Originally designed as an airliner in 1936 the Fw 200 was used in 1940 as a maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. Equipped with anti-shipping mines it carried out a number of attacks on British shipping during the early part of the Battle of Britain. These attacks intensified as the Battle went on and the Fw 200 is credited with sinking 90,000 tons of British shipping between August and October 1940. It was also used for occasional night raids over Britain.