The Junkers Jumo 213 was a
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
-era
V-12 liquid-cooled
aircraft engine
An aircraft engine, often referred to as an aero engine, is the power component of an aircraft propulsion system. Aircraft using power components are referred to as powered flight. Most aircraft engines are either piston engines or gas turbin ...
, a development of
Junkers Motoren's earlier design, the
Jumo 211. The design added two features, a pressurized cooling system that required considerably less
cooling fluid which allowed the engine to be built smaller and lighter, and a number of improvements that allowed it to run at higher RPM. These changes boosted power by over 500 hp and made the 213 one of the most sought-after
Axis
An axis (: axes) may refer to:
Mathematics
*A specific line (often a directed line) that plays an important role in some contexts. In particular:
** Coordinate axis of a coordinate system
*** ''x''-axis, ''y''-axis, ''z''-axis, common names ...
engine designs in the late-war era.
Design and development
When the Jumo 211 entered production in the late 1930s it used an unpressurized liquid cooling system based on an "open cycle". Water was pumped through the engine to keep it cool, but the system operated at atmospheric pressure, or only slightly higher. Since the boiling point of water decreases with altitude (pressure) this meant that the temperature of the cooling water had to be kept quite low to avoid boiling at high altitudes, which in turn meant that the water removed less heat from the engine before flowing into the
radiator
A radiator is a heat exchanger used to transfer thermal energy from one medium to another for the purpose of cooling and heating. The majority of radiators are constructed to function in cars, buildings, and electronics.
A radiator is always a ...
to cool it.
By contrast, the 1940
Daimler-Benz DB 601E used a pressurized coolant system that ran at the same pressure regardless of altitude, raising the boiling point to about 110 °C. This allowed it to use considerably less water for the same cooling effect, which remained the same at all altitudes. Although otherwise similar to the Jumo 211 in most respects, the 601 was smaller and lighter than the 211, and could be run at higher power settings at higher altitudes, making it popular in fighter designs. The 211 was relegated to "secondary" roles in bombers and transports.
The ''Junkers Motorenwerke'' firm was not happy with this state of affairs, and started its own efforts to produce a pressurized cooling system as early as 1938. Experiments on the 211 proved so successful that it became clear that not only could the engine be built smaller and lighter (by reducing the water requirement), but could be run at higher power settings without overheating. Additional changes to strengthen the
crankshaft
A crankshaft is a mechanical component used in a reciprocating engine, piston engine to convert the reciprocating motion into rotational motion. The crankshaft is a rotating Shaft (mechanical engineering), shaft containing one or more crankpins, ...
and add a fully shrouded
supercharger
In an internal combustion engine, a supercharger compresses the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to produce more power for a given displacement (engine), displacement. It is a form of forced induction that is mechanically ...
for increased boost resulted in the Jumo 211F model, which delivered 1,340 PS (1,322 hp, 986 kW) at 2,600 RPM, up from 1000 PS at 2,200 RPM in the first version 211A.
213A

After redesigning the engine block to a smaller external size to suit the increased cooling power – while keeping the same 150 mm x 165 mm bore/stroke figures, maintaining the 35 litre displacement of the Jumo 211 series – and then further increasing boost settings on the supercharger, the resulting 213A model was able to deliver 1,750 PS (metric hp) at 3,250 RPM. This made it considerably more powerful than the corresponding DB 601E which provided 1,350 PS, and about the same power as the much larger
DB 603 of 44.52 litre displacement. Junkers decided to go after the 603's market, and placed the 213's mounting points and fluid connections in the same locations as the 603, allowing it to be "dropped in" as a replacement, with the exception of the Jumo's standard starboard-side supercharger intake (Daimler-Benz inverted V12 engines always had the supercharger intakes on the port side).
The 213A (the main production series, with single-stage two-speed supercharging)
[Christopher, p. 79] first ran in 1940, but experienced lengthy delays before finally being declared "production quality" in 1943. Production was extremely slow to ramp up, in order to avoid delays in the existing Jumo 211 production. By the time the engines were available in any sort of number in 1944, Allied bombing repeatedly destroyed the production lines. Production of the A model was limited to about 400–500 a month for most of 1944/45.
Advanced versions
A range of advanced versions were also developed during the lengthy teething period. The 213B was designed to run on 100
octane
Octane is a hydrocarbon and also an alkane with the chemical formula C8H18, and the condensed structural formula CH3(CH2)6CH3. Octane has many structural isomers that differ by the location of branching in the carbon chain. One of these isomers ...
"C3" fuel, allowing the boost pressure to be increased and the take-off power improved to 2,000 PS. The 213C was essentially an A model with re-arranged secondary equipment (supercharger, oil pump, etc.) to allow a ''Motorkanone'' cannon to fire through the propeller shaft. The 213D added a new three-speed supercharger for smoother
power curves and improved altitude performance, but it was not produced.

The next major production versions were the 213E and the similar 213F. These engines were equipped with a new two-speed, two-stage supercharger that dramatically improved altitude performance. The only difference between the two models was that the E included an
intercooler
An intercooler is a heat exchanger used to cool a gas after compression. Often found in turbocharged engines, intercoolers are also used in air compressors, air conditioners, refrigeration and gas turbines.
Internal combustion engines
Mo ...
[ for additional high-altitude performance, while the F model lacked this and was optimized for slightly lower altitudes. The E and F models were in high demand for many late-war aircraft, including the ]Junkers Ju 188
The Junkers Ju 188 "''Rächer''" ("Avenger") was a German ''Luftwaffe'' high-performance medium bomber built during World War II, the planned follow-up to the Ju 88 with better performance and payload. It was produced only in limited numbers, d ...
, Junkers Ju 388
The Junkers Ju 388 ''Klaus Störtebeker, Störtebeker'' is a World War II German ''Luftwaffe'' Multirole combat aircraft, multi-role aircraft based on the Junkers Ju 88, Ju 88 airframe by way of the Junkers Ju 188, Ju 188. It differed from its pr ...
, the ''Langnasen-Dora'' models of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190D and the Focke-Wulf Ta 152H. All of these aircraft used annular radiators characteristic of the earlier Jumo 211 engine installations on twin-engined aircraft, often standardized as ''Kraftei'' (power-egg
A power-egg is a complete "unitized" Modular design, modular engine installation, consisting of engine and all ancillary equipment, which can be swapped between suitably designed equipment, with standardised quick-changing attachment points and ...
), completely unitized power plant "modules" for any twin or multi-engined aircraft, much as the Jumo 211 had evolved for earlier aircraft designs – but with the annular radiators noticeably reconfigured for better cooling of the more powerful Jumo 213 engine.
A further substantial upgrade was projected as the 213J, which replaced the earlier model's three valves with a new four-valve-per-cylinder design for increased volumetric efficiency
Volumetric efficiency (VE) in internal combustion engine engineering is defined as the ratio of the equivalent volume of the fresh air drawn into the cylinder during the intake stroke (if the gases were at the reference condition for density) to th ...
. It was also to have had a two-stage three-speed supercharger, producing at 3700 rpm for take-off. It would have weighed .[ There was no time to work this change into the production line before the war ended. Other experimental models included the 213S for low-altitude use, and the ]turbocharged
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (also known as a turbo or a turbosupercharger) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake air, forcing more air into the ...
213T.
Further development of the Jumo 213 was carried out at Arsenal de l'Aéronautique
''Arsenal de l'Aéronautique'' (commonly named Arsenal) was a national military aircraft manufacturer established by the French Government in 1936 at Villacoublay. In the years before World War II, it developed a range of technically advanced fi ...
in France after the Second World War
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
.
Variants
;213A: First version, 1,750 PS (2,100 PS with MW50 boost) take-off power, major production version.
;213B: Project, a 213A with C3 fuel (100 octane) and up to 2,000 PS take-off power.
;213C: As 213A but equipped for mounting of a cannon firing through the propeller axis (''Motorkanone''), limited production.
;213D: 213C with a new three-speed supercharger, did not enter production.
;213E: High altitude version of 213A, equipped with a three-speed two-stage intercooled supercharger and delivering 1,750 PS take-off power (2,050 PS with MW 50 boost).
;213F:Similar to the 213E, but without the intercooler.
;213J:Project, redesigned with four valves per-cylinder and a two-stage three-speed supercharger, delivering 2,380 PS at takeoff.
;J13T:Proposed turbocharged variant.
;Arsenal 12H:Post-war development of the Junkers Jumo 213 which had been in production for the Germans at the Arsenal de l'Aéronautique
''Arsenal de l'Aéronautique'' (commonly named Arsenal) was a national military aircraft manufacturer established by the French Government in 1936 at Villacoublay. In the years before World War II, it developed a range of technically advanced fi ...
factories.
;Arsenal 12H-Tandem:2x 12H engines in tandem driving co-axial propellers.
;Arsenal 12K:Further development of the 12H.
;Arsenal 24H:A 24-cylinder H-24 engine utilizing 12H cylinder blocks, crankshafts and pistons mounted on a new crankcase driving a single propeller. Rated at take-off power and at rated height.[Bridgman 1948, p. 48d]
;Arsenal 24H-Tandem:2x 24H engines in tandem driving co-axial propellers. Example exhibited at 1946 Paris Air Show had take-off power of . Proposed for Sud-Est SE.1200 trans-Atlantic flying boat project, which would have used four 24H Tandem installations, each rated at .[Bridgman 1948, pp. 47d–48d]
;SFECMAS 12H: The Arsenal 12H after SFECMAS absorbed Arsenal.
;SFECMAS 12K: The Arsenal 12K after SFECMAS absorbed Arsenal.
Applications
* Heinkel He 111H-22
* Junkers Ju 88
The Junkers Ju 88 is a twin-engined multirole combat aircraft designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Junkers Aircraft and Motor Works. It was used extensively during the Second World War by the ''Luftwaffe'' and became one o ...
* Junkers Ju 188
The Junkers Ju 188 "''Rächer''" ("Avenger") was a German ''Luftwaffe'' high-performance medium bomber built during World War II, the planned follow-up to the Ju 88 with better performance and payload. It was produced only in limited numbers, d ...
* Junkers Ju 388
The Junkers Ju 388 ''Klaus Störtebeker, Störtebeker'' is a World War II German ''Luftwaffe'' Multirole combat aircraft, multi-role aircraft based on the Junkers Ju 88, Ju 88 airframe by way of the Junkers Ju 188, Ju 188. It differed from its pr ...
* Focke-Wulf Fw 190D
* Focke-Wulf Ta 152
The Focke-Wulf Ta 152 is a German high-altitude fighter and interceptor aircraft designed by Kurt Tank and produced by Focke-Wulf. It entered production too late and in insufficient numbers to have a significant role in the Second World War.
...
* Focke-Wulf Ta 154
The Focke-Wulf Ta 154 ''Moskito'' was a fast twin-engined night fighter aircraft designed by the Nazi Germany, German aeronautical engineer Kurt Tank and produced by the aircraft manufacturer Focke-Wulf. It was unofficially named ''Moskito'' due ...
* Messerschmitt Me 209-II
The second Me 209 design was a late World War II attempt by Willy Messerschmitt to create an enhanced version of ''Luftwaffe's'' primary fighter aircraft, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, Bf 109.Jackson 2005, p. 35. The Me 209, despite its designation, b ...
* Nord Noroit
The Nord 1400 Noroit was a French reconnaissance and air-sea rescue flying boat designed and built by Nord Aviation for the French Navy.
Development
The Noroit was an amphibian flying boat designed for the French Navy, a cantilever gullwing mono ...
* SNCASO SO.8000 Narval
Specifications (Jumo 213E)
See also
References
Notes
Bibliography
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External links
Jumo 213-powered Fw 190D engine startup video
Enginehistory.org's Junkers Jumo 213 page
{{Junkers Jumo aeroengines
Junkers aircraft engines
1940s aircraft piston engines
Inverted V12 aircraft engines
Inverted aircraft piston engines