BV 138 Seedrache file photo [5900]

BV 138 Seedrache

CountryGermany
ManufacturerBlohm & Voß
Primary RoleSeaplane
Maiden Flight15 July 1937

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe BV 138 Seedrache ("Sea Dragon") long range reconnaissance flying boats were built for the German air force Luftwaffe for maritime reconnaissance. After three prototype aircraft and six operational field testers, one A-1 variant aircraft operated in Norway during the German invasion in Apr 1940. In the following month, they officially entered military service with the B-0 variant design. The BV 138 Seedrache aircraft were powered by three engines (one on each wing and the third mounted on top of the fuselage) and had twin-boom tails, both characteristics were rather different than the usual designs of the era. Most of them were equipped with the FuG 200 Hohentwiel search radar for anti-shipping duties, while others used the room for passenger space (up to 10 passengers) or used the weight capacity for bombs or depth charges (up to 500-kilograms) instead. Aircraft of the special BV 138 MS variant carried degaussing devices to deal with naval magnetic mines. A total of 297 units were built between 1938 and 1943.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Apr 2008

SPECIFICATIONS

B-1
MachineryThree Junkers Jumo 205D diesel engines rated at 880hp each
Armament2x20mm MG 151 cannons, 1x13mm MG 131 machine guns, 3x7.92mm MG 15 machine guns; optional 500kg of bombs or space for 10 passengers
Crew6
Span26.94 m
Length19.85 m
Height6.60 m
Wing Area112.00 m²
Weight, Empty8,100 kg
Weight, Loaded14,700 kg
Speed, Maximum275 km/h
Service Ceiling5,000 m
Range, Normal5,000 km

Photographs

BV 138 Seedrache aircraft in flight, Germany, circa late 1937BV 138 Seedrache aircraft on land, date unknownThree BV 138 Seedrache aircraft aboard a seaplane tender, date unknownBV 138 MS Seedrache minesweeping aircraft being lifted onto a seaplane tender, date unknown
See all 5 photographs of BV 138 Seedrache Seaplane



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BV 138 Seedrache Seaplane Photo Gallery
BV 138 Seedrache aircraft in flight, Germany, circa late 1937
See all 5 photographs of BV 138 Seedrache Seaplane


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