Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia

The Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant ("Giant") was a German military transport aircraft of World War II. It was a powered variant of the Me 321 military glider and was the largest land-based transport aircraft to fly during the war. In total, 213 were made, with 15 being converted from the Me 321.

The Me 323 was the result of a 1940 German requirement for a large assault glider in preparation for Operation Sea Lion, the projected invasion of Great Britain. The DFS 230 light glider had already proven its worth in the Battle of Fort Eben-Emael in Belgium (the first ever assault by gliderborne troops), and would later be used successfully in the invasion of Crete in 1941.

Development

View into the cockpit of the Me 323

However, in order to mount an invasion across the English Channel, the Germans would need to be able to airlift vehicles and other heavy equipment as part of an initial assault wave. Although Operation Sea Lion was cancelled, the requirement for a heavy air transport capability remained, with the focus shifting to the forthcoming Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union..

Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) Messerschmitt

Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) Messerschmitt
Messerschmitt Me-323 Gigant

General Info

Crew: 5
Capacity: 130 troops or 10,000–12,000 kg (22,000–26,500 lb) payload
Length: 28.2 m (92 ft 6 in)
Wingspan: 55.2 m (181 ft 1 in)
Height: 10.15 m (33 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 300 m² (3,200 sq ft)

Powerplant

Empty weight: 27,330 kg (60,252 lb) Gross weight: 29,500 kg (65,036 lb) Max takeoff weight: 43,000 kg Powerplant: 6 × Gnome-Rhône 14N 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines 1,180 PS (1,164 hp; 867.9 kW) take-off power Propellers: 3-bladed Chauvière variable-pitch propeller

Performance

Maximum speed: 285 km/h (177 mph
Cruise speed: 218 km/h (135 mph,
Range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi)
Ferry range: 1,100 km 680 mi
Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 3.6 m/s (710 ft/min)

Armament

Guns: multiple 7.92 mm MG 15, MG 81 or 13 mm MG 131 machine guns

Special Links Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) Messerschmitt

Links to Youtube & Others

Some Me 321s were converted to Me 323s, but most were built as six-engined aircraft from the beginning. Early models were fitted with wooden, two-blade propellers, while later versions had metal, three-blade, variable-pitch versions.

Messerschmitt
Me 323 Gigant ("Giant")

By September 1942, Me 323s were being delivered for use in the Tunisian campaign. They entered service in the Mediterranean theatre in November 1942.

Youtube Link

A total of 198 Me 323s were built before production ceased in April 1944. Several production versions were built, beginning with the D-1. Later D- and E- versions.

Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) Messerschmitt AG
Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant

Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant ("Giant")

.

History Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) Messerschmitt AG
Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant ("Giant")