Blohm + Voss Bv 138B
Description
Role	Reconnaissance
Crew	4-5
First Flight	July, 1937
Entered Service
Manufacturer	Blohm + Voss
Dimensions
Length	19.9 m	65 ft 3in
Wingspan	27 m	88 ft 7 in
Height	5.7 m	18 ft 10 in
Wing Area	111.9 m²	1,205 ft²
Weights
Empty	8,080 kg	17,820 lb
Loaded	12,780 kg	28,180 lb
Maximum takeoff	kg	lb
Powerplant
Engine	3 × Junkers Jumo 205C diesel
Power (each)	450 kW	600 hp
Performance
Maximum speed	275 km/h @ 6,000 m	171 mph @ 19,685 ft
Combat range	2,400 km	1,490 miles
Ferry range	km	miles
Service ceiling	4,880 m	16,000 ft
Rate of climb	220 m/min	729 ft/min
Wing loading	114.2 kg/m²	23.4 lb/ft²
Power/Mass	0.106 kW/kg	0.064 hp/lb
Armament
Guns	2 × MG 151 20 mm cannon 1 × MG 131 13 mm m/c gun

The Blohm + Voss BV 138 was a World War II German flying boat that functioned as the Luftwaffe's main long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

The aircraft was unusually powered by three diesel engines, with one mounted high above the centerline driving a four-bladed propeller, and one on each wing driving three-bladed propellers. Also unusual was the aircraft's twin boom tail unit, and gun turrets at the bow and the stern of the fuselage, as well as behind the central engine. These features together produced the aircraft's ungainly appearance.

Various versions of the aircraft carried a variety of armarment including MG 151, MG 15, and MG 131 machine guns as well as various combinations of bombs and depth charges. There was also a minesweeper variant of the aircraft, which carried a degaussing device in the form of a large ring around the fuselage instead of weapons.

Prototype Versions:

• Ha 138V1, First Flight July 1937
• Ha 138V2, First Flight August 1937
• Ha 138V3 not completed.

Production Versions:

• Bv 138A-0
• Bv 138A-1
• Bv 138B-0
• Bv 138B-1
  • Bv 138B-1/U1
• Bv 138C-1, also had minesweeper variant
  • Bv 138C-1/U1

Related content
Related Development
Similar Aircraft
Designation Series	Ha 135 - Ha 136 - Ha 137 - BV 138 - Ha 139 - Ha 140 - BV 141
Related Lists	List of military aircraft of Germany