ME-323!!!!! We neeeeed it :)

[Udie]

 I'm watching the History Chanel and they're showing this German transport plane, the Me-323.  It started out as a glider, but it took 3 planes to pull it off the ground so they put 6 engines on it.

 It could carry 21 tons, and they showed them loadin 2 tanks into 1.  This is PERFECT for moving tanks    and it's BIG BIG BIG, nice big fat juicey target.

 This is what I want next, please can I have one?  

udie

[Sn1p3r]

I agree we need it, but we need a bigger map first.  You could spot one of these things coming as soon as it took off!  LOL!

-Sn1p3r

   

[This message has been edited by Sn1p3r (edited 03-21-2000).]

[Replicant]

Does it need a 2 mile runway with a ski jump at the end?  

'Nexx'

[ra]

Historical aside:

Jato rockets were often used to help get these beasts off the ground.  On one such launch the rockets misfired and the plane spun in killing all on board.  100+ troops.  At the time it was the greatest ever loss of life in an aircraft accident.

ra

[Staga]

 

Originally posted by Udie:
I'm watching the History Chanel and they're showing this German transport plane, the Me-323.  It started out as a glider, but it took 3 planes to pull it off the ground so they put 6 engines on it..

Udie check this out...
 http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/Forum1/HTML/002244.html

[Westy]

Yeah! And I want the version with the four 20mm!!!!

-Westy

*good aircraft suggestion  

[Hristo]

I don't think it could carry Panzer IV or a similar tank. Or maybe I am wrong ?

[Pongo]

I believe you are right Hristo. A PzIV was several tones to heavy. The picture showed it loading a marder II. So any of the vehicles based on the czech 38 or the pzII chasis would fit. This leaves lots of room for interesting vehicles.

------------------
Pongo
The Wrecking Crew

[Staga]

[cut]Me 323 - Gigant: A super-transport developed from the 321 glider and produced in 1942. Powered by six Gnome Rhone radial engines. Wing span ft. Length 92 ft. 3 ins.  Early models provided with eight wheels, later increased to ten. ,able of lifting 130 troops or sixty wounded or 21,500 Ibs of freight.[/cut]

Something like 10000kg ? That is the weight of Marder also ? I guess Panther is out of question  

Staga
(BTW: Finnish Tank-Museum has a restored Stug III Ausf.G W/75mm (Weight 24000 kg). I read that the toughes job was rebuilt tanks Maybach engine. Maybe they could record some .Wav to us   )

Nice pics:  http://www.geocities.com/~fi1877/

[This message has been edited by Staga (edited 03-22-2000).]

[Dinger]

Hehe.  There was a gunship variant too that they supposedly tested.  Something like 17 151/20s?
I thought the payload was on the order of 19,200 kg.
The accident, IIRC, was an irregular firing of the RATO bottles, which caused the three me110 tugs to collide.  One of the responses was the festive He111Z.
Still, it's way cool, and butt-ugly

[Staga]

I Found this:
Type: Me 323E-2
Function: transport
Year: 1942 Crew: 7-11 Engines: 6 * 840kW Gnome-Rhone 14N48/49
Wing Span: 55m Length: 28.50m Height: 9.60m Wing Area: 300m2
Empty Weight: 29060kg Max.Weight: 45000kg
Speed: 253km/h Ceiling: 4500m Range: 1200km
Armament: 2*g20mm 7*mg13mm
Load: 10000kg, 130 seats
Couple links:
 http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~pettypi/elevon/gustin_military/db/ger/ME323GIG.html

And..

 http://www.accessweb.com/users/mconstab/me323.htm

Staga

[SIFTER]

You could move a bunch of the halftracks near an enema airfield and add a new meaning to the word Vulch  
                Sifter