Blohm and Voss BV 238

Design

The BV 238 V1, bearing the four-letter Stammkennzeichen factory radio code of RO + EZ, first flew in April 1944. Six 1,287 kW (1,750 hp) Daimler-Benz DB 603 inverted V12 piston engines were used in total, arranged in three forward-facing engine nacelles on each wing. Each engine's coolant radiator was placed in a chin cowl directly under the engine, bearing an almost identical appearance to those fitted to the Do 217M medium bomber and some examples of the Do 217J night fighter, possibly as standardized Kraftei ("power-egg") unitized engine modules.

Destruction

The sole completed BV 238 was strafed and sunk while docked on Schaalsee. Sources differ regarding the date, the attackers and the attack aircraft used.

According to American sources, the BV 238 V1 was destroyed September 1944 by P-51 Mustangs of the US 361st Fighter Group. The lead Mustang, Detroit Miss, was piloted by Lieutenant Urban "Ben" Drew, and another was piloted by William D. Rogers. Drew was told after the attack that he had destroyed a BV 222 Wiking, another large flying boat. He continued to believe this was the case until he was contacted by the BBC in 1974 for a documentary and told that their research had determined that the aircraft he had destroyed was actually the BV 238 V1, undergoing flight tests at the seaplane base at Schaalsee.

German sources, based in part on the testimony of nearby inhabitants and Blohm & Voss employees, claim that the BV 238 V1 was discovered by the RAF between 23 April and 26 April 1945. The Allies were reportedly concerned that Adolf Hitler could use it to escape to South America, and so an attack followed shortly afterwards. The aircraft was attacked by Hawker Typhoons, or Hawker Tempests. Their strafing set the engines alight, and the aircraft burned and sank with only part of a wing remaining above the surface. According to the British, the attack happened on 4 May 1945. During the strafing, the back of the flying boat broke and the forward part of the plane sank into the water.

Other prototypes

Production of two other prototypes was begun but neither was finished. A ¼-scale model of the BV 238 was made during the plane's development for testing. Known as the FGP 227, it made a forced landing during its first flight and did not provide any data to the program.

Variants

Data from Aircraft of the Third Reich Vol.1

BV 238 V1

The only completed prototype.

BV 238-Land

The initial designation for the land-based derivative of the BV 238.

BV 250

A land-based derivative of the BV 238 for use as a strategic maritime reconnaissance aircraft and long-range transport.

Specifications (BV 238A-02 (V6))

Data from Aircraft of the Third Reich Vol.1, Blohm & Voss Bv 222 "Wiking" – Bv 238

General characteristics

Crew: ca 12

Length: 43.35 m (142 ft 3 in)

Wingspan: 60.17 m (197 ft 5 in)

Height: 12.8 m (42 ft 0 in)

Wing area: 360.16 m² (3,876.7 sq ft)

Empty weight: 54,780 kg (120,769 lb)

Gross weight: 90,000 kg (198,416 lb) for reconnaissance missions

Max takeoff weight: 100,000 kg (220,462 lb)

Powerplant: 6 × Daimler-Benz DB 603G inverted V-12 liquid-cooled piston engines, 1,417 kW (1,900 hp) each for take-off
1,163 kW (1,560 hp) at 7,375 m (24,196 ft)

Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propellers

Performance

Maximum speed: 350 km/h (217 mph; 189 kn) at 60,000 kg (132,277 lb) weight at sea level

Landing speed: 143 km/h (77 kn, 89 mph)

Range: 6,620 km (4,113 mi; 3,575 nmi) at 365 km/h (227 mph) at 92,000 kg (202,825 lb) at 2,000 m (6,562 ft)

Service ceiling: 7,300 m (23,950 ft)

Wing loading: 261 kg/m² (53 lb/sq ft)

Armament

Guns: 8 x 13 mm (0.512 in) MG 131 machine guns with 1,800 rpg; 4 in each nose and tail turret

Bombs: 20 x 250 kg (551 lb) SC 250 bombs in wing bomb bays