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Blohm and Voss Bv 142

1940 WORLD WAR 2

History

The German WWII period (1939-1945) group Blohm & Voss was naturally interested in their new Ha 139 seaplane through further development, a transatlantic mail plane (then built under the Hamburger Flugzeugbau) In land-based form "Ha 142". The Ha 139 was unsuccessful and only three prototypes were completed, but the design itself had good water endurance, with a four-engine arrangement capable of driving around 4,000 kilometers.

Like the Ha 139 before it, the Ha 142 was originally developed for the mailing needs of Deutsche Luft Hansa.

The Ha 142 more or less retains the shape of its ancestors (stepped cockpit, "gull-wing" main aircraft, vertical stabilizers separated along a common elevated horizontal plane), but adds the most important feature of the tires, which can be Telescoping rear tow landing gear as an alternative to the original twin floats used in water landings. The same four-engine layout was used, with two engines on one wing.

The inverted gull-wing main aircraft is characterized by a caster (downward angle) for the inner fairing and a V-shape (upward angle) for the outer fairing. Crew increased from five to six.

The series eventually included only four aircraft, "Ha 142 V1" to "Ha 142 V4". Deutsche Luft Hansa ran the family before the outbreak of World War II, taking on various postal and freight duties as needed.

Like other projects that began before the war began (September 1, 1939), development of the Ha 139 slowed and the models forced into service remained largely unchanged.

The Ha 142 was incorporated into the German war machine as a long-endurance maritime patrol aircraft whose range could be of real value. For this role, the aircraft (specifically the second prototype, the Ha 142 V2) were redesigned to include an elongated glass nose section and were equipped with the usual combination of Luftwaffe communications and navigation.

To defend the aircraft, 7.92mm MG-15 machine guns were installed, one in the nose, one in the dorsal turret (with power assist), and one in the aft ventral gunner position, one on each machine gun. rear fuselage sides to ensure full coverage before intercepting enemy fighter jets. The hull will be reserved for carrying conventional bombs, 4 x 220 lb bombs or 8 x 110 lb bomb sizes.

Eventually, in order to simplify the naming convention for Blohm & Voss aircraft, the Hamburger Flugzeugbau (Ha) name was dropped and replaced by the "BV" designation for all future aircraft of the company. Since the V2 had already been trialled for maritime patrol missions, it was decided to adapt the V1 prototype in the same way and provide the Luftwaffe with a pair of long-range surface patrol platforms early in the war.

The duo went on to see brief wartime service, while V3 and V4 were relegated to basic transport roles (cargo and personnel carriers) during early campaigns against Denmark and Norway. However, as early as 1942, the line was replaced by a more powerful type.

When completed, the combat model Bv 142 V2/U1 has a barrel length of 67.1 feet, a wingspan of 96.10 feet, and a height of 14.8 feet. Empty weight reaches 24,430 lbs and maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is 36,510 lbs.

Power comes from 4 x BMW 132H-1 9-cylinder radial-piston air-cooled engines producing 870 hp on takeoff, a top speed of 235 mph, a cruising speed of nearly 200 miles, a range of 2,425 miles, a service ceiling of 30,000 feet, and a climb rate of 1,315 per minute ft, with all improvements over the original Ha 139.