Blohm & Voss BV 142

infobox Aircraft
name = Blohm & Voss BV 142
type = Long-range maritime patrol / transportation aircraft
manufacturer = Blohm & Voss


caption = Blohm & Voss BV 142 V1
designer =
first flight = 11 October, 1938
introduced = Autumn 1940
retired = 1942
status =
primary user = Luftwaffe
more users =
produced =
number built = 4
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles = The Blohm & Voss BV 142 was a German civil aircraft developed for the transatlantic air mail service, originally designed for the German airline company Lufthansa. The first prototype was flown on 11 October, 1938.

Design

The aircraft had four engines, low monoplane wing, high horizontal stabilizer, and a double vertical tail, based on the Blohm & Voss Ha 139 seaplane.

It possessed the characteristic three-part wing. The central main wing was strengthened by a typical Blohm & Voss cross-girder, which consisted of a large-diameter pipe. This transverse tube also contained the fuel, inside five inner divisions. The center wing was metal-covered, while the outer wings were covered with fabric. There were six hydraulically operated flaps in the mid-wing. The fuselage was of metal and had an approximately circular cross-section.

Each main landing gear had dual wheels and was fully retractable, as was the tailwheel. The landing gear was hydraulically lowered and retracted.

Only four prototypes (V1, V2, V3, and V4) were built. These aircraft were tested by Lufthansa and used in the postal service. However the outbreak of World War II prevented further development of the civilian project.

Operations

Soon after the start of World War II it was proposed to convert all four prototype BV 142 to long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft. The BV 142 V2, thus underwent a trial modification. It was fitted with an extended nose section with extensive glazing (like the Heinkel He 111 H-6), defensive armament (7.92 mm MG 15 in nose, twin-beam position, ventral cupola, and a powered dorsal turret), a compartment for ordnance in the fuselage, and navigation and military radio equipment. The BV 142 V2, was redesignated BV 142 V2/U1 while V1 was similarly converted. Both were used operationally from late 1940 and were posted to the Luftwaffe's second surveillance Group. This unit was assigned to the operations staff of Luftflotte III in France. However, their performance was disappointing and they flew few missions, and were withdrawn from service in 1942. The two other aircraft (V3 and V4) were used as transport aircraft for the occupation of Denmark and in the Norway campaign with the KGr.z.b.V. 105 (Special combat team) and could transport 30 fully equipped soldiers over 4,000 km. The ultimate fate of V3 and V4 is unknown. It was later planned to use V1 and V2 to carry the Blohm & Voss GT 1200C guided torpedo, but the plan was scrapped.

pecifications (BV 142 V1 / V2)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=
crew=Five
capacity=
payload main=
length main=20.45 m
length alt=67 ft
span main=29.53 m
span alt=97 ft
height main=4.44 m
height alt=14 ft 7 in
area main=130 m²
area alt=1,400 ft²
airfoil=
empty weight main=11,000 kg
empty weight alt=24,250 lb
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=16,500 kg
max takeoff weight alt=36,375 lb
more general=
* Propeller: 3-blade, metal, adjustable, 3.50 m (11.5 ft) diameter
* Fuel Capacity: 6,560 litres in the tubing cross-beam
* Lubricant Capacity: 600 litres
engine (prop)=BMWS 132H1
type of prop=9-cylinder radial engines
number of props=4
power main=655 kW
power alt=880 hp
max speed main=375 km/h
max speed alt= 233 mph
cruise speed main= 325 km/h
cruise speed alt= 200 mph
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
landing speed main=100 km/h
landing speed alt= 62 mph
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main= 3,900 km
range alt= 2,422 mi
ceiling main= 9,000 m
ceiling alt= 29,520 ft
climb rate main=6.70 m/s
climb rate alt= 21.9 ft/s
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
guns= 5 × MG 15 machine guns
bombs= 4 × 100 kg (220 lb) bombs or 8 × 50 kg (110 lb) bombs
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=

similar aircraft=

sequence=

lists=
* List of World War II military aircraft of Germany
* List of military aircraft of Germany
see also=
* Hamburger Flugzeugbau
* Blohm + Voss

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Green, William. "Warplanes of the Third Reich". London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 4th impression 1979, p. 86-88. 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. 71-73. ISBN 0-370-00024-2.
* 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. 136. ISBN 0-86101-005-1.