Arado Ar E.654 (Kampfzerstorer / Skorpion)

History

The Arado Ar E. 654 was proposed as a heavy fighter/destroyer platform, developed from another Arado product, the Ar 240. While the Ar 240 model eventually entered service with the Luftwaffe (albeit in limited numbers), the Ar E. 654 would never see the light of day.

Its unconventional engine layout presented so many technical hurdles that there were so many to overcome that the complex system ended up being shelved entirely.

The E. 654 retained some visual similarities to the Ar 240, with two wing-mounted engine nacelles, two crew members, and a long, streamlined fuselage. While the Ar 240 kept its Daimler-Benz engines entirely within the wing nacelles, the E. 654 attempted a more sophisticated approach to maximize overall streamline and improve engine protection.

The E. 654 was designed to accommodate two Daimler-Benz DB 614 or 627 series engines in the fuselage itself, while the propellers were operated via multiple propeller shafts. This approach is evident in the general design of the exterior of the aircraft, as it will not fully adopt the large cabins found in modern systems. Additionally, keeping the engines inside the fuselage provides some protection for the crew, as the fuselage is usually the most protected part of the aircraft and can withstand significant damage before it loses its integrity. The smaller cabin also provides better lateral visibility for the engines themselves, which is evident in the design of the Ar 240, which has large wing engines on either side of the cockpit.

A standard landing gear system was envisaged, with the main landing gear embedded in each nacelle and a retractable tail wheel working in the rear of the fuselage. The rear wing is dominated by a very characteristic arrangement, with a high rear wing and a wide extension an interesting design approach even in this era.

The cockpit is glass and again follows the previous Ar 240 example. The seating area remains at the front of the fuselage and provides excellent views out, up and down. The pilot sits at the front and the gunner at the back, back to back.

The gunner will operate the rear-mounted machine gun through a periscope system.

At the heart of any heavy fighter is its offensive weapon, and the E. 654 did not disappoint. A bank of six heavy 30mm Mk 103 series guns were mounted in groups of three in bulges on either side of the lower hull.

On the defensive end, the E. 654 used a similar system to the Arado Ar 240 aircraft - the tail gunner used dorsal and ventral turrets (each armed with 2 x 13mm MG 131 series machine guns), located near the top and bottom of the base The recessed position controls the tail position.

As we all know, the E. 654 was supposed to be a serviceable aircraft, but the inherent complexity of engine layout and operation forced the type to be on the drawing board - just like the fate of the E. 561 proposal. Procuring materials and parts for such a complex system proved too much for Luftwaffe techniciansespecially given the defensive war Germany was going on.

It seems that the multi-shaft arrangement of the E. 654 design would have developed a different technique to overcome the obstacles, most of the problems are undoubtedly related to the potential vibrations caused by the engine and shaft layout and maintained at the engine, which must then be transmitted through the shaft and finally to the propeller.

E. 654 was given the internal item designation "Skorpion", no doubt due to the spike-like protrusion at the tip of the caudal fin. It is also known as the "Battle Destroyer". Arado designer Walter Blume led the project.

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