Blohm & Voss BV 222

The Blohm & Voss BV 222 Wiking (Viking) was a large, six-engined German flying boat of World War II, and the largest flying boat to achieve operational status during the war.

Design and development
Prior to World War II, the German airline Deutsche Lufthansa had carried out many transatlantic mail flights. However, their main interest was passenger transport, and they initiated a program in 1936 that culminated in an order for three BV 222 flying boats designed by Richard Vogt.

Construction of the first prototype, V1, began in January 1938, with construction of the V2 and V3 following within weeks. V1 made its test flight on 7 September 1940, carrying the civil registration D-ANTE. During trials it demonstrated that it could carry up to 92 passengers, or 72 patients on stretchers over short distances at a maximum speed of 239 mph (385 km/h).[1] The flight characteristics were found to be satisfactory, but with some improvements required. Further trials lasted until December 1940, when the V1 passed into Luftwaffe service, receiving a military paint scheme and the registration CC+EQ (later X4+AH).

Specifications (BV 222C)

General characteristics

Crew: 11-14
Capacity: 92 troops [12]
Length: 37 m (121 ft 4⅔ in)
Wingspan: 46 m (150 ft 11 in)
Height: 10.9 m (35 ft 9⅛ in)
Wing area: 255 m² (2,744.8 ft²)
Empty weight: 30,715 kg (67,572 lb)
Loaded weight: 45,683 kg (100,503 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 49,100 kg (108,030 lb)
Powerplant: 6× Jumo 207C inline diesel engine, 745.7 kW (1,000 hp) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 390 km/h (242 mph, 210 knots) at 5,000 m (16,400 ft)
Cruise speed: 304 km/h (189 mph, 164 knots) at sea level
Range: 6,100 km (3,790 mi, 3,296 NM)
Service ceiling: 7,300 m[13] (23,950 ft)
Rate of climb: 2.4 m/s (473 ft/min)

Armament

Guns:

Three 20mm MG 151 cannons (one each in forward turret and two wing turrets).
Five 13mm MG 131 machine guns (One in nose and four in beam positions)