Germany's Heinkel He 115 floatplane, torpedo bomber, minelayer
Photos
Heinkel He 115 floatplane, torpedo bomber, minelayer: |
Heinkel He 115 floatplane, torpedo bomber, minelayer: |
Heinkel He 115 K2 floatplane, minelayer, reconnaissance: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook |
Heinkel He 115 K2 floatplane, minelayer, reconnaissance: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook |
Heinkel He 115 floatplane, torpedo bomber, minelayer: |
Design
The Heinkel He 115 was designed to be a general purpose coastal aircraft.1 The He 115's main duty was to be a torpedo bomber, but it was found that the He 115 was too slow and hard to handle.3 It became a successful and well liked reconnaissance and mine laying aircraft.3
The He 115 was an all metal mid wing aircraft.3
Prototype
The He 115 prototype first flew in October 1936.1,3 It had two BMW 132K radial engines (960 HP).1
Production
Initial construction went from 1938 to 1942.1,2 For a time it was stopped but was restarted in 1943.1,2,3
- Heinkel He 115A-1:
- Production: 1938 - ?1
- Heinkel He 115B-1 delivered in 1939.1
- Heinkel He 115C:
- Production:1940 - ?2
- Heinkel He 115E-1:
- Production: 1943 - ?1,2
- Total: ~3502, ~5001
- Manufacturer: Ernst Heinkel A.G.3
Variants
- Heinkel He 115V1: Prototype.2
- Heinkel He 115A-0: Pre production.2
- Heinkel He 115A-1: Had one 7.92 mm MG in the nose and one 7.92 mm MG in the rear of the cockpit.1
- Heinkel He 115A-2: For export.2
- Heinkel He 115A-3: Had a new bomb bay and radio eqiupment.1
- Heinkel He 115B: Could carry more fuel.2 Structure was stronger.2 First to be able to carry a magnetic mine.2
- Heinkel He 115B-1: Had additional fuel capacity.1
- Heinkel He 115B-2: Had stronger floats.1
- Heinkel He 115C: More powerful engines.2 More defensive armament.2
- Heinkel He 115C-1: Had forward firing 20 mm MG 151.1 Five 7.7 mm MG 15 and MG 17 machine guns.1
- Heinkel He 115C-2: Had the same reinforced floats as the He 115B-2.1
- Heinkel He 115C-3: Minelayer.1
- Heinkel He 115C-4: Torpedo bomber.1
- Heinkel He 115D: Had four crewmen.1 Used BMW 801 radial engine (1,600 HP).2
- Heinkel He 115E-1: Had two 7.92 mm machine guns in the nose and rear.1
- Heinkel He 115K2:
Usage
Britain, Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, Norway (15), and Sweden (10) used the He 115.2
Speed Records
The He 115V1 prototype was able to set eight speed records for its class in 1938/ March 20, 19383.2 The He 115's average speed over the course was 200 mph.3
First Usage
In 1938 He 115A-1s joined the Luftwaffe.1
Mine laying in English waters
The Kustenfliegergruppen 106, 506, and 906 were equipped with the He 115B-2 and were used to mine English waters.1
Battling the Convoys
During 1942 the KuFlGr 406 was used to attack the North Cape PQ convoys.1
Britain's Use
The British used He 115s that were originally used by Norway.2 These were two He 115A-2s and a He 115B-1.2
Specifications
Sources:
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
- World War II Airplanes Volume 1, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, 1976
- Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook, Ensign L. C. Guthman, 1943
