Germany's Arado Ar 232 transport
Nickname: "Centipede"

Photos

Arado Ar 232 transport:
Arado Ar 232 transport:

Design

The Arado Ar 232 was intended to replace the Junkers Ju 52.²

The Ar 232 V1 and Ar 232 V2 prototypes had two BMW 801 radial engines, the same as used in the Focke Wulf Fw 190.¹ However, the Focke Wulf Fw 190 received priority for the engines.¹ The Ar 232 V3 prototype had four BMW Bramo 323R engines installed.¹

To help land and take off on rough terrain, there were 11 pairs of wheels on independently sprung suspension legs.¹ When not needed they were partially retracted and the tricycle main wheels were used.¹

Prototype

The first Ar 232 flew in the summer of 1941.^1,2

Production

• Arado Ar 232B-0: 8 ¹
• Arado Ar 232: ~20², 30¹

Variants

Usage

The Ar 232B-08 (V11) operated in Norway with it's 11 pairs of wheels replaced by an 8 m long ski.¹

In 1944, four of the Ar 232B-0s and a Ar 232A were used on special missions over Russia.¹ These were flown out of Finland and Norway.¹ One of the aircraft crashed near Moscow on one of these missions.¹

After World War II

The Allies used the captured Ar 232s to transport personnel and captured aircraft back to the United Kingdom.¹

Specifications

	Arado Ar 232B-01	Arado Ar 2322
Type	Transport1	Transport2
Crew		2 - 52
Engine (Type)	4: BMW Bramo 323R-21	2: BMW 8012
Cylinders		Radial 142
Cooling	Air1	Air2
HP	1,2001	1,600 each2
Propeller blades	31
Dimensions
Span	109' 11"1	104'2
Length	77' 2"1	77'2
Height	18' 8"1	18' 6"2
Wing area	1,535 ft2 1 142.6 m2 1
Weight
Empty	28,164 lb1 12,802 kg1
Loaded	46,595 lb1 21,135 kg1	46,425 lb2
Performance
Speed @ sea level
Speed @ 15,100' / 4,600 m	211 mph1 340 kph1
Speed @ 18,000'		210 mph2
Service ceiling	26,250'1 8,000 m1	22, 500'2
Range	660 miles1 1,060 km1	830 miles2
Armament		2: MG2 1: 20 mm2
Nose	1: 13 mm MG 1311
Rounds	5001
Dorsal turret	1: 20 mm1
Rear fuselage	1 or 2: 13 mm MG 1311
Bombs