Dornier Do 19

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Do 19
Dornier Do 19
Role Heavy bomber
Manufacturer Dornier-Werke GmbH
First flight 28 October 1936
Status Cancelled
Primary user Luftwaffe
Number built 3

The Dornier Do 19 was a German four-engine heavy bomber that first flew on 28 October 1936. Only one prototype flew, and it was converted to a transport in 1938. The other two were scrapped.

The

Walther Wever, the Luftwaffe's first Chief of Staff, was the most persistent advocate of a German long-range strategic bomber fleet. The Dornier Do 19 was built for the Luftwaffe's Ural bomber program under General Wever, competing against the Junkers Ju 89. The RLM Technisches Amt issued a specification for a four-engine heavy bomber. But after Wever's death in an airplane crash in June 1936, Wever's successor, Albert Kesselring, canceled Germany's long-range bomber
projects to concentrate on tactical bombers.

Both Dornier and Junkers were competitors for the contract, and each received an order for three prototypes in late 1935. The Dornier design was given the project number Do 19, while the Junkers prototype became the Ju 89.

Design and development

The Dornier Do 19 was a mid-wing

Bramo 322H-2 radial engines that were mounted in nacelles at the leading edges
of the wings.

Its crew of ten would have consisted of a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier, radio operator, and five gunners.

From late 1935, the poor promised performance of the Do 19 and competing

Heinkel He 177.[2]

The V1 prototype flew on 28 October 1936. After Generalleutnant Wever died in an airplane crash on 3 June 1936, the heavy bomber program lost its momentum, and never recovered. According to the military historian Richard Suchenwirth [de], one of the reasons for the failure of the Luftwaffe in the air offensive against Britain, as well as for the lack of air support for the operations of the U-boat forces, was the absence of a good, reliable strategic bomber.[3][4] By then, however, it was too late to develop the bombers required.

Albert Kesselring, Wever's successor, believed that what Germany required were more

Junkers Ju-88

Also Kesselring and Hans Jeschonnek had suggested to Göring that it would be better to drop heavy bomber projects due to material shortages. Around 2.5 tactical bombers could be built with the same material as one heavy bomber. In May 1937, the projects were cancelled. Erhard Milch recalled Göring saying, "The Fuehrer does not ask me what kind of bombers I have. He simply wants to know how many!"[5][6]

Therefore, the V2 and V3 prototypes were scrapped. The original V1 became a transport in 1938. The Dornier Do 19 had a disappointing performance: it was slow, carried only a 1,600 kilograms (3,500 lb) bombload, and had only medium range. In fact, the whole Ural bomber concept had already been abandoned, not only because the required range was impossible, but also because of inadequate navigation[citation needed] and bombsights.

Specifications (Do 19 V2)

Dornier Do-19 Technical Specs.

Data from Aircraft of the Third Reich Volume one.[7]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 10, pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier, radio operator and five gunners
  • Length: 25.45 m (83 ft 6 in)
  • Wingspan: 35 m (114 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 5.76 m (18 ft 11 in)
  • Wing area: 160.2 m2 (1,724 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 11,865 kg (26,158 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 18,500 kg (40,786 lb)
  • Powerplant: 4 ×
    Bramo 322H-2
    9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 533 kW (715 hp) each for take-off
447 kW (599 hp) maximum continuous power
  • Propellers: 3-bladed variable-pitch propellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 315 km/h (196 mph, 170 kn) at sea level at 18,000 kg (40,000 lb)
  • Cruise speed: 250 km/h (160 mph, 130 kn) at 2,000 m (6,600 ft)
  • Range: 1,600 km (990 mi, 860 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 5,600 m (18,400 ft)
  • Time to altitude: 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in 30 minutes 30 seconds
  • Wing loading: 114 kg/m2 (23 lb/sq ft)
  • Power/mass: 0.13 kW/kg (0.079 hp/lb)

Armament

  • 1 × 7.92 mm (0.312 in)
    MG 15 machine gun
    in nose
  • 1 × 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 15 machine gun in tail
  • 1 × 20 mm (0.787 in) cannon in dorsal turret
  • 1 × 20 mm (0.787 in) cannon in ventral turret
  • 16 × 100 kg (220 lb) bombs

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

  1. ^ Hooton 1994, pp. 108–109.
  2. ^ Hooton 1994, pp. 156–157.
  3. ^ Suchenwirth, Richard (1969). Fletcher, Harry (ed.). Command and Leadership in the German Air Force. USAF Historical Studies No. 174. Aerospace Studies Institute: Air University. p. 35.
  4. ^ Suchenwirth, Richard (1959). Kennedy, Edward P. (ed.). Historical Turning Points in the German Air Force War Effort. USAF Historical Studies No. 189. Aerospace Studies Institute: Air University. pp. 40–45.
  5. ^ Irving, D. (1973) The Rise and Fall of the Luftwaffe, p. 54. London: Cox and Wyman ISBN 0 297 76532 9
  6. ^ Suchenwirth, Richard (1969), Fletcher, Harry (ed.), Command and Leadership in the German Air Force, USAF Historical Studies No. 174, Aerospace Studies Institute: Air University, p. 36, The Fuehrer does not ask me what kind of bombers I have. He simply wants to know how many!
  7. ISBN 9781900732062
    .

Bibliography

External links

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