I love the Arado. What a plane - excellent work.
Here is a snippet out of Weapons and Warfare - Vol 2. p.136-138
The first prototype flew at Rheine on June 15, 1943, taking off from a tricle trolley, which was cleanly released at 60m (200ft) altitude, and landing on skids under the bellw and the engine nacelles housing the early Jumo 004B-0 turbojets. Extensive development led first ot a self-braked trolley that was left on the ground and finally to a conventional tricycle landing gear retracting into the fuselage.
By June 1944, the pre-production 234B-0 Blitz (Lightning) was rolling off the line at AltLonnewitz, with two 900-kg (1980-lb) thrust Jumo 004B-1 turbojets , rocket takeoff boost, and systems and equipment outstandingly advanced and often unlike anything previously used.
(snip)
Main production centered on the fully equipped B-2, built in several bomber, reconnaissance-bomber and pathfinder/marker versions. This had two nacelle attachments for up to 2000kg of bombs, and was equipped with a BZA attack computer, PDS autopilot and Lotfe 7k tachymetric bomb sight. Two 20-MM MG-151 cannons were fixed in the rear fuselage firing aft, with periscopic sighting.
During the Ardennes 'Battle of the Bulge' the Strabssteffel of KG76, under the great ace Robert Kowaleski, became the first jet-bomber unit in history. Other units of KG76 fought bitterly whenever they had fuel, their climax being the ten-day no-stop (and often suicidal) low-level attacks on the Remagen bridge with 1000-kg bombs which finally succeeded in destroying the bridge on March 17, 1945. There were many other semi-experimental AR 234B units, and numerous four-engined Ar 234C and other developments.
The Ar 234C-3 four-enginged production version of the Blitz retained the 789kg thrust BMW 003A-1 axial-flow turbojets introduced on the C-1. Unlike the C-1, a purely reconnaissance type, the C-3 was suitable for use as a bomber, night fighter or ground attack aircraft. Four MG151 cannons were carried in a ventral pack, two firing forward and two aft. Up to 1500kg of bombs could be carried.
Interesting stuff. Will the Arado ever have the 2 MG151's it is suppose to have HT/Pyro?
Vruth
[This message has been edited by Vruth (edited 04-25-2001).]
