Arado E.340

The Arado Ar E.340 was a twin-engined dive- and tactical-medium bomber design by Arado Flugzeugwerke at the request of the Reich Air Ministry in 1939 but the project was cancelled.^[1][2]

Design and development

The Reich Air Ministry ordered the aircraft to replace the Junkers Ju 88 and Dornier Do 217 bombers by 1943. Four manufacturers submitted plans to the Air Ministry, which chose the Arado design. The engines were positioned in a unique twin-boom arrangement connected through the wing assembly, a set-up which offered the pilot better visibility.

The Arado E.340 had a central fusulage that was built to hold 4 crew members. The cockpit and bomb bay were glazed and pressurized. The mounts for the Juno engines and landing gear were on the wings. The tail of the aircraft had a unique design where it doesn't extend through the plane's central area. The wings were connected at the plane's main body, but not at the tail. This provided the gunners with a clear range of fire towards the rear of the plane. Also, the fuselage extended far beyond the engines both at the front and rear of the plane to give the crew members in the fuselage more visibility. The gunners were located on the rear of the engine and fuselage. The MG 151 cannons that they used were controlled with periscopic aiming. There were also two remote controlled Fernbedienbare Drehlafette FDL 131 13mm gun turrets placed above and below the fuselage.

The Junkers Jumo 222 engine was chosen to power the aircraft. These powerful engines were selected because it allowed the Arado E.340 to carry a heavier payload without sacrificing too much of the plane's maximum range. They would have allowed the Arado E.340 to carry a payload of over 5,900 kg (13,000 lb). This decision caused the project to suffer due to the lack of engines being produced, and the amount of high grade fuel needed to power them. Ultimately, the entire project was cancelled.^[3]

Specifications

Data from Arado E.340^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: 4
• Length: 18.65 m (61 ft 2 in)
• Wingspan: 22.98 m (75 ft 5 in)
• Max takeoff weight: 24,000 kg (52,911 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Jumo 222 or Daimler-Benz DB 604 or BMW 802 large piston engines

Performance

• Range: 3,600 km (2,237 mi; 1,944 nmi) with 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) bomb load

Armament

• Guns:
• 3 × MG 151/20 20 mm (0.787 in) cannon
• 2 × Fernbedienbare Drehlafette FDL 131 remote turrets
• 2 × MG 131 machine guns
• Rockets: 6

References