Gotha Go 244
{{short description|German transport airplane during World War II}}
{{Infobox aircraft
| name= Go 244
| image=File:German Gotha Go 244 in flight, in 1942-1945 (CH 15695).jpg
| image_size= 300
| caption=
| type= Military transport monoplane
| national_origin= Germany
| manufacturer= Gotha
| designer=
| first_flight= 1940s
| introduction=
| retired=
| status=
| produced= 174Chant 1999, p. 147.
| primary_user=
| number_built=
| developed_from= Gotha Go 242
| variants=
| developed_into=
}}
The Gotha Go 244 was a transport aircraft designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Gotha. It was operated by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. It was the powered version of the Gotha Go 242 military glider transport.
While studies into a powered model of the Go 242 had commenced relatively early in the glider's development, one of the major factors in what would become the Go 244 was the German's capturing of a large quantity of Gnome-Rhône 14M radial engines following the fall of France in June 1940. A total of three prototypes were created by modifying Go 242s; these were fitted with various engines, such as the BMW 132 and the Shvetsov M-25 A engines. Despite the unimpressive performance of the Gnome engines, Luftwaffe officials were keen to make use of existing inventory, thus the majority of production standard Go 244s were powered by this engine.
The first Go 244s were delivered to operational units based in Crete, Greece in March 1942; the type would also see action in both North Africa and the Eastern Front. Far less Go 244s were constructed in comparison to the Go 242, which officials ultimately decided to focus their production capacity upon instead. Some figures, such as Generalfeldmarschall Erhard Milch, criticised the aircraft as being defective, lacking sufficient range, and operationally limited. A mixture of Junkers Ju 52 or Messerschmitt Me 323 transport aircraft supplemented and eventually replaced the Go 244 in Luftwaffe service.
Development
Development of the Go 244 has its origins in the widely used Gotha Go 242 military glider, specifically the Go 242B model.Lepage 2009, pp. 354-355. Studies for powered versions of the Go 242 had commenced relatively early in the design of the glider; one early proposal involved a modification that would have facilitated the temporary attachment of a single Argus As 10C engine to the nose of the glider, which would have allowed for its recovery back to base after use. This concept was ultimately rejected, however, the alternative proposal of a permanently powered twin-engined version of the aircraft was taken forward.Air International December 1989, p. 291. A key factor in the emergence of the Go 244 had been the fall of France in June 1940. Amongst other effects, Germany gained access to France's aviation industry and its supply chain, which meant that the Luftwaffe suddenly had access to a sizable number of captured Gnome-Rhône 14M radial engines that several officials were keen to make use of.Lepage 2009, p. 355.
A total of three Go 242s were modified as prototypes of the powered Go 244, fitted with varying surplus radial engines. The first prototype, the Go 244 V1 was powered by two {{convert|660|hp|kW|abbr=on}} BMW 132, while the second prototype had {{convert|700|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Gnome-Rhône 14Ms — and the third {{convert|750|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Shvetsov M-25 A engines, with this model of Shvetsov OKB engine design being essentially a Soviet-built Wright Cyclone American-based nine-cylinder radial. Although only the third Gnome-equipped prototype offered adequate engine out performance, the ample stocks of these engines led to it being selected as the basis for the production conversion — usually fitted in counter-rotating pairs in production — although a few more aircraft were fitted with the BMW and Shvetsov engines.Air International December 1989, pp. 291–292.Smith and Kay 1972, p. 219.
In August 1941, the Luftwaffe took delivery of the first Go 244A aircraft for trials purposes.Griehl 2012, p. 315. However, it would be the Go 244B that would be the principal production model; it featured a wheeled tricycle undercarriage and accommodated both fuel and oil within the tailbooms.Air International December 1989, p. 292.
An initial run of 133 aircraft were produced through the conversion of existing Go 242Bs.Ford 2013, {{page needed|date=January 2025}}.Rottman 2014, {{page needed|date=January 2025}}. Separately, a further 41 Go 244s were constructed using new airframes. However, officials ultimately decided against producing further Go 244s in order that the assembly lines could be reverted to producing more Go 242 gliders instead.Air International December 1989, p. 309. One senior Luftwaffe official that had openly criticised the Go 244 was Generalfeldmarschall Erhard Milch, who claimed it to be faulty, lacking sufficient range, and of limited application.Metzmacher 2021, {{page needed|date=January 2025}}
Several proposals and plans were mooted for the further development of the Go 244. One area of interest was the creation of single-engined variants; these would have been powered by either a nose-mounted Argus As 10C or Junkers Jumo 211.Bishop and Ford 2002, p. 408. During 1944, the company's designer team directed their attention towards the Gotha Go 345 transport glider instead.
Operational history
During March 1942, the first examples of the Go 244 were delivered to operational units stationed in Crete, Greece. Furthermore, several aircraft were assigned to transport Geschwader in North Africa, however, their use in this theatre was limited to only a few months after the Go 244 proved to be vulnerable to Allied fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft fire alike. The type also saw action against the Soviets on the Eastern Front.{{Sfn | Munson | 1978 | p = 69}} It was used both as a troop transport and to carry freight. In Luftwaffe service, the Go 244 was effectively replaced by a combination of Junkers Ju 52 or Messerschmitt Me 323 aircraft.
Variants
- Go 244 A-1 - prototype, using the BMW 132 radial engine
- Go 244 B - powered by Gnome-Rhône 14M-06/07 series engines and equipped with variable-pitch propellers
- Go 244 B-1 - production version, with fixed landing gear, based on Go 242 A-1 glider
- Go 244 B-2 - B-1 with improved landing gear including a larger semi-retractable nose wheel, based on Go 242 A-2 glider
- Go 244 B-3 - paratroop-carrying version of B-1 with double rear doors
- Go 244 B-4 - paratroop-carrying version of B-2 with doors of B-3 and landing gear of B-2
- Go 244 B-5 - training version with dual controls
- Go 244 C - analog to Go 244 B but with 04/-05 series engines and equipped with fixed-pitch propellers
Specifications (Go 244 B-1)
image:Gnome Rhone M05 Mars.JPG
{{Aircraft specs
|ref= Gotha's Twin-Boom TroopersAir International December 1989, pp. 288.
|prime units?= met
|crew= 1 or 2 pilots
|capacity= up to 23 troops or freight
|length m= 15.8
|span m= 24.5
|height m= 4.7
|wing area sqm= 64.4
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg= 5,100
|gross weight kg= 7,800
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number= 1
|eng1 name= Gnome-Rhône 14M-06
|eng1 type= 14-cylinder two-row air-cooled radial piston engine (rh rotation)
|eng1 hp= 700
|eng2 number= 1
|eng2 name= Gnome-Rhône 14M-07
|eng2 type= 14-cylinder two-row air-cooled radial piston engine (lh rotation)
|eng2 hp= 700
|prop blade number= 3
|prop name= variable-pitch propellers (lh & rh rotation)
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop dia note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh= 290
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note= at {{convert|3000|m|abbr=on}}
|cruise speed kmh=
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|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=
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|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
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|minimum control speed kts=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km= 600
|combat range km=
|combat range miles=
|combat range nmi=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km= 740
|endurance=
|ceiling m= 7,500
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
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|time to altitude= {{convert|1000|m|abbr=on}} in three minutes
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|guns= 3× {{convert|7.92|mm|abbr=on|3}} MG 15 or MG 81 machine guns
}}
See also
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References
{{Commons category}}
=Citations=
{{reflist}}
=Bibliography=
- {{cite book |last1 = Bishop |first1 = Chris |first2 = Roger |last2 = Ford |title = The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II |publisher = Sterling |year = 2002 |isbn = 1-5866-3762-2}}
- {{cite book |last1=Chant |first1= Chris |title=Aircraft of World War II |year=1999 |publisher=Brown Books |location=London, UK |isbn=1-8978-8446-X}}
- {{cite book |last1=Ford |first1=Roger |title=Germany's Secret Weapons of World War II |date=2013 |publisher=Amber Books |location=London, UK |isbn=9781909160569}}
- {{cite journal |date=December 1989 |title=Gotha's Twin-Boom Troopers |journal=Air International |volume= 37 |issue= 6 |pages=286–292, 309 }}
- {{cite book |last = Griehl |first = Manfred |title = X-Planes: German Luftwaffe Prototypes 1930-1945 |publisher = Pen and Sword |year = 2012 |isbn = 978-1-7830-3419-2}}
- {{cite book |last = Lepage |first = Jean-Denis G.G. |title = Aircraft of the Luftwaffe, 1935-1945: An Illustrated Guide |year = 2009 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=hdQBTcscxyQC |publisher = McFarland |isbn = 978-0-7864-5280-4}}
- {{cite book |last1=Metzmacher |first1=Andreas |title=Gotha Aircraft 1913-1954: From the London Bomber to the Flying Wing Jet Fighter |date=2021 |publisher=Fonthill |location=Brimscombe, Stroud, UK |isbn=978-1-78155-706-8}}
- {{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 book |last = Rottman |first = Gordon L. |title = World War II Glider Assault Tactics |publisher = Bloomsbury |year = 2014 |isbn = 978-1-7820-0775-3}}
- {{cite book |last1=Smith |first1= John Richard |last2=Kay |first2=Antony L. |title=German Aircraft of the Second World War |year=1972 |publisher=Putnam |location=London, UK |isbn=0-3700-0024-2}}
{{Gotha aircraft}}
{{RLM aircraft designations}}