Blohm & Voss BV 238

At the start of the Second World War, the design team at the German aircraft manufacturer Blohm & Voss were largely preoccupied by the development of the BV 222 Wiking, a large six-engined flying boat.Smith and Kay 1972, pp. 75-79, 81. However, during 1940, the firm's designer opted to start work on an even larger flying boat under the designation P 200 that would be suitable for the future long distance routes (particularly transatlantic ones) of the German flag carrier Deutsche Luft Hansa. Furnished with eight engines, this vast flying boat was anticipated to have had a loaded weight of {{cvt|200,000|kg|0}}, a range of {{convert|8,600|km|mi|abbr=on}} and a passenger capacity of 120.Smith and Kay 1972, p. 81.

During January 1941, work on the P.200 proposal was suspended in order to focus on the fulfilment of a new request issued by the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM/German Aviation Ministry) for a long range multipurpose flying boat. In the following months, the design team worked on an initial four-engined design for what would become the BV 238, however, it was abandoned by mid 1941 due to the lengthy timescale involved in developing suitable domestic engines to power it. Instead, in July 1941, work commenced on a fresh design that, while being considerably larger than the BV 222, shared numerous features as well as its general layout. This design was warmly received and a development order calling for the completion of four prototypes was promptly issued to the firm.Smith and Kay 1972, pp. 81-82.

While its similarities to the BV 222 meant that some useful data could be obtained from this existing flying boat, it was felt that some aspects were too dissimilar for this arrangement to be fully sufficient.Smith and Kay 1972, p. 82. Accordingly, an approximately quarter-scale model of the BV 238 was commissioned to test the long and slim hull design, which was largely original. Built by the Flugtechnische Fertigungsgemeinschaft GmbH (FGP) in Prague and designated FGP 227, this scale model did not arrive (as a result of several factors, including sabotage and damage sustained during its maiden flight) until September 1944, too late to contribute any data to the program.{{Harvnb|Nowarra|1997|p=42.}}{{cite magazine |first = Hans |last = Amtmann |title = Blohm und Voss Remembered", Part I |magazine = Aeroplane Monthly |date = February 1998 |pages = 22–27}}

During 1942, the construction of the various jigs and components for the BV 238 commenced; fabrication of the first hull started in January 1944. Production work continued even as many other aircraft programmes were cancelled due to Germany's declining position in the conflict; one factor in this decision was that, aside from the materials involved, little of the BV 238's supply chain competed with that of fighter aircraft production.Smith and Kay 1972, pp. 82-83. Although extensive defensive armament was planned, the first prototype, BV 238 V1, lacked any upon its completion in March 1945 (these armaments were planned to be installed at a later date). While the flying boat had been designed to fulfil a military specification, the design team had undertaken some work towards its prospective civilian applications as well.Smith and Kay 1972, pp. 83-84.

By the end of March 1945, after completed only four test flights, BV 238 V1 was declared to be fit for service. After only two months of flights, this aircraft was strafed and partially sunk while moored on Lake Schaal, several miles to the east of Hamburg. One wing remained above water, which was later salvaged. Following the end of the conflict, the Allies refused to let the flying boat be restored so it was taken out to deeper water and sunk.Amtmann 1988, p. 64. Two additional flying boats were mid-construction, but these were also never completed.Smith and Kay 1972, p. 83.

The BV 238 was an extremely large flying boat of conventional aerodynamic design, but bearing the usual B&V structural hallmarks of all-metal construction with a tubular steel wing main spar which also functioned as the armoured main fuel tank. Of the era, only the earlier Tupolev ANT-20, the Martin XPB2M-1 and the later Hughes H-4 had a bigger wing span. However, the BV 238 would be the heaviest yet flown, at {{convert|100|t|lb}} fully loaded.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}. Principal differences between the BV 238 and the preceding BV 222, aside from the formerly greater size and some hydrodynamic improvements, included a revised elevator and an alternative float arrangement.

The hull had an unusually long and slim planing bottom, of essentially two-step design but with a row of smaller auxiliary steps behind the main one. A large nose door opened onto its cavernous interior, with the main crew cabin immediately above and behind it. For ease of production, design features were kept relatively simple while no use of magnesium was made for any part of the airframe.

The wing was of straight, constant-chord form with tapered outer sections. Auxiliary floats were integrated into underside panels of the outer sections and could be retracted to lie flush with the wing. A catwalk ran internally along the wing in front of the tubular steel main spar, providing access to the engines in flight.Green 1970, {{page needed|date=January 2025}}. It was powered by six Daimler-Benz DB 603 liquid-cooled inverted V12 piston engines, capable of producing up to 1,287 kW (1,750 hp). These engines were installed in nacelles that were arranged along the leading edge of the wing's centre section.

==BV 250==

A landplane version, initially referred to as the BV 238-Land, was proposed; it was to be capable of carrying out transport, long-range bombing and transatlantic reconnaissance duties.

The lower hull was replaced by a plain fairing with retractable undercarriage comprising twelve main and two nose wheels. A single bomb bay occupied the space between the wheel bays while another was located directly behind the main undercarriage. The wing floats were similarly replaced with retractable outrigger stabilising wheels. The nose wheel could be folded up, making the aircraft "kneel" and allowing vehicles to drive directly on- and off-board via a loading ramp to the nose doorway. Alternatively, passenger seating could be fitted. A further, upper deck behind the crew cockpit accommodated further passengers, bringing the total capacity to 300 troops.Sharp 2016, pp. 36-39.

Redesignated BV 250 during 1942, four prototypes were ordered but none were finished by the end of the conflict.Smith and Kay 1972, p. 84.

{{Aircraft specs

|ref= Aircraft of the Third Reich Vol.1, Blohm & Voss Bv 222 "Wiking" – Bv 238{{Harvnb|Nowarra|1997|p=47.}}

|prime units?= met

|crew= 12

|capacity=

|length m= 43.35

|span m= 60.17

|span note=

|height m= 12.8

|wing area sqm= 360.16

|empty weight kg= 54,780

|gross weight kg= 90,000

|gross weight note= for reconnaissance missions

::::::{{convert|95,000|kg|lb|abbr=on}} for bomber missions

|max takeoff weight kg= 100,000

|eng1 number= 6

|eng1 name= Daimler-Benz DB 603G

|eng1 type= inverted V-12 liquid-cooled piston engines

|eng1 kw= 1,417

|eng1 note= for take-off
{{convert|1,163|kW|hp|abbr=on}} at {{convert|7,375|m|ft|abbr=on|-2}}

|prop blade number= 3

|prop name= constant-speed propellers

|max speed kmh= 350

|max speed note= at {{convert|60,000|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} weight at sea level

:::::::{{convert|425|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} at {{convert|60,000|kg|lb|abbr=on}} at {{convert|6,000|m|ft|abbr=on}}

• Landing speed: 143 km/h (77 kn, 89 mph){{citation needed|date=October 2014}}

|range km= 6,620

|range note= at {{convert|365|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} at {{convert|92,000|kg|lb|abbr=on}} at {{convert|2,000|m|ft|abbr=on}}

|ceiling m= 7,300

|wing loading kg/m2= 261

|guns= 8 × {{cvt|13|mm|3}} MG 131 machine guns with 1,800 rpg; 4 in each nose and tail turret

::8 × {{cvt|13|mm|3}} MG 131 machine guns with 900 rpg; 4 in each wing mounted turret

::4 × {{cvt|13|mm|3}} MG 131 machine guns with 500 rpg; 2 (as a twinned MG 131Z) in each manually aimed beam/waist position

::2 × {{cvt|20|mm|3}} MG 151/20 autocannon with 1,400 rpg in forward dorsal turret

|bombs=

20 × {{cvt|250|kg|0}} SC 250 bombs in wing bomb bays

::and 4 × {{cvt|1000|kg|0}} SC 1000 bombs on external racks

::or 2 × {{cvt|1,200|kg|0}} LD 1200 torpedoes on external racks

::or 4 × Henschel Hs 293 missiles on external racks, if Bv 238 fitted with FuG 203 Kehl MCLOS guidance transmitter

::or 2 × {{cvt|1,000|kg|0}} BV 143 glide bombs on external racks

}}

{{Aircontent|

|related=

|similar aircraft=

• Blohm & Voss BV 222
• Blohm & Voss P 200
• Kawanishi H8K
• Martin JRM Mars
• Short Shetland
• Hughes H-4 Hercules

|lists=

• List of World War II military aircraft of Germany
• List of flying boats and floatplanes

}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last = Amtmann |first = Hans H. |title = The Vanishing Paperclips: America's Aerospace Secret, A Personal Account |publisher = Monogram Aviation Publications |location = Boylston, MA |year = 1988 |isbn = 0-9141-4435-9}}
• {{cite book |last=Green |first=William |title=Aircraft of the Third Reich |publisher=Aerospace Publishing Limited |location=London, UK |year=2010 |edition=1st |pages=165–168 |isbn=978-1-900732-06-2}}
• {{cite book |last = Green |first = William |title = Warplanes of the Third Reich |location = London, UK |publisher = Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. |edition = Fourth |date = 1979 |isbn = 0-356-02382-6}}
• {{cite book |last=Nowarra |first=Heinz J. |translator-first=Don |translator-last=Cox |date=1997 |title=Blohm & Voss Bv 222 "Wiking" - Bv 238 |location=Atglen, PA |publisher=Schiffer Military History |isbn=0-7643-0295-7}}. (Translation of the German original Luftgiganten über See: BV 222 Viking - BV 238. Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas Verlag GmbH, 1980. {{ISBN|3-7909-0124-5}}.)
• {{cite book |last = Sharp |first = Dan |title = Luftwaffe: Secret Bombers of the Third Reich |publisher = Mortons |date = 2016 |isbn = 9-7819-1127-662-3}}
• {{cite book |last1 = Smith |first1 = J. Richard |first2 = Anthony |last2 = Kay |title = German Aircraft of the Second World War |location = London, UK |publisher = Putnam & Company Ltd. |date = 1972 |edition = First |isbn = 0-370-00024-2}}

• {{cite book |last = Munson |first = Kenneth |title = German Aircraft Of World War 2 in colour |location = Poole, Dorsett, UK |publisher = Blandford Press |year = 1978 |isbn = 0-7137-0860-3}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Wixey |first1=Ken |title=Flugboots from Hamburg: An Outline History of Blohm und Voss Flying-boats |journal=Air Enthusiast |date=July–August 1999 |issue=82 |pages=42–48 |issn=0143-5450}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Blohm & Voss aircraft}}

{{RLM aircraft designations}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blohm and Voss BV 238}}

BV 238

Category:1940s German military transport aircraft

Category:Flying boats

Category:Six-engined tractor aircraft

Category:High-wing aircraft

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1944