The Do 217 had a much larger bomb load capacity and had considerably greater range than the Do 17, which it replaced in frontline service from mid to late 1941. Although initially used simply as a bomber, later variants were developed to allow the Do 217 to undertake the precision maritime strike role. In order to perform the latter mission, the Do 217 was modified to launch glide bombs – units employing these pioneering weapons enjoyed some success in the Mediterranean from the autumn of 1943. During the course of these operations the Do 217 became the first aircraft in military aviation history to deploy a precision-guided bomb in combat in the form of the ‘Fritz X’ radio-guided, free-fall weapon, which sank the Italian battleship Roma shortly after Italy capitulated in September 1943. The Do 217 served on all fronts, and was often used on anti-shipping strikes during the Battle of the Atlantic and against the Allied invasion fleet at Normandy. This versatile aircraft was also converted into a nightfighter, seeing action in the Defense of the Reich through to war’s end.
This highly illustrated study explores the design and development of the Do 217 and chronicles its use in the frontline as a strategic bomber, launch platform for first generation precision weapons, reconnaissance aircraft and nightfighter, among others.
Les mer
1. Design, Development and into Action
2. Need for Change
3. New Developments
4. Maximum Effort, Minimum Returns
5. Decline and Disappearance
Appendices
Index
This illustrated study charts the development and combat history of the units that saw combat with the Dornier Do 217, one of the Luftwaffe’s workhorse bombers during World War II.
The Do 217 is one of the key German aircraft types of the later years of World War 2 and will appeal to a variety of readers thanks to the many different roles it was employed for.
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781472846174
Publisert
2021-09-16
Utgiver
Vendor
Osprey Publishing
Vekt
310 gr
Høyde
248 mm
Bredde
184 mm
Aldersnivå
G, P, 01, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
96
Forfatter