Arado Ar 196 on a Catapult |
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The Arado Ar 196 was a float plane that was used on the major warships of the German Navy and with coastal and sea reconnaissance units.
Work on the Ar 196 began in 1937, with the aim of replacing the Heinkel He 60 biplane as the catapult launched aircraft carried by major German warships. The first Arado aircraft designed for this role was the biplane Ar 95, which made its maiden flight in 1936, wasn’t ordered for German use.
The new Ar 196 was a low wing monoplane with a large greenhouse style canopy over the cockpit. The prototypes were all powered by the 880hp BMW 132Dc nine-cylinder radial engine, originally driving a two blade airscrew. The fuselage was built around a welded steel tube structure, covered by a mix of fabric and metal panels. The engine cowling had 18 streamlined bulges to cover the end of the engine valve gear without expanding the cowling. The wing was of all metal construction with two spars. The wings were connected to the twin floats by struts which could be removed to allow the wings to be folded back alongside the fuselage.
The first two prototypes, V1 and V2, were given twin floats, supported by a mix of struts and wires. The last three, V3, V4 and V5 were given a single main float with small outriggers to provide stability on the water. During trials of V4 the engine broke away during a landing on 8 December 1938, setting the aircraft on fire. The pilot escaped, but this helped end interest in the single float layout.
V1 made its maiden flight in 1938. The two layouts were evaluated during the year, and the twin float version was selected for production. Work moved quickly, and the Ar 196A-1 entered production later in 1938. A total of 593 production aircraft were built, with the highest production coming in 1942. Arado built 401 of the total, SNCA in France built 23 and Fokker in the Netherlands built the Ar 196A-5.
The Ar 196 was seen as a possible training aircraft for catapult take off from the planned German aircraft carriers, and at least two were used in catapult tests at Travemunde.
Arado Ar 196A-1
The Ar 196A-1 entered production late in 1938. It was powered by a 960hp BMW 132K radial engine. It was armed with one fixed forward firing 7.9mm MG 17 machine gun and one flexibly mounted rear facing MG 17. It could carry two 110lb bombs below the wings. The A-1 entered service during 1939 with 5./BFGr 196, which provided float planes to the German fleet. By the end of 1939 the Ar 196A-1 was already in use on the Gneisenau, Graf Spee, Lutzow, Prinze Eugen, Scharnhorst and Admiral Scheer.
The Ar 196A-1 took part in the invasion of Norway in 1940. The Bismarck carried the Ar 196A-1 during its short-lived breakout into the Atlantic in the spring of 1941.
Arado Ar 196A-3
The Ar 196A-3 was produced for coastal and sea reconnaissance, patrol and attack units. It was much more heavily armed than the A-1, carrying two fixed forward firing 20mm MG FF cannon in the wings and rear firing paired 7.9mm MG 17 machine guns. It could also carry a small bomb load. It entered service in 1940, probably with Ku.Fl.Gr.706.
The Ar 196A-3s first major success came on 5 May 1940 with an aircraft piloted by Lt Gunther Mehrens found the submarine HMS Seal laying mines in the Kattegat. The submarine was unable to dive because of mine damage, leaving her vulnerable when Mehrens attacked. The submarine was forced to surrender. Mehrens landed by her and took her captain prisoner, while the submarine was towed into Frederikshaven.
In 1941 the Ar 196A-3 appeared over the Mediterranean and Adriatic, where it was used to attack Allied submarines and shipping and to protect Axis convoys. It was also used in the Channel to attack aircraft from RAF Coastal Command as they attacked the U-boats. The Ar 196 saw widespread use around the coasts of German occupied Europe.
Ar 196 A-3
Engine: BMW 132K radial engine
Power: 960hp
Crew: 2
Span: 40ft 8 1/4in
Length: 36ft 1 1/8in
Height: 4ft 7 1/4in
Empty weight: 6,593lb
Loaded weight: 8,225lb
Maximum take-off weight:
Max speed: 193mph at 13,120ft
Climb Rate: 984ft/min
Service ceiling: 22,960ft
Range: 665 miles
Armament: Two 20mm cannon and two 7.9mm machine guns
Bomb load: small bomb load under wings
Aircraft of the Luftwaffe 1935-1945, Jean-Denis G.G. Lepage.
Combines a good background history of the Luftwaffe with a comprehensive examination of its aircraft, from the biplanes of the mid 1930s to the main wartime aircraft and on to the seemingly unending range of experimental designs that wasted so much effort towards the end of the war. A useful general guide that provides an impressively wide range of information on almost every element of the Luftwaffe (Read Full Review)
Arado Ar 196 Plans 
Arado Ar 196 on Gneisenau, 1940