https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Me_323
The Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant ("Giant") was a German military transport
aircraft of World War II. It was a powered variant of the Me 321 military glider
and was the largest land-based transport aircraft of the war. A total of 213 are
recorded as having been made, a few being converted from the Me 321.
The Me 323 was the result of a 1940 German requirement for a large assault
glider in preparation for Operation Sea Lion, the projected invasion of Great
Britain. The DFS 230 light glider had already proven its worth in the Battle of
Fort Eben-Emael in Belgium (the first ever assault by gliderborne troops), and
would later be used successfully in the invasion of Crete in 1941.
However, in order to mount an invasion across the English Channel, the Germans
would need to be able to airlift vehicles and other heavy equipment as part of
an initial assault wave. Although Operation Sea Lion was cancelled, the
requirement for a heavy air transport capability still existed, with the focus
now on the forthcoming Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union.
As per the Me 321, the Me 323 had massive, semi-cantilever, high-mounted wings
which were braced from the fuselage out to the middle of the wing. To reduce
weight and to save on aluminum, much of the wing was made of plywood and fabric,
while the fuselage was of metal tube construction with wooden spars and covered
with doped fabric, with heavy bracing in the floor to support the payload.
The "D" series had a crew of five: two pilots, two flight engineers and a radio
operator. Two gunners could also be carried. The flight engineers occupied two
small cabins, one in each wing between the inboard and center engines. The
engineers were intended to monitor engine synchronisation and allow the pilot to
fly without worrying about engine status, although the pilot could override the
engineers' decisions on engine and propeller control.
Maximum payload was around 12 tonnes, although at that weight the Hellmuth
Walter Werke-designed Walter HWK 109-500 Starthilfe RATO (rocket assisted
takeoff) units used on the Me 321 were required for take off. The RATO's were
mounted beneath the wings outboard of the engines, with the wings having
underside fittings to take up to a total of four RATO units. The cargo hold was
11 m (36 ft) long, 3 m (10 ft) wide and 3.4 m (11 ft) high. The typical loads it
carried were: One 15 cm FH18 field artillery piece (5.5 ton) accompanied by its
Sd.Kfz.7 halftrack transport vehicle (11 ton), two 3.6 tonne (4 ton) trucks,
8,700 loaves of bread, an 88 mm Flak gun and accessories, 52 drums of fuel (252
L/45 US gal), 130 men, or 60 stretchers.
Role
Heavy transport
Manufacturer
Messerschmitt A.G.
First flight
April 1942
Introduction
1943
Retired
1944
Primary user
Luftwaffe
Produced
Number built
198
Developed from
Messerschmitt Me 321
By September 1942, Me 323s were being delivered for use in the Tunisian
campaign, and entered service in the Mediterranean theater in November 1942. The
high rate of loss among Axis shipping had made necessary a huge airlift of
equipment across the Mediterranean to keep Rommel's Afrika Korps supplied.
A total of 198 Me 323s were built before production ceased in April 1944. There
were several production versions, beginning with the D-1. Later D- and E-
versions differed in the choice of power plant and in defensive armament, with
improvements in structural strength, total cargo load and fuel capacity also
being implemented. Nonetheless, the Me 323 remained significantly underpowered.
There was a proposal to install six BMW 801 radials, but this never came to
pass. The Me 323 was also a short-range aircraft, with a typical range (loaded)
service were an invaluable asset to the Germans, and saw intensive use.
Specifications (Me 323 D-6)
General characteristics
Crew: 5
Length: 28.2 m (92 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 55.2 m (181 ft 0 in)
Height: 10.15 m (33 ft 3.5 in)
Empty weight: 27,330 kg (60,260 lb)
Loaded weight: 29,500 kg (65,000 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 43,000 kg (94,815 lb)
Performance
Maximum speed: 285 km/h (177 mph (154 kn))
Cruise speed: 218 km/h (136 mph (118 kn))
Range: 800 km (500 mi)
Ferry range: 1,100 km (684 mi)
Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,123 ft)
Rate of climb: 3.6 m/s (710 ft/min)
Armament
Guns: multiple 7.92 mm MG 15, MG 81 or 13 mm MG 131 machine guns
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