Top speed 350 km/h Length 13 m | Wingspan 16 m First flight 1935 Designer Claude Dornier | |
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Dornier do 22 planet models 1 48
The Dornier Do 22 was a German seaplane developed in the 1930s. Despite good performance, it was built only in small numbers and entirely for the export market. The type was operated in the Second World War by Greece, Yugoslavia and Finland.
Contents
- Dornier do 22 planet models 1 48
- Development and design
- Operational history
- Variants
- Operators
- Specifications Do 22
- References
Development and design
In 1934, Dornier's Swiss subsidiary, based at its at factory at Altenrhein designed a three-seat, single-engined military floatplane, the Do C3; two prototypes were built, with the first flown in 1935.
It was a parasol wing monoplane of fabric covered all-metal construction. Its slightly swept-back wing was attached to the fuselage by bracing struts, its two floats were braced to both the wing and fuselage. It was powered by a Hispano-Suiza 12Ybrs engine driving a three-bladed propeller, and could carry a single torpedo or bombs under the fuselage, defensive armament was one fixed forward firing machine gun, two in the rear cockpit and one in a ventral tunnel.
The first production model, known as the Do 22/See when fitted with floats, did not fly until 15 July 1938 from Dornier's factory at Friedrichshafen, Germany, although it did incorporate parts made in Switzerland. While the Luftwaffe was not interested in the aircraft, examples were sold to Yugoslavia, Greece and Latvia. In March 1939, a prototype with conventional landing gear (the Do 22L), was completed and test flown, but it did not enter production.
Operational history
The Greek Do 22s were destroyed during the German invasion of the Balkans in 1941, but the crews of eight of the Yugoslav machines successfully evaded capture or destruction by fleeing to Egypt. There they flew under the control of the British Royal Air Force until the lack of spare parts made the aircraft unusable.
The four Latvian aircraft had not been delivered when the Soviet Union occupied Latvia in 1940 and were retained by Germany. In 1942 they were transferred to Finland, being used on floats or skis until the end of the war.
Variants
Operators
Specifications (Do 22)
Data from German Aircraft of the Second World War
General characteristics
Performance
Armament