Main Menu

Germany's Dornier Do 18 flying boat^1,2,3

Dornier Do 18D flying boat:

Dornier Do 18D-1 flying boat:

Design

The Dornier Do 18 was based on the prewar Dornier "Wal" flying boat that was used by Deutsche Luft Hansa as a trans Atlantic mail carrier.³

The Do 18 had a wide hull and sponsons which made it very stable in the water.¹ There were watertight compartments internally that helped prevent it from sinking.¹ Stümmel (sponsons) were mounted on the fuselage sides.¹

The engines were placed back to back over the centerline of the wing which allowed for them to keep out of the water.¹ Struts braced the tailplane.¹ The tail section was elevated to help avoid salt spray.¹

For navigation a loop aerial was mounted in the rear top of the fuselage which served as radio directing finding equipment.¹

Prototype

The Dornier Do 18V1 prototype first flew on March 15, 1935.^1,2,3

Production

• Prototypes: 3³
• Do 18D, Do 18E, Do 18F: 78³
  • Produced by Dornier and Weser.³
• Do 18G: 70²
• Do 18G, Do 18H: 71³
• Total: 100², 152³

Variants

• Do 18V1: Prototype.²
• Do 18D: Entered service in 1936¹ / September 1938². Had two 7.9 mm MGs.¹
• Do 18D-1: Powered by Jumo 205C engines.² Two 7.92 mm MGs, one in bow, one midship.²
• Do 18D-2: Powered by Jumo 205C engines.² Two 7.92 mm MGs, one in bow, one midship.²
• Do 18E: Civilian variant.³
• D0 18F: Civilian varient.³ Wing span was larger.³
• Do 18G: Increased armament to 20 mm cannon and 13 mm MG.^1,2,3 Had two Junkers Jumo 205D engines (700 HP).³
• Do 18H: Trainer.^2,3 Conversion of Do 18G to have dual controls.² Had two Junkers Jumo 205D engines (700 HP).³
• Do 18L: Converted from Do 18F.³ Had BMW 132 engines (865 HP).³
• Do 18N: In 1941 conversions of Do 18G to air-sea rescue craft.^1,2,3 Had two Junkers Jumo 205D engines (700 HP).³

Usage

Lufthansa

It's southern Atlantic mail route used four Do 18Es.¹

In March 1938 Lufthansa used a Do 18F to break a distance record for seaplanes.¹ It was catapult launched from the tender Westfalen and flew 5,213 miles / 8,390 km.¹

Coastal Groups

The Do 18s were assigned to Kistenfliegergruppen (coastal reconnaissance groups) to be used over the Baltic and North Sea.²

Air Sea Rescue Squadrons

The Do 18Ns were assigned to Seenotstaffeln that were stationed in Denmark, France, the Netherlands, and Norway.²

Some were seen painted all white with red crosses.³

Poland and Norwegian campaigns

Do 18Ds were used by reconnaissance units.¹

Battle of Britain

Used as air-sea rescue craft.¹

	Dornier Do 183	Dornier Do 18D3	Dornier Do 18G-11,2
Type	Maritime patrol3 Air sea rescue3		Reconnaissance flying boat1,2
Crew	4 - 53		41,2
Engine (Type)		2: Junkers Jumo 205C diesel3	2: Junkers Jumo 205D tandem diesel piston1,2 2: Junkers Jumo 205D3
Cylinders		63	Inline2, Inline 61
Cooling
HP		600 each3	700 each3
Propeller blades		3 each3	3 each3
Dimensions
Span	77' 9"3 23.7 m3		77' 9"1,2 23.7 m1,2
Length	63' 7"3 19.38 m3		63' 2"2, 63' 7"1 19.25 m2, 19.38 m1
Height	17' 9"3 5.41 m3		17' 5"1, 17' 5.5"2 5.32 m1,2
Wing area			1,049 ft2 2, 1,055 ft2 1 97.5 m2 2, 98 m2 1
Weight
Empty			12,900 lb2, 13,180 lb3, 13,184 lb1 5,850 kg2, 5,978 kg3, 5,980 kg1
Loaded			22,046 lb2, 23,800 lb1,3 10,000 kg2, 10,795 kg1,3
Performance
Speed @ sea level			162 mph2 260 kph2
Speed @ 6,560' / 2,000 m			166 mph3 267 kph3
Speed @ 6,562' / 2,000 m			166 mph1 267 kph1
Cruising speed			142 mph3 228 kph3
Patrol speed			106 mph3 170 kph3
Climb in 7' 48"			3,280'1 1,000 m1
Climb to 3,280' / 1,000 m			7.8 minutes3, 7.9 minutes2
Service ceiling			13,780'1,2, 17,200'3 4,200 m1,2, 5,240 m3
Range			2,174 miles2, 2,175 miles1,3 3,500 km1,2,3
Armament
Bow		1: 7.92 mm MG3	1: 13 mm MG1,3 1: 13 mm MG 1312
Mid upper position		1: 7.92 mm MG3
Dorsal turret			1: 20 mm1,3 1: 20 mm MG 1512
Bombs			2: 110 lb1 2: 50 kg1
Under wing racks	1,100 lb3 500 kg3

Sources:

1. Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
2. Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
3. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998

---