https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dornier_Do_17
also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operational_history_of_the_Dornier_Do_17
The Dornier Do 17, sometimes referred to as the Fliegender Bleistift ("flying
pencil"), was a World War II German light bomber produced by Claudius Dornier's
company, Dornier Flugzeugwerke. It was designed as a Schnellbomber ("fast
bomber"), a light bomber which, in theory, would be so fast that it could outrun
defending fighter aircraft.
The Dornier was designed with two engines mounted on a "shoulder wing" structure
and possessed a twin tail fin configuration. The type was popular among its
crews due to its handling, especially at low altitude, which made the Do 17
harder to hit than other German bombers.
Designed in the early 1930s, it was one of the three main Luftwaffe bomber types
used in the first three years of the war. The Do 17 made its combat debut in
1937 during the Spanish Civil War, operating in the Condor Legion in various
roles. Along with the Heinkel He 111 it was the main bomber type of the German
action in significant numbers in every major campaign theatre as a front line
aircraft until the end of 1941, when its effectiveness and usage was curtailed
as its bomb load and range were limited.
The forward fuselage had a conventional stepped cockpit, with a fully glazed
nose. Early variants were labelled the "flying pencil" owing to its sleek and
continuous "stick-like" lines. As a result of the lessons learned in the Spanish
Civil War, the cockpit roof was raised and the lower, or bottom half, of the
crew compartment was a typical under-nose "Bodenlafette" (abbreviated Bola)
inverted-casemate design ventral defensive armament position, a common feature
of most German medium bombers. The Bola was extended back to the leading edge of
the wings where the lower-rear gunners position and upper-rear gunner position
were level with each other. As with contemporary German bombers, the crew were
concentrated in a single compartment. The cockpit layout consisted of the pilot
seat and front gunner in the forward part of the cockpit. The pilot sat on the
left side, close up to the Plexiglas windshield. One of the gunners sat on the
right seat, which was set further back to provide room for the 7.92 mm (0.312
in) MG 15 machine gun to be traversed in use. The Do 17 usually carried a crew
of four: the pilot, a bombardier and two gunners. The bomb-aimer also manned the
MG 15 in the nose glazing and Bola-housed rear lower position. The two gunners
operated the forward-firing MG 15 installed in the front windshield, the two MGs
located in the side windows (one each side) and the rearward firing weapon. The
cockpit offered a bright and panoramic view at high altitude. The standard
ammunition load was 3,300 rounds of 7,92 mm ammunition in 44 double-drum
magazines.
The Dornier had self-sealing fuel tanks to protect fuel stored in the wings and
fuselage. This reduced the loss of fuel and risk of fire when hit in action, and
often enabled the aircraft to return. Twenty oxygen bottles were provided for
crew use during long flights above 3,660 m (12,000 ft).
Role
Light bomber, night fighter and Reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer
Dornier Flugzeugwerke
First flight
23 November 1934
Introduction
1937
Retired
15 September 1952 (Finnish Air Force)
Primary users
it outpaced most enemy fighters and performed well. The Spanish nicknamed the
Dornier the Bacalao ("Codfish"). In early 1937, mass production began on the Do
17E and Do 17F series. The Do 17 F-1 was to replace the Heinkel He 70 as a
high-flying fast reconnaissance aircraft, while the Do 17 E-1 was to supplant
the Legion Condor's aging Heinkel He 111B bomber. However, more modern
Soviet-supplied Republican aircraft were capable of intercepting the E and F
variants, which prompted an upgrade of the Dornier's defensive armament.
When the Do 17 faced British fighters during the Battle of Britain, it was shown
that fast, well-armed monoplane fighters had changed the balance between bomber
and fighter decidedly in favour of the latter. The Do 17 suffered in early
raids. During the Polish campaign, the Do 17Z could use its 427 km/h (265 mph)
maximum speed to stay away from most enemy fighters, and its light armament was
effective. It also fought with success during the Battle of France and losses
were relatively light, although when facing modern fighters like the Hawker
Hurricane, the bomber proved slow in comparison and more vulnerable. When it
faced British fighters during the Battle of Britain, it was shown that fast,
well-armed monoplane fighters had changed the balance between bomber and fighter
decidedly in favour of the latter. The Do 17 suffered in early raids.
Specifications (Do 17 Z-2)
General characteristics
Crew: 4
Length: 15.8 m (51 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 18 m (59 ft 1 in)
Height: 4.56 m (15 ft 0 in)
Empty weight: 5,210 kg (11,486 lb)
Empty equipped: 5,888 kg (12,981 lb) to 5,963 kg (13,146 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 8,837 kg (19,482 lb)
Fuel capacity: standard fuel 1,540 l (339 imp gal), with aux tank in forward
bomb bay 2,435 l (536 imp gal)
(986 hp, 736 kW) for take-off
Propellers: 3-bladed variable-pitch propellers
Performance
Maximum speed: 350 km/h (217 mph; 189 kn) at 8,040 kg (17,725 lb) at sea level
410 km/h (255 mph) at 8,040 kg (17,725 lb) at 5,000 m (16,404 ft)Cruising speed:
300 km/h (186 mph; 162 kn) at 8,837 kg (19,482 lb) at 4,000 m (13,123 ft)
Combat range: 660 km (410 mi; 356 nmi) with 1,540 l (339 imp gal) fuel and 1,000
kg (2,205 lb) of bombs
1,010 km (628 mi) with 2,435 l (536 imp gal) fuel and 500 kg (1,102 lb) of
bombsService ceiling: 8,200 m (26,903 ft)
Wing loading: 156 kg/m2 (32 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass: 0.170 kW/kg (0.11 hp/lb)
Armament
and cockpit side positions
Bombs: 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) of bombs carried internally, either 20 x 50 kg (110
lb) bombs or 4 x 250 kg (551 lb) bombs
*
|
|