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Germany's Arado Ar 196 floatplane1,2
Arado Ar 196:
Arado Ar 196:
Arado Ar 196:
Arado Ar 196 R:
Design
The Arado Ar 196 was to be the Heinkel He 50 replacement as it was becoming obsolete.1,2
Trials were being completed just as the war started.1
Prototypes
Prototypes had a 2 blade propeller.1
The Ar 196V1 prototype first flew in MAy 1938.2
Production
It was built by Fokker and SNCA of Germany.1
- Prototypes: 52
- Preproduction: 102
- Ar 196A: 5262
- Ar 196A-1: 202
- Ar 196B: 5462
Variants
- Ar 196V1: Prototype.2 Single central float.2
- Ar 196V2: Prototype.2 Single central float.2
- Ar 196V3: Prototype.2 Twin floats.2
- Ar 196V4: Prototype.2 Twin floats.2
- Ar 196V5: Prototype.2 Twin floats.2
- Ar 196A-0: Preproduction.2
- Ar 196A-1: Production version.2
Usage
The Ar 196s were also used in the English Channel for air-sea rescues.1
In 1940 two Ar 196s helped in the capture the HMS Seal submarine.1,2 The submarine had been damaged by a mine off the coast of Norway.1 Two Ar 196s based in Aalborg, Denmark attacked the submarine and prevented it from submerging.1 The Kriegsmarine then captured the submarine.1
Warships
The Admiral Graf Spee was the first warship supplied with the Ar 196.1 Eventually all capital ships and heavy cruisers had them.1
The battleships Bismark and Tirpitz had six Arado Ar 196s each.2 The Gneisenau and Scharnhort each had four.2 Pocket battleships and light cruisers had two Ar 196s.2 Heavy cruisers had three Ar 196s onboard.2
Land Based
The Ar 196 was also used from land bases in the North Sea, Baltic, English Channel, and the Bay of Biscay.2
Many Uses
The Ar 196 was used for coastal patroling, reconniassance, anti-submarine, light bombing, and convoy escorting.2
Used in Which Countries
Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, and Romania all used the Ar 196.2
| Arado Ar 1961 | Arado Ar 196A-32 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Shipboard and coast patrol craft1 Floatplane1 Reconnaissance seaplane2 |
|
| Crew | 21,2 | |
| Engine (Type) | BMW 123K1 BMW 132K2 |
|
| Cylinders | Radial 91,2 | |
| Cooling | Air1 | |
| HP | 9002, 9601 | |
| Propeller blades | 31,2 | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Span | 40' 8"1, 40' 10"2 12.4 m1, 12.45 m2 |
|
| Length | 36' 1"1,2 11 m1,2 |
|
| Height | 14' 6"2, 14' 7"1 4.32 m2, 4.45 m1 |
|
| Wing area | 306 ft2 1 28.4 m2 1 |
|
| Weight | ||
| Empty | 6,592 lb1 2,990 kg1 |
6,580 lb2 2,985 kg2 |
| Loaded | 8,223 lb1 3,730 kg1 |
8,223 lb2 3,730 kg2 |
| Performance | ||
| Speed @ 13,120' / 4,000 m |
193 mph1 310 kph1 |
193 mph2 310 kph2 |
| Cruising speed | 166 mph2 267 kph2 |
|
| Climb | 1,358'/minute2 414 m/minute2 |
|
| Service ceiling | 23,000'1 7,000 m1 |
22,965'2 7,000 m2 |
| Range | 665 miles1 1,070 km1 |
670 miles2 1,078 km2 |
| Armament | ||
| Wings | 2: 20 mm1 | 2: 20 mm2 |
| Upper cowling | 1: 7.9 mm MG2 | |
| Rear cockpit | 1 or 2: 7.92 mm MG 151 | 1 or 2: 7.9 mm MG2 |
| Bombs - under wing | 2: 110 lb1 2: 50 kg1 |
2: 110 lb2 2: 50 kg2 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
