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It's About the Journey Not Just the Destination
The Soviet Union purchased two Dornier Do 215 B-3 long range reconnaissance aircraft for evaluation. Originally ordered as Do 215B-2s by the Luftwaffe, which had cancelled its order in favour of the Junkers Ju 88 and Heinkel He 177, they were redesignated Do 215B-3s. They were not equipped with either defensive armament of cameras when delivered.
The Dornier Do 215 was designed as an export version of the successful Do 17 bomber. Three prototypes were built: The V1 was essentially the same as the Do 17Z ans ws powered by Bramo 323 Fafnir radial engines; The V2 was powered by Gnome-Rhône 14-NO radial engines, while the V3 was powered by Daimler-Benz DB 601 Ba inline engines. With the more powerful engines, the V3 was faster and attracted interest from Sweden, who ordered 18 aircraft.
Due to deteriorating international conditions leading up the Second World War, Germany embargoed the Swedish aircraft and they were used by the Luftwaffe, where they were designated Do 215 B-1.
Official figures indicate that 105 Do 215s were produced between 1939 and 1941 by Dornier. The last machines were retired in late 1944.
Click on the links below to go see photos of the different variants used by the Luftwaffe.
The Arado Ar 196 was designed to an October 1936 RLM request for a Heinkel He 114 reconnaissance floatplane replacement. The four prototypes ordered were delivered in the summer of 1937. The V1 and V2 had twin floats, while the V3 and V4 had a single central floats and two outrigger floats. Comparative trials demonstrated that both versions had excellent water handling qualities. However, it was felt that in rough seas there was a possibility that the outrigger floats of the V3/V4 could dig in, causing damage to the aircraft. A further V5 prototype was ordered to study the final twin float configuration.
Ten Ar 196A-0s pre-production aircraft were delivered for ship trials in November and December 1938. Five B-0s (single central float versions) were delivered at the same time for shore-based trials. These were the only B-0 floatplanes ordered.
Production of the A-1 version commenced June 1939, which were used to equip the Kriegsmarine surface fleet. Including prototypes, a total of 541 were produced of all types, including approximately 100 from the SNCA and Fokker plants.
