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Loading a 150mm s. FH 18M field gun and it’s halftrack into an Me-323. |
Technical Details
The Me-323 transport had a crew of five comprised of two pilots, two flight engineers and a radio operator. Two additional gunners could be carried as well. The pilot’s area was in front of the leading edge of the wing at the top of the cargo area and was armoured. It was powered by six Gnome-Rhone 14N 48/49 14 cylinder radial, air-cooled engines each rated at 990 hp. Four rockets could be mounted on each wing outside of the last engine to assist with take-offs. The left and right side engines had to be counter-rotating to avoid the severe torque that would be generated by six engines rotating in the same direction. It had a maximum speed of only 136 mph (218 km/h) at sea level and speed dropped with altitude. Range is not known, but it was used to quickly build up troops in North Africa flying from Italy. It was armed with five 13 mm machine guns firing from a dorsal position behind the wings and from the fusilage. They were manned by the extra gunners, radio operator and engineers.
Canadian Aces Home Page
Image From:
Aircraft of the Luftwaffe.
Technical Information From:
Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of WWII. 1995 (orginally published in 1946/47). Crescent Books, New York.
Thanks to Don Goodbrand for technical data on the gun being loaded into the Gigant.