Dornier Do 215

History of Dornier Do 215

The Dornier Do 215 originally intended for export was originally a rebranded version of the Dornier Do 17 light/medium bomber. Three prototypes of the Do 17K were initially produced - V1, V2 and V3 - each with a different engine to demonstrate the aircraft's capabilities to foreign customers.

The first failed in testing, while the third proved to be a winning combination. Eighteen of the completed aircraft were designated for use by the Swedish Air Force, but the deteriorating political situation in Europe forced these systems back into service with the Luftwaffe, and the Luftwaffe adjusted three batches to suit its specific wartime needs.

The remaining 15 were subsequently designated Do 215B and full production began in December 1939.

The Do 217 retains many visual similarities to the Do 17 bomber, including the distinctive "pencil"-shaped fuselage. The engines were of an in-line design, driving three-bladed propellers, mounted in the nacelle under each wing. The wings are mid-mounted monoplanes with rounded edges. The crew compartment is located at the very front of the fuselage, with large glass windows around the canopy.

Undoubtedly, the conditions for the crew of four, consisting of the pilot, bombardier and two machine gunners, were quite cramped. The streamlined design ends with a traditional rear wing with two vertical surfaces.

Weapons in the series vary by model, with early aircraft armed with 4 x 7.92mm MG-15 machine guns, later upgraded to six. The night fighter version combines the firepower of 4 x 7.92mm MG 17 machine guns and 2 x 20mm MG FF cannons, all mounted on the nose. The Do 215 can withstand an internal payload of up to 2,200 pounds under bomb action.

During reconnaissance missions, the aircraft will install a set of static cameras in the bomb bay as needed.

The Do 215 B-1 base model is powered by two Daimler-Benz DB 601Ba Vee 12-cylinder in-line piston engines, each producing 1,159 hp. Combined with a streamlined airframe, these engines can reach a top speed of 292 mph, with a normal range of approximately 1,522 miles and a service ceiling of nearly 29,500 feet.

While only about 100 Dornier Do 215s were produced, notable variants emerged throughout production. The Do 215 V1 was the first prototype built from the Do 17 Z-0 and equipped with the original Do 17 engine.

The Do 215 V2 was the second prototype to be equipped with the French Gnome-Rhone 14-cylinder engine. The Do 215 V3 became the third prototype of the series and is now equipped with a German Daimler-Benz DB 601Ba inline-piston engine.

The first production form was 18 Do 215 A-1s, intended for service with the Swedish Air Force. Three of them have been modified (including the FuG 10 navigation system) for use by the Luftwaffe under the new designation Do 215 B-0. Likewise, the remaining 15 batches of the original Swedish production batch entered Luftwaffe operations under the designation Do 215 B-1. The B model will become the standard production model for the Do 215 series.

Do 215 B-2 Lightly modified Do 215 for photographic reconnaissance missions. The aircraft installed three Rb 50/30 series cameras in the bomb bay and a sliding cover under the original bomb bay door.

Only two Do 215 B-3s were produced, mainly photo reconnaissance Do 215 B-2s produced for sale to the Soviet Union - the only two Do 215s not in use in Germany. The Do 215 B-4 is an "improved" reconnaissance platform developed from the Do 215 B-2 series models, equipped with Rb 20/30 and Rb 50/30 series cameras.

Probably the most unique form of the Do 215 is the Do 215 B-5 "Kauz III", a dedicated night fighter built from the Do 215 B-1 and Do 215 B-4 models. The aircraft had a "Kauz II" nose similar to the Dornier Do 17 Z-10, with infrared searchlights, antenna booms and a "wrench" infrared detection system.

Armament includes 4 x 7.92mm MG 17 machine guns and 2 x 20mm MG FF cannons, all mounted inside the nose. The Spanner infrared detection system was later replaced by the FuG 202 Lichtenstein B/C series radar, which proved to be of little operational value.

This type of operation took place from January 1941 to May 1944.

Overall, the Do 215 appeared in these main roles, only reconnaissance and night fighters had any significant impact on the Luftwaffe. This aircraft was eventually replaced by the Dornier Do 217, a medium/heavy bomber and night fighter that appeared in 1940 (all Do 215s were retired by the end of 1944). Official operators of Do 215 include Germany, the Soviet Union and Hungary.

Like the 18 Do 215s destined for Sweden, the Do 215 ordered for Yugoslavia (ordered before the war began) was never completed for that country.

Specification

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