The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger (English: Shrike) is a German single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s and widely used during World War II. Along with its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the Fw 190 became the backbone of the Luftwaffe's Jagdwaffe (Fighter Force). The twin-row BMW 801 radial engine that powered most operational versions enabled the Fw 190 to lift larger loads than the Bf 109, allowing its use as a day fighter, fighter-bomber, ground-attack aircraft and, to a lesser degree, night fighter.The Fw 190A started flying operationally over France in August 1941, and quickly proved superior in all but turn radius to the Royal Air Force's main front-line fighter, the Spitfire Mk. V, especially at low and medium altitudes. The 190 maintained superiority over Allied fighters until the introduction of the improved Spitfire Mk. IX in July 1942. It remained a formidable foe in the west until the arrival of the P-51 Mustang in large numbers in 1944; the Mustang easily outperformed the Fw 190 at high altitudes, but the German pilots were forced to fly there in order to attack the growing fleets of US bombers.In November/December 1942, the Fw 190 made its air combat debut on the Eastern Front, finding much success in the specialised ground attack units called Schlachtgeschwader (Battle Wings or Strike Wings) from October 1943 onwards. Though Soviet pilots considered the Bf 109 the greater threat, the Fw 190 and its pilots proved just as capable as the 109 in aerial combat. In the opinion of German pilots who flew both, the Fw 190 provided increased firepower and, at low to medium altitude, manoeuvrability. It was not until very late in the war that Soviet aircraft truly matched it in combat.The Fw 190A series' performance decreased at high altitudes (usually 6,000 m (20,000 ft) and above), which reduced its effectiveness as a high-altitude interceptor and made it perform poorly relative to the Mustang. This pro