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Germany's Arado Ar 232 Transport1
Arado Ar 232:
Design
The Ar 232 V1 and Ar 232 V2 prototypes had two BMW 801 radial engines, the same as used in the Fw 190.1 However, the Fw 190 received priority for the engines.1 The Ar 232 V3 prototype had four BMW Bramo 323R engines installed.1
The first Ar 232 flew in the summer of 1941.1
To help land and take off on rough terrain, there were 11 pairs of wheels on independently sprung suspension legs.1 When not needed they were partially retracted and the tricycle main wheels were used.1
Production
Eight pre-series, Ar 232B-0 were completed.1
Usage
The Ar 232B-08 (V11) operated in Norway with it's 11 pairs of wheels replaced by an 8 m long ski.1
In 1944, four of the Ar 232B-0s and a Ar 232A were used on special missions over Russia.1 These were flown out of Finland and Norway.1 One of the aircraft crashed near Moscow on one of these missions.1
After World War II
The Allies used the captured Ar 232s to transport personnel and captured aircraft back to the United Kingdom.1
| Ar 232B-01 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Transport1 |
| Crew | |
| Engine (Type) | 4: BMW Bramo 323R-21 |
| Cylinders | |
| Cooling | Air1 |
| HP | 1,2001 |
| Propeller blades | 31 |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 109' 11"1 |
| Length | 77' 2"1 |
| Height | 18' 8"1 |
| Wing area | 1,535 ft2 1 142.6 m2 1 |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 28,164 lb1 12,802 kg1 |
| Loaded | 46,595 lb1 21,135 kg1 |
| Performance | |
| Speed @ sea level | |
| Speed @ 15,100' / 4,600 m | 211 mph1 340 kph1 |
| Climb | |
| Service ceiling | 26,250'1 8,000 m1 |
| Range | 660 miles1 1,060 km1 |
| Armament | |
| Nose | 1: 13 mm MG 1311 |
| Rounds | 5001 |
| Dorsal turret | 1: 20 mm1 |
| Rear fuselage | 1 or 2: 13 mm MG 1311 |
| Bombs | |
| Production | 301 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
