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Germany's Messerschmitt Me 321 transport glider1
Messerschmitt Me 321 transport glider being towed by Heinkel He 111Z:
Messerschmitt Me 321A-1 transport glider:
Messerschmitt Me 321A-1 transport glider:
Design
The Messerschmitt Me 321 was designed to be a glider to supply troops during invasions.1
The Me 321 was made of welded steel tube and fabric or plywood covering.1
Prototype
The Me 321 prototype first flew on March 7, 1941.1
Production
Production ended in April 1942.1
- Me 321: 2001
- Me 321A-1: 11
Variants
- Me 321A-1: Pilot model1
- Me 321B-1: Larger cockpit for two pilots.1
Usage
The Me 321 was towed by three Messerschmitt Bf 110s or the five engined Heinkel He 111Z.1 To assist in takeoff some Me 321s had rocket boosters attached.1
Eastern Front
The Me 321 was first used on the Eastern Front in late 1941.1 It was used in delivering supplies to the rear areas and in assaults in the Baltic area.1
| Messerschmitt Me 3211 | Messerschmitt Me 321B1 | Messerschmitt Me 321B-21 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Heavy transport glider1 | ||
| Crew | 31 | ||
| Cargo | 48,500 lb1 22,000 kg1 |
||
| Dimensions | |||
| Span | 180' 5.5"1 55 m1 |
||
| Length | 93' 4"1 28.45 m1 |
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| Height | 31' 6"1 9.6 m1 |
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| Wing area | |||
| Weight | |||
| Empty | 26,896 lb1 12,200 kg1 |
||
| Loaded | 74,956 lb1 34,000 kg1 |
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| Performance | |||
| Towing speed | 112 mph1 180 kph1 |
||
| Gliding speed | 87 mph1 140 kph1 |
||
| Armament | |||
| Upper fuselage decking |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
