Blohm & Voss BV 142

BV 142
Blohm & Voss BV 142 V1
Role	Long-range maritime patrol / transportation aircraft
Manufacturer	Blohm & Voss
First flight	11 October 1938
Introduction	Autumn 1940
Retired	1942
Primary user	Luftwaffe
Number built	4

The Blohm & Voss BV 142 was a German civil aircraft developed for the transatlantic airmail service, originally designed for the German national airline Luft Hansa. The first prototype was flown on 11 October 1938.

Design

The aircraft had four engines mounted on a low inverted gull monoplane wing, high horizontal stabilizer, and a double vertical tail, based on the Blohm & Voss Ha 139 seaplane.

The wing center section was strengthened by a typical Blohm & Voss cross-girder, which consisted of a large-diameter pipe. This transverse tube (divided internally into five sections) also acted as a fuel tank. The center wing was metal-covered, while the outer wings were fabric-covered. There were six hydraulically-operated flaps in the mid-wing. The fuselage was of metal and had an approximately circular cross-section.

Each main landing gear leg had dual wheels and was fully retractable, as was the tailwheel. The landing gear was hydraulically lowered and retracted.

Only four prototypes (V1 through V4) were built. These aircraft were tested by Lufthansa and used briefly in the postal service. However, the outbreak of World War II ended further development of the civilian project.

Operations

Soon after the start of World War II, it was proposed to convert all four prototype BV 142s to long-range maritime patrol aircraft. The BV 142 V2 thus underwent a trial modification. It was fitted with an extended nose section with extensive glazing (like the Heinkel He 111 H-6), defensive armament (a 7.92 mm/.312 in MG 15 machine gun in the nose, twin-beam positions, a ventral cupola, and a powered dorsal turret), a compartment for ordnance in the fuselage, and navigation and military radio equipment. The BV 142 V2, was redesignated BV 142 V2/U1 while the V1 was similarly converted. Both were used operationally from late 1940 and were posted to the Luftwaffe's second surveillance Group. This unit was assigned to the operations staff of Luftflotte III in France. However, their performance was disappointing, and after only a few missions, they were withdrawn from service in 1942. The two other aircraft (V3 and V4) were used as transport aircraft for the occupation of Denmark and in the Norway campaign with the KGr.z.b.V. 105 (Special combat team) and could transport 30 fully equipped soldiers over 4,000 km (2,490 mi). The ultimate fate of V3 and V4 is unknown. It was later planned to use the V1 and V2 to carry the Henschel GT 1200C guided torpedo, but the plan was scrapped.

Specifications (BV 142 V2/U1)

Data from

General characteristics

• Crew: six
• Length: 20.48 m (67 ft 2 in)
• Wingspan: 29.53 m (96 ft 11 in)
• Height: 4.44 m (14 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 130 m² (1,400 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 11,080 kg (24,427 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 16,560 kg (36,509 lb)
• Powerplant: 4 × BMW 132H-1 9-cyl. air-cooled radial piston engines, 647 kW (868 hp) each for take-off
• Propellers: 3-bladed bladed variable-pitch propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 373 km/h (232 mph; 201 kn) at sea level
• Cruising speed: 325 km/h (202 mph; 175 kn) at 2,000 m (6,562 ft)
• Range: 3,900 km (2,423 mi; 2,106 nmi) maximum with no bombload
• Service ceiling: 9,000 m (29,528 ft)
• Rate of climb: 6.67 m/s (1,313 ft/min)

Armament

• Guns: 5 × 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 15 machine guns
• Bombs: 4 × 100 kg (220.462 lb) bombs or 8 × 50 kg (110.231 lb) bombs

See also

• Hamburger Flugzeugbau

Related lists

• List of World War II military aircraft of Germany
• List of military aircraft of Germany

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Green, William. Warplanes of the Third Reich. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 4th impression 1979, p. 86-88. ISBN 0-356-02382-6.
• Smith J.Richard and Kay, Anthony. German Aircraft of the Second World War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 3rd impression 1978, p. 71-73. ISBN 0-370-00024-2.
• Townend, David R. Clipped Wings -- World War Two Edition. Markham: Aerofile Publications, 2010. ISBN 978-0-9732020-1-4.
• Wood, Tony and Gunston, Bill. Hitler's Luftwaffe: A pictorial history and technical encyclopedia of Hitler's air power in World War II. London: Salamander Books Ltd., 1977, p. 136. ISBN 0-86101-005-1.