Blohm & Voss BV 138

WW2 German Blohm & Voss BV 138 Drawing
BV 138 MS, with degaussing ring

Technical data (BV 138C-1)Type: Long-range Maritime Reconnaissance FlyingBoatPower Plant: Three Junkers Jumo 205 D six-cylinder vertical opposed-piston compression-ignition two-stroke engines, each rated at 880hp for take-off.Armament: One 20-mm MG 151 cannon in bow turret, one 20-mm MG 151 cannon mounted in the turret in the hull tail, and one 13-mm MG131 machine gun on the open position of the central engine, plus (optional)one 7.9-mm MG 15 machine gun firing through the hatch in the starboard side of the hull. (Offensive) Three 110-lb. bombs on racks beneath the starboard wing centre section, or (U1) six 110-lb. bombs or four 331-lb. depth charges.Performance:

  • maximum speed: 177 m.p.h. at sea level (at 31967 lb.)
  • normal cruising speed: 146 m.p.h. at 3280 ft.
  • climb to 10390 ft.: 24 min.
  • service ceiling at 31967 lb.: 16400 ft.
  • service ceiling at 38912 lb.: 9185 ft.
  • normal range: 758 miles at 122 m.p.h.
  • maximum range: 2670 miles with 825 Imp. gal.
  • normal endurance: 6.5 hrs
  • maximum endurance: 18 hrs

Weights:

  • empty: 25948 lb.
  • normal loaded: 31967 lb.
  • maximum loaded: 38912 lb.

Dimensions:

  • span: 88 ft. 4.25 in.
  • length: 65 ft. 1.5 in.
  • height: 19 ft. 4.25 in.
  • wing area: 1205.558 sq. ft.

VersionsPrototypes:

  • Ha 138 V1 – (D-ARAK), flew 15.7.37
  • Ha 138 V2 – (D-AMOR), flew 8.37, redesigned
  • Ha 138 V3 – never completed, scrapped

Models:

  • BV 138A-0 – 6 delivered 1939, 1st flew 2.39, one modified to B-0standard
  • BV 138A-1 – 25 delivered 1939-40, 1st tested 4.40
  • BV 138B-0 – 10 delivered 1940, normal loaded weight increased from30313 lb. to 31930 lb.
  • BV 138B-1 – 21 delivered from 12.40, Jumo 205 D engines, increased defensive armament
  • BV 138B-1/U1 – offensive load increased, see armament above
  • BV 138C-1 – delivered from 3.41, structural strengthening, four-bladed airscrew, a 13-mm MG 131 replaced the 7.9-mm MG 15 machine gun, and an optional 7.9-mm MG 15 could be added. Some were later fitted with the FuG200 Hohentwiel radar. About 70 BV 138C-1 were fitted with catapult points for operation from the Luftwaffe’s seaplane tenders.
  • BV 138C-1/U1 – similar to B-1/U1 version
  • BV 138MS – few BV138C-1 were converted to minesweepers in 1942-43, no armament, dural hoop used to sweep mines (see image above).

Production:

  • 1939: Blohm & Voss (Finkenwerder), 6
  • 1940: Blohm & Voss (Finkenwerder), 49
  • 1941: Blohm & Voss (Finkenwerder), 79; Weser Flugzeugbau(Einswarden), 1
  • 1942: Blohm & Voss (Finkenwerder), 59; Weser Flugzeugbau(Einswarden), 66 (total for 1942/43)
  • 1943: Blohm & Voss (Finkenwerder), 30; Weser Flugzeugbau(Einswarden), 66 (total for 1942/43)

Units:

  • Küstenfliegergruppe 406
  • Küstenfliegergruppe 506
  • Küstenfliegergruppe 906
  • Seeaufklärungsgruppe 125
  • Seeaufklärungsgruppe 126
  • Seeaufklärungsgruppe 129
  • Seeaufklärungsgruppe 130
  • Seeaufklärungsgruppe 131
  • Küstenflieger-Ergänzungsstaffel 138
  • Minensuch-Gruppe 1 der Luftwaffe
  • Kampfgruppe zur besonderen Verwendung 108

Exports:

  • No exports

Preserved Aircraft: None survives today.