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BV 238
Blohm & Voss · Flying boat · Germany · WWII (1939–1945)
The Blohm & Voss BV 238 was a large six-engined flying boat designed and built by the German aircraft manufacturer Blohm & Voss. Developed during the Second World War, it was the heaviest aircraft ever built when it first flew in 1944, and was the largest aircraft produced by any of the Axis powers during the conflict.
Specifications
- Category
- Fixed Wing
- Sub-Category
- Flying Boat
- Domain
- Defence
- Era
- WWII (1939–1945)
- Country
- Germany
- Manufacturer
- Blohm & Voss
- Operator
- Luftwaffe
- Primary Role
- Flying boat
- Status
- Retired
- Service Entry
- 1945
- Produced
- 1
- Engine
- 6× inverted V-12 liquid-cooled piston engines
- Thrust / Power
- 1,417 kW each
- Length (ft)
- 142
- Wingspan (ft)
- 197
- Empty Weight (lb)
- 120769
- MTOW (lb)
- 220462
- Service Ceiling (ft)
- 23950
- Range (mi)
- 4113
- Max Speed (mph)
- 217
- Armament
- Guns: 22 guns total (in defensive turrets):; 8 × MG 131 machine guns with 1,800 rpg; 4 in each nose and tail turret; 8 × MG 131 machine guns with 900 rpg; 4 in each wing mounted turret; 4 × MG 131 machine guns with 500 rpg; 2 (as a twinned MG 131Z) in each manually aimed beam/waist position; 2 × MG 151/20 autocannon with 1,400 rpg in forward dorsal turret; Bombs: 20 × SC 250 bombs in wing bomb ba…