Hamburger Flugzeugbau
Blohm & Voss BV 222 Wiking
Blohm & Voss
BV 222 Wiking
Role Passenger, cargo or air ambulance Flying boatManufacturer Blohm & Voss
First flight 7 September 1940
Introduction 1941
Primary user Luftwaffe
Number built 13
.
History Hamburger Flugzeugbau
Blohm & Voss BV 222 Wiking
The Blohm & Voss BV 222 Wiking (Pronounced "Veeking") was a large, six-engined German flying boat of World War II. Originally designed as a commercial transport, it was the largest German seaplane to attain production status during the war
Prior to World War II, the German airline Luft Hansa had carried out many transatlantic mail flights. Their main interest was passenger transport, and they initiated a program in 1936 for which Hamburger Flugzeugbau offered the Ha 222, a very large flying boat designed by Dr. Richard Vogt. By the time an order for three was received and work began, the company had changed its name to that of its parent company, Blohm & Voss, and the design was redesignated the BV 222.
Operational history
V1 made seven flights between Hamburg and Kirkenes up to 19 August 1941, transporting a total of 65,000 kg (143,000 lb) of supplies and 221 wounded men, covering a distance of 30,000 km (19,000 mi) in total. After being overhauled at Hamburg, V1 was sent to Athens, from where it carried supplies for the Afrika Korps, making 17 flights between 16 October and 6 November 1941. The V1 was at this time unarmed, and was given an escort of two Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighters.
Following these flights, the V1 returned to Hamburg to have defensive armament fitted, comprising a 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 81 machine gun in the hull, two turret-mounted 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131 machine guns, and four 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 81s in waist mounts. The registration was changed to X4+AH at the same time and the V1 formed the basis for the new air transport squadron Lufttransportstaffel 222 (LTS 222). Between 1942 and 1943, the aircraft flew in the Mediterranean theatre, until in mid-February 1943 it sank following a collision with a submerged wreck while landing at Piraeus harbour.
Variants
- BV 222A :
- BV 222B : Proposed version powered by 1470 hp (1100 kW) Junkers Jumo 208 diesel engines.
- BV 222C : Production aircraft.
0
KmCeiling
0
KmCombat RANGE
0
Km/hAircraft Speed
0
Max Crew
Photo Gallery
Hamburger Flugzeugbau
Blohm & Voss BV 222 Wiking
Hamburger Flugzeugbau
Blohm & Voss BV 222 Wiking
General Info
-
-
- Crew: 11-14
- Capacity: 92 troops or 72 wounded on stretchers
- Length: 37 m (121 ft 5 in)
- Wingspan: 46 m (150 ft 11 in)
- Height: 10.9 m (35 ft 9 in)
- Wing area: 255 m2 (2,740 sq ft)
-
Powerplant
-
- Empty weight: 30,650 kg
- Gross weight: 45,990 kg
- Max takeoff weight: 49,000 kg
- Powerplant: 6 × Junkers Jumo 207C 6-cyl. liquid-cooled opposed piston 2-stroke diesel engines, 745 kW (999 hp) each for take-off
- Propellers: 3-bladed variable pitch tractor propellers
-
Performance
- Maximum speed: 330 km/h (210 mph, at 46,000 kg (101,413 lb) at sea level
-
- 390 km/h (242 mph) at 5,000 m
- Cruise speed: 300 km/h (190 mph continuous economical at sea level
-
- 344 km/h (214 mph) at 5,550 m
- Ferry range: 6,100 km (3,800 mi,
- Endurance: 28 hours at 245 km/h (152 mph) at sea level
- Service ceiling: 7,300 m (24,000 ft)
Armament
-
-
Guns:
- 3 × 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons (one each in fwd turret and two wing turrets).
- 5 × 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131 machine guns (One in nose and four in beam positions)
-
Guns:
.
Links to Youtube & Others
V1 made seven flights between Hamburg and Kirkenes up to 19 August 1941, transporting a total of 65,000 kg (143,000 lb) of supplies and 221 wounded men, covering a distance of 30,000 km (19,000 mi) in total.
Blohm & Voss
BV 222 Wiking
Following the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, plans were made to connect Germany and Japan by air using Luftwaffe aircraft modified for very long range flights.
Youtube Link
Three BV 222s were captured and subsequently operated by Allied forces: C-011, C-012 and C-013. C-012, captured at Sørreisa in Norway after the war along with V2, was flown by Captain Eric "Winkle" Brown
Read more in Hamburger Flugzeugbau
Blohm & Voss BV 222 Wiking
.
