Blohm und Voss BV.138

1938

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Blohm und Voss BV.138

This distinctive and rather pleasant-looking twin-boom reconnaissance flying-boat was nicknamed "Flying Shoe" and became operational in Bv 138A-1 form in 1940. Trouble with the three 447kW Junkers Jumo 205C-4 engines meant that it was little used operationally until the 656kW Jumo 205D-engined Bv 138B-1s and C-1s entered service. Initially flown mainly over the Baltic and North Atlantic Ocean, Bv 138s later operated successfully over the North Sea and elsewhere (from bases in occupied Norway) in an attempt to search out Allied convoys and then direct U-boats on to them. The Bv 138 finished its career in a mine-sweeping role, carrying a large degaussing "hoop" around its fuselage to explode magnetic mines. A total of 273 production Bv 138s were completed.

Blohm und Voss BV.138

Specification 
 MODELBv 138C-1
 ENGINE3 x 746kW Junkers Jumo 205D 12-cylinder diesel engines
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight17650 kg38912 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan26.94 m88 ft 5 in
  Length19.85 m65 ft 1 in
  Height5.90 m19 ft 4 in
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed285 km/h177 mph
  Ceiling5000 m16400 ft
  Range4300 km2672 miles
 ARMAMENT2 x 20mm cannon, 13mm + 7.92mm machine-guns

3-View 
Blohm und Voss BV.138A three-view drawing (794 x 570)

Comments
Kodi Salois, e-mail, 12.03.2017 20:05

I would like the plane's plans for a scratch build. Really interested in the bv p.111

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Bernd, e-mail, 02.03.2015 15:58

Hello, I can show you a crash place of a BV138 in northern Germany.

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Peter Tveskov, e-mail, 04.05.2012 22:38

As a boy in Copenhagen during the German occupation one of these planes would fly overhead very frequently as they patrolled the Øresund coast. One actually knocked the chimney off our apartment building and one crash-landed in one of the lakes in the inner city. At the end of the war several of them were anchored off the harbor and used as targets for RAF Mosquito bombers during an RAF airshow! I saw that from a boat, quite an exhibit. One of these wrecks was recovered during the construction of the new bridge to Sweden and is in a museum near Elsinore. Little is left of it, but it is interesting anyhow.

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Jonny, e-mail, 14.01.2012 21:21

I dont think there are any 138's left. There is one in a museum in Denmark i think but it is inn bad shape. There are a couple lying around in some Norwegian fjords. I hope these will be raised one day, its a shame there is not more focus on these old planes.

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B. crane, e-mail, 07.02.2011 21:27

I remember seeing One of these very odd flying boats at Felixstowe, then a UK flying boat station, after the German surrender (summer 1945?) but have no idea where it went from here.

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Dr Roberto Azzalin, e-mail, 08.05.2010 17:10

Please, kindly let me know in which museum can I find "DER FLIEGENDE HOLZSCHUH" Blohm & Voss BV 138.
Thanks in advance!
Kind regards.

reply

Mark, e-mail, 20.08.2008 16:51

'flying clog', to be pedantic

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MARCELO, e-mail, 02.06.2007 21:59

Esteavión me parece super fantastico porque es muy diferente de los otros, aparte me gusta porque tiene tres motores...es fabuloso..que les parece???

Saludos Marcelo

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Geir J. Valla, e-mail, 21.05.2007 16:26

Hello ! I`am restoring one Blohm & Voss 138 A,who a British destroyer shot a hole in 1940. Its resting at ca 20 meter. Do any have a good detalj drawing of the plane ?
It will help a lot in my restoration. Many thanks !

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AJ, e-mail, 27.01.2022 Geir J. Valla

Hi,

Please respond if you're the chap with the Blohm & Voss 138 aircraft. Regards, AJ

reply

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