NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Blohm und Voss BV 222

The Bv222 Wiking six engined flying boat was originally ordered in September 1937 by Duetsche Luft Hansa as a civil flying boat, but was quickly taken over as a military transport. A dorsal gun turret was added behind the cockpit. Rearward facing machine gun turrets were added on both wings. Access in flight through the wing was via a tubular wing spar of a metre in diameter. Engineers could also reach the two stroke diesel engines in flight via the same spar.

Originally the type was powered by BMW Bramo Fanfir 323R diesel radial engines. Later aircraft were powered by six 1,000hp Junkers Jumo 207C inline diesel engines. The use of diesel engines permitted refueling at sea by U-boats. The Bv-222-C13 aircraft was a sole example fitted with Jumo 205C engines and later Jumo 205D.

A Blohm and Voss BV 222 in drydock.

The type was noted for a long flat floor inside the cabin and a large square cargo door aft of the wing on the starboard side. The flat floor was a welcome novelty for that era. Only thirteen aircraft were thought to have been completed. Early aircraft were identified V1 through V8. Production examples were designated C09 to C13.

Contents

1 In Service

2 Specifications

2.1 General Characteristics
2.2 Performance
2.3 Armament

3 Related content

In Service

There still remains doubt about the fate of aircraft C11 and C13 said to have been flown to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, USA for testing. There is no corroboration and any further information is welcomed from readers who can clarify their fate.

Several aircraft early in the war were used to supply forces in North Africa, operating mainly to Tripoli. Other aircraft of 1.(Fern/See) Auflk arungsgruppe 129 flew from a base at the salt water lagoon of Biscarrose in the bay of Biscay. Bv-222-V3 and V5 aircraft were destroyed at their moorings there in June 1943 following an attack by RAF De Havilland Mosquitos.

The V8 and V6 aircraft were shot down in separate incidents over the Mediterranean. The V1 aircraft was destroyed in a landing accident at Piraeus harbour. The C10 aircraft was shot down by RAF nightfighters in late 1943.

Following the Normandy invasion remaining Bv-222 aircraft were formed into a unit controlled by the ultra secret KG 200. Of these, C9 was destroyed at her moorings in the Baltic port of Travemunde by P-51 Mustang fighters. Late in the war her sisters V7 and V4 were scuttled at Travemunde and Kiel Hortenau, respectively.

The V2 and C12 aircraft were captured at Soreisa in Norway after the war and flown to Trondheim. This pair of aircraft had been readied at the instructions of Hitler's pilot Hans Bauer in 1945 to fly the Fuhrer to Japan via Greenland. These aircraft were prepared before Hitler's death, but interestingly the operation was still intended to proceed even after this according to orders dated May 1. A copy of this order to Oberstleutnant Lenschow, Kdr K-Stelle, Travemuende Fliegerhorst, still exists in archive form. The navigator of one aircraft involved was Hauptman Ernst Koneig and he has come forward to corroborate details at the age of 93. Two of the aircraft which had been prepared for this mission were destroyed at their moorings in Germany (C9 ?)

The C12 aircraft was flown by Captain Eric Brown to the RAF station at Calshot in 1946 with RAF markings "VP501". It was eventually scrapped in 1947. The V2 aircraft briefly wore US markings in 1946. Strangely the V2 aircraft had identification markings given to her from the original V5 aircraft for Operation Schatzgraber. V2 was later scuttled by the British who filled it with Bv222 spare parts from the base at Ilsvika to weigh her down. V2 was towed to a position between Fagervika and Monk's island where it is thought she now rests perfectly preserved on the seabed, owing to low oxygen levels in the water. There are plans to raise and restore this aircraft.

There were claims after the war in a German newspaper that at least one Bv-222 flew via the pole to Sakahlin Island, then part of Japanese territory prior to April 1944 whilst wearing Deutsche Luft Hansa markings.

At least one aircraft V4, is said to have shot down a US Navy PB4Y-1 Liberator of VB-105 (BU#63917) commanded by Lt Evert. This epic air battle occurred October 22, 1943. Since the war this has often been quoted as a Bv-222 shooting down an Avro Lancaster.

Specifications

General Characteristics

Crew: 16
Capacity: 92 troops
Length: 121 ft 4.75 in (37 m)
Wingspan: 150 ft 11 in (46 m)
Height: 35 ft 9 in (10.90 m)
Wing area: 2,744.89 ft (255 m )
Empty: 67,572 lb (30650 kg)
Maximum fuel: 40,418 lb ( kg)
Maximum takeoff: 108,027 lb (49000 kg)
Powerplant: 6x Junkers Jumo 207C inline diesel engines, 1,000 hp ( kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 242 mph (390 km/h)
Cruising speed: 139 kts (257 km/h)
Endurance: 28 hours
Range: 3,787 miles (6095 km)
Service ceiling: 23,950 ft (7300 m)
Rate of climb: 492.13 ft/min (2.50 m/s)
Wing loading: lb/ft ( kg/m )
Power/Mass: hp/lb ( kW/kg)

Armament

Machine Canons: 3x20mm
Machine Guns: 4x13mm