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Dornier Do 24 Flying Boat in German Service

Dornier Do 24 N-1 KD+GJ

Dornier Do 24 Flying Boat in German Service

Designed to a Royal Netherlands Navy requirement for a replacement of the Dornier Wals being used in the Dutch East Indies, the Dornier Do 24K first flew on 3 July 1937. The Netherlands planned to operate up to 90 Do 24K flying boats, however when Germany invaded in 1940, only 37 had been delivered to the East Indies.

Post-invasion the Dutch production line was resumed and an additional 159 Do 24s were built in addition to 16 incomplete airframes at the factory. A second production line was started at the CAMS factory at Sartrouville, France, during the German occupation. This line was operated by SNCAN and produced 48 Do 24s during the war and another 40 after the liberation of France, which served with the French Navy until 1952.

The two prototypes were used by the Luftwaffe during the invasion of Norway to transport troops to Narvik.

The aircraft captured and produced in the Netherlands were pressed into service with Seenotstaffeln (air-sea rescue) and deployed in the Arctic, Baltic, North Sea, Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean, and Black Sea. They were also used as transports, notably for keeping contact with the troops left behind on the Aegean Islands and Crete, and for supporting the Kuban bridgehead in early 1943.

Dornier Do 24K

Dornier Do 24K-1
Dornier Do 24K-1

Dornier Do 24N

Dornier Do 24T

Dornier Do 24MS

Dornier Do 24T-3 converted to a minesweeper
Dornier Do 24T-3 converted to a minesweeper

Miscellaneous Dornier Do 24 Photos

Italian Battleship Vittorio Veneto

Vittorio Veneto and Littorio. La Spezia, March 1943

Italian Battleship Vittorio Veneto

Launched on 25 July 1937, Vittorio Veneto was the second of the Littorio-class battleships built for the Italian Regia Marina. Commissioned on 28 April 1940 she had three sister ships, Littorio, Roma and never completed Impero.

During World War Two, Vittorio Veneto saw extensive service. She was undamaged during the Battle of Taranto when the Italian Fleet was attacked by 21 Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers. Three other battleships were damaged; Conte di Cavour, Littorio and Duilio.

On 17 November 1940 during the Battle of Cape Spartivento, Vittorio Veneto engaged British cruisers at long range but without effect.

During the Battle of Cape Matapan on 22 March 1941, she again engaged British cruisers, inflicting minor splinter damage on HMS Orion. That afternoon, HMS Formidable launched Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers, one of which scored a hit on her port side shearing off the port side propeller, damaging the shaft, jamming the port rudder, and disabling the aft port pumps. It also caused flooding and a list of 4 to 4.5 degrees. While she was immobilized, a Bristol Blenheim bomber dropped a bomb that landed near her stern; the blast caused further, minor damage to the stern. I took until August 1941 for her to be operational again.

The rest of the war consisted of convoy escorts and attempts to intercept British convoys. During on of these escort missions on 13 December 1941, she was torpedoed by the British submarine HMS Urge. Repairs lasted until early 1942.

On 5 June 1943, Vittorio Veneto was badly damaged by an American air raid on La Spezia; she was hit by two large bombs toward the bow, though only one detonated. That bomb passed through the ship and exploded under the hull, causing serious structural damage.

Following the Italian armistice, Vittorio Veneto moved to Malta. In transit she was attacked by Luftwaffe Dornier Do 217 bombers armed with Ftitz X guided bombs. Although she escaped unharmed, her sister Roma was sunk and Italia (previously Littorio) was badly damaged.

Post war Vittorio Veneto was allocated as a war prize to Britain. She was subsequently sold off for scrapping in 1948.

Under Construction

Battle of Cape Spartivento

Vittorio Veneto engages British cruisers with her 381mm battery at the Battle of Cape Spartivento (Capo Teulada), 27 November 1940
Vittorio Veneto engages British cruisers with her 381mm battery at the Battle of Cape Spartivento (Capo Teulada), 27 November 1940

Battle of Cape Matapan

General Photos

Armament

Vittorio Veneto’s Aircraft

Reggiane Re.2000 Catapultabile fighter
Reggiane Re.2000 Catapultabile fighter

At Malta

Scrapping

Focke -Wulf Fw 62 Floatplane

Focke -Wulf Fw 62 V3 D-OHGF

Focke -Wulf Fw 62 Floatplane

Intended as a replacement for the Heinkel He 114, the Focke-Wulf Fw 62 was a reconnaissance floatplane designed for Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine.

Two variants were built, to evaluate single and twin main floats. The V1 (D-OFWF) and V2 (D-OKDU) prototypes had conventional twin floats, while the V3 (D-OHGF) and V4 (D-OMCR) had a central float and two smaller outboard stabilizing floats.

Despite meeting requirements, the competing Arado Ar 196 was superior, resulting in only four prototypes being built.