Germany's Blohm und Voss Bv 222 "Wiking" reconnaissance flying boat1,2

Blohm und Voss Bv 222 "Wiking":
Germany's Blohm und Voss BV 222 Wiking flying boat

Blohm und Voss Bv 222 "Wiking":
Germany's Blohm und Voss BV 222 Wiking flying boat

Design

The Bv 222 was designed to fulfill a 1937 Deutsche Lufthansa requirement for a cross Atlantic flying boat.2

Deutsche Lufthansa (DLH) ordered three Bv 222s in September 1939 to be used as a 24 berth transatlantic liner.1

Was initially powered by six BMW Bramo Fafnir 323 R radial engines.1

Some BV-222s were outfitted with search radar and powered gun turrets for use in long-range reconnaissance in the Atlantic to work with the U-Boats.1

To build a Bv 222 required 35,000 man hours.1

The hull was a corrosion resistant alloy which was from 1/8" - 1/2" / 3 - 5 mm in thickness.1

Prototype

The Bv 222V-1 prototype flew on September 7, 1940 but with the war, DLH no longer needed them.1,2 The first prototype flew its first cargo flight to Norway in July 1941.1

Production

Variants

Usage

The first three prototypes and five pre-production vehicles formed the Luft-Transportstaffel (See) 222.1

In October 1943 a Bv 222 shot down a Lancaster over the Atlantic.1

The Bv 222 was used for transportation in the Mediterranean and by the end of 1942 carried 1,377 tons of cargo, 17,000 troops, and 2,400 casualties.1

Seven survived the war and two were flown to the United States for evaluation.1,2

  Blohm and Voss Bv 2222 Blohm and Voss Bv 222C1
Type Transport flying boat2
Reconnaissance flying boat2
Reconnaissance flying boat1
Transport1
Crew 112 61
Pilots (2), flight engineers (2), navigator, radio operator1
Passengers 1102  
Engine (Type) 6: BMW Bramo Fafnir 323R2 6: Junkers Jumo 207 207C inline diesel1
OR 6: Junkers Jumo diesel2  
Cylinders BMW: Radial 92
Junkers: Inline2
 
Cooling    
HP BMW: 1,000 each2
Junkers: 980 each2
1,000 each1
Propeller blades    
Dimensions    
Span 150' 11"2
46 m2
150' 11"1
46 m1
Length 121' 4.5"2
37 m2
121' 5"1
37 m1
Height 35' 9"2
10.9 m2
35' 9"1
10.9 m1
Wing area   2,745 ft2 1
255 m2 1
Weight    
Empty   67,570 lb2, 67,572 lb1
30,650 kg1,2
Loaded   108,026 lb2, 108,027 lb1
49,000 kg1,2
Performance    
Speed @ 16,400' /
5,000 m
  242 mph1,2
389 kph2, 390 kph1
Cruising speed   214 mph2
344 kph2
Climb    
Service ceiling   23,950'1,2
7,300 m1,2
Range   3,787 miles1, 3,790 miles2
6,095 km1, 6,100 km2
Maximum endurance   28 hours2
Armament   3: 20 mm MG 1511
5: 13 mm MG 1311
Dorsal turret(s) 1: 20 mm2  
Wing turrets 1: 20 mm2  
Bow 1: 13 mm2  
Beam positions 4: 7.92 mm MG2  

Sources:

  1. Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
  2. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
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