Blohm & Voss BV 141
| Blohm & Voss BV 141 | |
|---|---|
 |
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| BV 141B featuring its assymetrical gondola and tailplane. | |
| Role | Reconnaissance, light bomber[1] |
| Manufacturer | Blohm & Voss |
| Designer | Richard Vogt |
| First flight | 25 February 1938[1] |
| Primary user | Luftwaffe |
| Number built | 13[1]–28[2] |
The Blohm & Voss BV 141 was a World War II German tactical reconnaissance aircraft. It is notable for its uncommon structural asymmetry. While actually performing well it was never ordered into full scale production. Contributing factors to that decision were unavailability of the preferred engine, and competition of another tactical reconnaissance, the Focke-Wulf Fw 189.
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[edit] Development
In 1937, the German Air Ministry - the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) - issued a specification for a single-engine reconnaissance aircraft with optimal visual characteristics. The preferred contractors were Arado with their Arado Ar 198, but the prototype proved unsuccessful.[1] The winner, as would later occur, became the Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Rama, as much as its twin-boom design did not match the requirement of a single engine aircraft.[1] Blohm & Voss (Hamburger Flugzeugbau) although not invited to participate, pursued as their private venture something far more radical.[1] The proposal of chief designer Dr. Richard Vogt was the unique asymmetric BV 141.
[edit] Design
The perspex-glazed crew gondola on the starboard side strongly resembled that found on the Fw 189, and housed the pilot, observer and rear gunner, while the fuselage on the port side led smoothly from the 746 kW (1,000 hp)[citation needed] Bramo 123 radial engine to a tail unit.
At first glance, it would seem that the placement of weight would have induced tendency to roll, but in fact the weight was evenly supported by lift of the wings.
In terms of thrust vs drag asymmetry, the countering of induced yaw was a more complicated matter. At low airspeed, it was calculated to be mostly alleviated because of a phenomenon known as P-factor, while at normal airspeed it proved to be easily controlled with trimming.
The tailplane was symmetrical at first,[1] but in the 141B it became asymmetrical – starboard tailplane virtually removed – to improve the rear gunner's field of view and fire.[1]
[edit] Response
Three prototypes and an evaluation batch of five BV 141As were produced, backed personally by Ernst Udet,[1] but the RLM decided on 4 April 1940[1] that they were underpowered, although it was also noted they otherwise exceeded[1] the requirements. By the time a batch of 12 BV 141Bs were built with the more powerful BMW 801 engines, they were too late to make an impression, as RLM already decided to put the Fw 189 into production. Indeed, an urgent need for BMW 801 engines for use in the Fw 190 fighter aircraft reduced any chance that the BV 141B would see production.
Vogt came up with several other asymmetric designs, including piston-jet P.194.01,[1] but none were actually built.
Several wrecked BV 141s were found by advancing Allied forces. One was recovered by British forces and returned to England for examination. None survive today.
[edit] Variants
Contrary to much that has been written,[3] all twenty BV 141B ordered were produced and delivered.[2] The complete record of BV 141 production, either a German civil registration or pre-military, four letter Stammkennzeichen radio code:[2]
- Prototypes
- BV 141 V1 ; WNr 141-00-0171 ; D-OTTO then BL+AU, damaged[1]
- BV 141 V2 ; WNr 141-00-0172 ; D-ORJE then PC+BA; chronologically, the first one built and the only one known under old "Ha" designation as "Ha 141"[1]
- BV 141 V3 ; WNr 141-00-0359 ; D-OLGA then BL+AA
- Preseries BV 141 A-0
- BV 141 A-01 (V4) ; WNr 01010360 ; D-OLLE; damaged[1]
- BV 141 A-02 (V5) ; WNr 01010361 ; BL+AB
- BV 141 A-03 (V6) ; WNr 01010362 ; BL+AC
- BV 141 A-04 (V7) ; WNr 01010363 ; BL+AD
- BV 141 A-05 (V8) ; WNr 01010364 ; BL+AE
- Preseries BV 141 B-0
The first to have BMW 801 engine. About 2 m longer and 2 m wider than A-05.[1]
- BV 141 B-01 (V9) ; WNr 0210001 ; NC+QZ; first flown 9 January 1941, had severe structural problem[1]
- BV 141 B-02 (V10) ; WNr 0210002 ; NC+RA; first flown 1 June 1941[1]
- BV 141 B-03 (V11) ; WNr 0210003 ; NC+RB
- BV 141 B-04 (V12) ; WNr 0210004 ; NC+RC
- BV 141 B-05 (V13) ; WNr 0210005 ; NC+RD
- BV 141 B-06 (V14) ; WNr 0210006 ; NC+RE
- BV 141 B-07 (V15) ; WNr 0210007 ; NC+RF
- BV 141 B-08 (V16) ; WNr 0210008 ; NC+RG
- BV 141 B-09 (V17) ; WNr 0210009 ; NC+RH
- BV 141 B-010 (V18); WNr 0210010 ; NC+RI
- Series BV 141 B-1
- WNr 0210011 ; GK+GA
- WNr 0210012 ; GK+GB
- WNr 0210013 ; GK+GC
- WNr 0210014 ; GK+GD
- WNr 0210015 ; GK+GE
- WNr 0210016 ; GK+GF
- WNr 0210017 ; GK+GG
- WNr 0210018 ; GK+GH
- WNr 0210019 ; GL+AG; rebuilt D-OTTO[4]
- WNr 0210020 ; GL+AH; rebuilt D-OLLE[4]
[edit] Specifications (BV 141B-02)
Data from Rys[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 3, pilot, observer and rear-gunner.
- Length: 13.96 m ()
- Wingspan: 17.46 m ()
- Height: 3.60 m ()
- Wing area: 53,10 m² ()
- Empty weight: 4,700 kg (10,363 lb)
- Loaded weight: 5,800 kg ()
- Powerplant: 1 × BMW 801 radial piston, 1,160 kW (1,560 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 438 km/h (272 mph) at 5000 m
- Range: 1,900 km ()
- Service ceiling: 10,000 m (32,800 ft)
- Rate of climb: 570 m/min[citation needed] (1,860 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 60.2 kg/m²[citation needed] (12.3 lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: 448 W/kg[citation needed] (0.274 hp/lb)
Armament
- Guns: fixed 2 × 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns and rear-mounted 2 × 7.92 mm MG 15 machine guns
- Bombs: 4 × 50 kg
[edit] See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Rys, pp. 55–60
- ^ a b c Files of the Hamburger-Werke.[citation needed]
- ^ Rys (2004) says V13 was the last one actually built, but notes the discovered aircraft "mysteriously" marked "(G)K+GH".
- ^ a b Jet & Prop Magazine, an article by Lars Kambeck.[citation needed]
[edit] Bibliography
- Green, William. Warplanes of the Third Reich. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 4th impression 1979, p. 81-86. ISBN 0-356-02382-6.
- Smith J.Richard and Kay, Anthony. German Aircraft of the Second World War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 3rd impression 1978, p. 66-71. ISBN 0-370-00024-2.
- Taylor, Michael. The World's Strangest Aircraft. London: Grange Books plc, 1999. ISBN 1-85627-869-7.
- Wood, Tony and Gunston, Bill. Hitler's Luftwaffe: A pictorial history and technical encyclopedia of Hitler's air power in World War II. London: Salamander Books Ltd., 1977, p. 135. ISBN 0-86101-005-1.
- Rys, Marek (2004). "Blohm und Voss BV 141" (in Polish) in Nowa Technika Wojskowa (New Military Technology) 11/2004, p. 55-64. Warsaw: Magnum-X. ISSN 1230-1655.
[edit] External links
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