87 participated in the last campaign-sized victory over the [[Allies of World War II|Western Allies]], the [[Dodecanese Campaign]]. The [[Dodecanese Islands]] had been occupied by the British; the Luftwaffe committed 75 Stukas of StG 3 based in [[Megara]] (I./StG 3) and [[Argos, Peloponnese|Argos]] (II.StG 3; from 17 October on [[Rhodes]]), to recover the islands. With the [[RAF]] bases {{convert|500|km|mi}} away, the Ju 87 helped the German landing forces rapidly conquer the islands.<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|1998|pp=82–83}}</ref> On 5 October the minelayer ''Lagnano'' was sunk along with a patrol vessel, a steam ship and the auxiliary landing ship ''Porto Di Roma''. On 24 October Ju 87s sank the landing craft LCT-115 and cargo ship ''Taganrog'' at [[Samos]]. On 31 October the light cruiser [[HMS Aurora (12)|''Aurora'']] was put out of action for a year. The light cruisers [[HMS Penelope (97)|''Penelope'']] and [[HMS Carlisle (D67)|''Carlisle'']] were badly damaged by StG 3 and the destroyer [[HMS Panther (G41)|''Panther'']] was also sunk by Ju 87s before the capitulation of the Allied force. It proved to be the Stuka's final victory against the British.<ref>{{harvnb|Smith|2011|pp=305–314}}</ref>

====Eastern front====

=====Barbarossa; 1941=====
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-392-1334-04, Russland, Junkers Ju 87, Wartung.jpg|thumb|The Eastern Front brought new challenges. A Ju 87 B-2 is fitted with ski undercarriage to cope with the winter weather, 22 December 1941.]]

On 22 June 1941, the Wehrmacht commenced Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. The Luftwaffe order of battle of 22 June 1941 contained four dive bomber wings. ''VIII. Fliegerkorps'' was equipped with units ''Stab'', II. and III./StG 1. Also included were ''Stab'', I., II. and III. of ''Sturzkampfgeschwader 2'' Immelmann. Attached to ''[[2nd Air Corps (Germany)|II. Fliegerkorps]]'', under the command of ''General der Flieger'' [[Bruno Loerzer]], were ''Stab'', I., II. and III. of StG 77. ''[[Luftflotte 5]]'', under the command of ''Generaloberst'' [[Hans-Jürgen Stumpff]], operating from Norway's Arctic Circle, were allotted IV. ''Gruppe'' (St)/''[[Lehrgeschwader 1]]'' (''LG 1'').{{sfn|Bergström| 2007a|p=131}}

The first Stuka loss on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Soviet-German front]] occurred early at 03:40–03:47 in the morning of 22 June. While being escorted by Bf 109s from JG 51 to attack [[Brest Fortress]], ''Oberleutnant'' Karl Führing of StG 77 was shot down by an [[I-153]].{{sfn|Bergström| 2007a|p=18}} The dive bomber wing suffered only two losses on the opening day of Barbarossa. As a result of the Luftwaffe's attention, the Soviet Air Force in the western Soviet Union was nearly destroyed. The official report claimed 1,489 Soviet aircraft destroyed. Even Göring was unable to believe such a high total and ordered this checked. After picking their way through the wreckage across the front, Luftwaffe officers found that the tally exceeded 2,000.{{sfn|Bergström| 2007a|p=20}} In the next two days, the Soviets reported the loss of another 1,922 aircraft.{{sfn|Bergström| 2007a|p=23}}

The Ju 87 took a huge toll on Soviet ground forces, helping to break up counterattacks of Soviet armour, eliminating strongpoints and disrupting the enemy supply lines. A demonstration of the Stuka{{'}}s effectiveness occurred on 5 July, when StG 77 knocked out 18 [[trains]] and 500 vehicles.{{sfn|Bergström| 2007a|p=89}} As the 1st and 2nd Panzer Groups forced bridgeheads across the [[Dnieper]] river and closed in on [[Kyiv]], the Ju 87s again rendered invaluable support. On 13 September, Stukas from StG 1 destroyed the rail network in the vicinity as well as inflicting heavy casualties on escaping [[Red Army]] columns, for the loss of one Ju 87.{{sfn|Bergström| 2007a|p=69}} On 23 September, Rudel (who was to become the most decorated serviceman in the Wehrmacht) of StG 2, helped sink the Soviet battleship [[Russian battleship Petropavlovsk (1911)|''Marat'']], during an air attack on [[Kronstadt]] harbour near [[Leningrad]], which was struck by two {{convert|1000|kg|lb|abbr=on}} bombs.{{sfn|Rohwer|2005|p=102}} During this action, ''Leutnant'' [[Egbert Jaeckel]] sank the destroyer [[Soviet destroyer Minsk|''Minsk'']], while the destroyer ''Steregushchiy'' and submarine ''M-74'' were also sunk. The Stukas also crippled the battleship [[Soviet battleship Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya|''Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya'']] and the destroyers ''Silnyy'' and ''Grozyashchiy'' in exchange for two Ju 87s shot down.{{sfn|Bergström| 2007a|p=85}}

Elsewhere on the Eastern front, the Junkers assisted [[Army Group Centre]] in its drive toward Moscow. From 13 to 22 December 420 vehicles and 23 tanks were destroyed by StG 77, greatly improving the morale of the German infantry, who were by now on the defensive.{{sfn|Bergström| 2007a|pp=112–113}} StG 77 finished the campaign as the most effective dive bomber wing. It had destroyed 2,401 vehicles, 234 tanks, 92 artillery batteries and 21 trains for the loss of 25 Ju 87s to hostile action.{{sfn|Bergström| 2007a|p=115}} At the end of Barbarossa, StG 1 had lost 60 Stukas in aerial combat and one on the ground. StG 2 lost 39 Ju 87s in the air and two on the ground, StG 77 lost 29 of their dive-bombers in the air and three on the ground (25 to enemy action). IV.(St)/LG1, operating from Norway, lost 24 Ju 87s, all in aerial combat.{{sfn|Bergström| 2007a|p=119}}

=====Fall Blau to Stalingrad; 1942=====
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-J20286, Russland, Kampf um Stalingrad, Luftangriff.jpg|thumb|upright|Ju 87B over Stalingrad]]

In early 1942, the Ju 87s gave the Heer yet more valuable support. On 29 December 1941, the Soviet 44th Army landed on the [[Strait of Kerch|Kerch Peninsula]]. The Luftwaffe was only able to dispatch meager reinforcements of four bomber groups (''Kampfgruppen'') and two dive bomber groups belonging to StG 77. With air superiority, the Ju 87s operated with impunity. In the first 10 days of the [[Battle of the Kerch Peninsula]], half the landing force was destroyed, while sea lanes were blocked by the Stukas inflicting heavy losses on Soviet shipping. The Ju 87's effectiveness against Soviet armour was not yet potent. Later versions of the [[T-34]] tank could withstand Stuka attacks in general, unless a direct hit was scored but the Soviet 44th Army had only obsolescent types with thin armour which were nearly all destroyed.{{sfn| Bergström | 2007c |p=30}} During the [[Battle of Sevastopol]], the Stukas repeatedly bombed the trapped Soviet forces. Some Ju 87 pilots flew up to 300 sorties against the Soviet defenders. StG 77 (Luftflotte 4) flew 7,708 combat sorties dropping 3,537 tonnes of bombs on the city. Their efforts help secure the capitulation of Soviet forces on 4 July.{{sfn| Bergström | 2007c |p=46}}

For the German summer offensive, ''[[Fall Blau]]'', the Luftwaffe had concentrated 1,800 aircraft into ''Luftflotte 4'' making it the largest and most powerful air command in the world.{{sfn| Bergström | 2007c |p=122}} The ''Stukawaffe'' strength stood at 151.{{sfn| Bergström | 2007c |p=49}} During the [[Battle of Stalingrad]], Stukas flew thousands of sorties against Soviet positions in the city. StG 1, 2 and 77 flew 320 sorties on 14 October 1942. As the German Sixth Army pushed the Soviets into a 1,000-metre enclave on the west bank of the [[Volga River]], 1,208 Stuka sorties were flown against this small strip of land. The intense air attack, though causing horrific losses on Soviet units, failed to destroy them.{{sfn| Bergström | 2007c |p=84}} The Luftwaffe's Stuka force made a maximum effort during this phase of the war. They flew an average of 500 sorties per day and caused heavy losses among Soviet forces, losing an average of only one Stuka per day. The Battle of Stalingrad marked the high point in the fortunes of the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka. As the strength of the Soviet Air Forces grew, they gradually wrested control of the skies from the Luftwaffe. From this point onward, Stuka losses increased.<ref>{{harvnb|Hayward|2001|p=211}}</ref>

=====Kursk and decline; 1943=====
[[File:Вынужденная посадка Ю-87 и труп члена его экипажа.jpg|thumb|A wrecked Ju-87 and the corpse of its pilot near Leningrad, June 1943]]
The Stuka was also heavily involved in Operation Citadel, the Kursk offensive. The Luftwaffe committed I, II, III./St.G 1 and III./StG 3 under the command of [[Luftflotte 6]]. I., II, III. of StGs 2 and 3 were committed under the command of ''Fliegerkorps'' VIII.{{sfn|Bergström | 2007b |pp= 123–124}} Rudel's cannon-equipped Ju 87 Gs had a devastating effect on Soviet armour at [[Oryol|Orel]] and [[Belgorod]]. The Ju 87s participated in a huge aerial counter-offensive lasting from 16 to 31 July against a Soviet offensive at Khotynets and saved two German armies from encirclement, reducing the attacking Soviet 11th Guards Army to 33 tanks by 20 July. The Soviet offensive had been completely halted from the air{{sfn|Bergström | 2007b |p= 109}} although losses were considerable. Fliegerkorps VIII lost eight Ju 87s on 8 July, six on 9 July, six on 10 July and another eight on 11 July. The Stuka arm also lost eight of their [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]] holders. StG 77 lost 24 Ju 87s in the period 5–31 July (StG had lost 23 in July–December 1942), while StG 2 lost another 30 aircraft in the same period. In September 1943, three of the Stuka units were re-equipped with the [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190|Fw 190]]F and G (ground attack versions) and began to be renamed ''Schlachtgeschwader'' (attack wings).{{sfn|Bergström | 2007b |p= 118}} In the face of overwhelming air opposition, the dive-bomber required heavy protection from German fighters to counter Soviet fighters. Some units like SG 2 ''Immelmann'' continued to operate with great success throughout 1943–45, operating the Ju 87 G variants equipped with 37&nbsp;mm cannons, which became tank killers, although in increasingly small numbers.<ref>{{harvnb|Griehl|2001|p=279}}</ref>

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-646-5188-17, Flugzeuge Junkers Ju 87.jpg|thumb|left|Ju 87 Ds over the Eastern Front, 22 December 1943]]
In the wake of the defeat at Kursk, Ju 87s played a vital defensive role on the southern wing of the Eastern Front. To combat the Luftwaffe, the Soviets could deploy 3,000 fighter aircraft. As a result, the Stukas suffered heavily. SG 77 lost 30 Ju 87s in August 1943 as did SG 2 ''Immelmann'', which also reported the loss of 30 aircraft in combat operations.<ref>{{harvnb|Bergström|2008|pp=25–26}}</ref> Despite these losses, Ju 87s helped the [[XXIX Army Corps (Wehrmacht)|XXIX Army Corps]] break out of an encirclement near the [[Sea of Azov]].<ref>{{harvnb|Bergström|2008|p=27}}</ref> The [[Battle of Kiev (1943)|Battle of Kiev]] also included substantial use of the Ju 87 units, although again, unsuccessful in stemming the advances. Stuka units were with the loss of air superiority, becoming vulnerable on the ground as well. Some Stuka aces were lost this way.<ref>{{harvnb|Bergström|2008|p=30}}</ref> In the aftermath of Kursk, Stuka strength fell to 184 aircraft in total. This was well below 50 per cent of the required strength.<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|2008|p=74}}</ref> On 18 October 1943, StG 1, 2, 3, 5 and 77 were renamed ''Schlachtgeschwader'' (SG) wings, reflecting their ground-attack role, as these combat wings were now also using ground-attack aircraft, such as the Fw 190F-series aircraft. The Luftwaffe's dive-bomber units had ceased to exist.<ref>{{harvnb|Weal|2008|p=77}}</ref>

A few Ju 87s were also retained for anti-shipping operations in the [[Black Sea]], a role it had proved successful in when operating in the Mediterranean. In October 1943, this became evident again when StG 3 carried out several attacks against the Soviet [[Black Sea Fleet]]. On 6 October 1943 the most powerful flotilla in the fleet comprising the ''Leningrad'' class destroyers ''Kharkov'', ''Besposhchadny'' and ''Sposobny'' were caught and sunk by dive-bombing. After the disaster, [[Josef Stalin]] decreed that no more ships were to pass within range of German aircraft without his personal permission.<ref>{{harvnb|Smith|2011|p=292}}</ref>

=====Operation Bagration to Berlin 1944–1945=====
Towards the end of the war, as the Allies gained air supremacy, the Stuka was being replaced by ground-attack versions of the [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190|Fw 190]].<ref name="Griehl 2001, p. 179"/> By early 1944, the number of Ju 87 units and operational aircraft terminally declined. For the Soviet summer offensive, [[Operation Bagration]], 12 Ju 87 groups and five mixed groups (including Fw 190s) were on the Luftwaffe's order of battle on 26 June 1944.<ref>{{harvnb|Bergström|2008|p=129}}</ref> [[Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey]], a mixed aircraft unit, which included large numbers of Stuka dive bombers, was rushed to the Finnish front in the summer of 1944 and was instrumental in halting the Soviet [[fourth strategic offensive]]. The unit claimed 200 Soviet tanks and 150 Soviet aircraft destroyed for 41 losses.<ref>{{harvnb|Bergström|2008|p=59}}</ref> By 31 January 1945, only 104 Ju 87s remained operational with their units. The other mixed ''Schlacht'' units contained a further 70 Ju 87s and Fw 190s between them. Chronic fuel shortages kept the Stukas grounded and sorties decreased until the end of the war in May 1945.<ref>{{harvnb|Bergström|2008|p=131}}</ref>

In the final months of the war the ground attack groups were still able to impose operational constraints upon the enemy. Most notably the aircraft participated in the defence of [[Berlin]]. On 12 January 1945 the [[1st Belorussian Front]] initiated the [[Vistula–Oder Offensive]]. The offensive made rapid progress. The Soviets eventually outran their air support, which was unable to use forward, quagmire-filled, airfields. The Germans, who had fallen back on airbases with good facilities and concrete runways, were able to mount uninterrupted attacks against Soviet army columns. Reminiscent of the early years, the ''Luftwaffe'' was able to inflict high losses largely unopposed. Over 800 vehicles were destroyed within two weeks. In the first three days of February 1945, 2,000 vehicles and 51 tanks were claimed to be lost to German air attacks. The Ju 87 participated in these intense battles in small numbers. It was the largest concentration of German air power since 1940 and even in February 1945 the Germans were able to achieve and challenge for air superiority on the Eastern Front. The air offensive was instrumental in saving Berlin, albeit only for three months. The effort exhausted German fuel reserves. The contribution of the Ju 87 was exemplified by Rudel, who claimed 13 enemy tanks on 8 February 1945.<ref>{{harvnb|Bergström|2008|pp=99–100}}</ref>

Post-war research revealed that generally, bombing pilots were far less effective than they claimed.  The German Luftwaffe, in particular, did not do a scientific analysis of the Ju 87 pilot claims in 1939–1945 but instead relied on pre-war tests and assumptions, contrary to the Allies who did such research during the war, which showed that pilots, for a number of reasons, misjudged most of their tank kills and revealed the ineffectiveness of dive-bombers as an anti-tank weapon,{{sfn|Gooderson|1998|p=103}} except for the suppression effect of the bombing.