Blohm & Voss BV 238

Blohm & Voss BV 238
BV 238 V1 docked in port, June 1944 (Image Reference)
Class Overview
Type	Flying Boat Prototype
Technical Specifications
Length	142.3 ft (43.4 m)
Wing Area	3,875 feet squared (360 meters squared)
Height	43.96 ft (13.4 m)
Empty weight	120,593 lb (54,700 kg)
Full weight	187,393 lb (85,000 kg)
Engine	6x Daimler-Benz DB 603 V-12 Engines with 1,750 hp each
Speed	277 mph (446 kph;241 knots)
Range	4,474 miles (7,200 km)
Ceiling	23,950 ft (7,300 m)
Armament	Proposed 8x 13mm(0.512 in) MG 131 machine guns, 4 in nose and tail turrets 8x 13mm(0.512 in)MG 131 machine guns with 4 in two turrets on the wings 4x 13mm(0.512 in) MG 131 machine guns,with two mounted into a beam and waist positions 2x 20mm (0.787 in) MG 151/20 autocannon in forward dorsal turret Twenty 250 kg (551 lb) bombs and external pylons for four LCD 1200 Torpedoes, four 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) bombs, four Hs 293 missiles or four BV 141 planning bombs.
Crew	12
Passengers	possibly 300 troops
Usage
Role(s)	maritime reconnaisse/heavy bombing/transport
Year introduced	1944
Affiliation	Germany
[Source]

The Blohm & Voss 238 was a German Flying Boat prototype and was the largest aircraft ever produced by the Axis Powers.

Description

The BV-238 was powered by six Daimler-Benz DB-603 engines. The aircraft weighted an impressive 120,593 lb (54,700 kg) when empty, and that weight increased when fully-loaded to 187,393 lb (85,000 kg). For such a gigantic aircraft, the BV 238 had a good turn of speed, being able to go 277 mph (446 kph). Although the prototype was unarmed, the armament proposed to be placed on this aircraft was very heavy. It was to be armed with a total of 20 13 mm (0.512 in)MG 131 machine guns which were to be spread out in several positions across the aircraft. This defensive armament was also planned to encompass two 20 mm (0.787 in) MG151/20 autocannons in a forward dorsal turret. The BV 238 was also proposed to carry a gigantic payload of twenty 250 kg (551 lb) bombs, as well as external pylons for additional ordinance. The pylons were planned to carry either four torpedoes, four 1,000 kg (2,205 lb bombs) or four Hs 293 anti-shipping missiles.

Variants

• FGB 227- A 1/4th scale model of the BV-238 that was used during the plane's development.
• BV-238 V1- The sole completed BV-238 prototype.
• BV-238-Land- The planned Initial Land Based Derivative of the BV-238.
• BV-250- A planned land-based version of the BV-238 which was to be used for maritime reconnaissance and long-range transportation.