Arado Ar 196 in Soviet Service
During the Soviet advance into Germany, a large number of Arado Ar 196 floatplanes were captured, along with a spares supply depot at Dassow. Following repairs and the installation of Russian radios, 37 were allocated to the Soviet Border Guard. Operating from bases on the Black Sea, Baltic and Pacific Coast, they served until 1955. When BMW 132W engines became unavailable, several aircraft were re-engined with a Russian M-621 R radial engine, driving a VISh-21 propeller.