Dornier Do 217

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Do 217
Type	Heavy Bomber Night-fighter
Manufacturer	Dornier Flugzeugwerke
Maiden flight	1938
Introduction	1940
Status	Retired
Primary user	Luftwaffe
Number built	1,905
Variants	Dornier Do 317

The Dornier Do 217 was a bomber used by Germany during World War II. It was designed from scratch as a replacement for the venerable Dornier Do 17.

Contents 1 Development and design 2 Operational history 3 Survivors 4 Production 5 Variants: 6 Operators 7 Specifications (Do 217J-2) 8 Specifications (Do 217M-1) 9 References 10 See also

[edit] Development and design

At the beginning of 1938, Dornier issued manufacturing specification No. 1323, recognising the need for a twin engined bomber or long range reconnaissance aircraft powered by Daimler-Benz DB 601B engines.^[1] Dornier recognized shortcomings of its fast Dornier Do 17 well before the war. With Junkers' new prototype, the Junkers Ju 88 being superior to the Do 17 in every way, Dornier designed a new bomber to meet a requirement from the RLM for a larger and more versatile bomber than the Do 17, capable of both level and dive bombing.^[2] One of the most versatile and useful bomber designs the Germans put into production after the war started, the Dornier Do 217 remedied the shortcomings of the Do 17 while greatly advancing the design in all areas.

Superficially a scaled up Dornier Do 215, and initially powered by the same engines, the Do 217 was actually considerably larger and totally different in detailed design. The first prototype (the Do 217 V1) flew on 4 October 1938, but crashed seven days later during a single engine flying test.^[1] It was found to be underpowered and was unmanouverable when compared with contemporary bombers.^[2] Instability was a problem at first, but modifications such as fixed slats along the leading edges of the vertical fins helped to improve flight stability.

Much of Dornier's efforts in 1938 to 1940 were devoted to finding more powerful engines and improving the flying qualities. When the BMW 801 radial engine became available, it solved the problems of the aircraft being underpowered and allowed the fuselage to be deepened, thus accommodating larger and heavier bombloads. This enabled the Do 217 to fulfill its potential and carry a heavier bombload than any other Luftwaffe bomber of the time.

There was a desire for the Do 217 to be capable of performing dive bomber duty, so it was therefore fitted with a tail mounted air brake. This could not be made to function adequately in the early models however, and was omitted until the Do 217E-2 entered service. When this mark reached service, use of the dive brake was found to sometimes overstrain the rear fuselage, so the dive brakes were often removed.^[2]

[edit] Operational history

In almost every way, the Do 217 was a success. It could carry a much heavier bombload than either the Heinkel He 111 or the Junkers Ju 88. It was also very fast, surpassing both aircraft in maximum speed. It was Germany's largest bomber for nearly two years until the Heinkel He 177 was finally safe enough to use. Do 217's sank the Italian battleship Roma with Fritz X missiles as she steamed to the Allies after Italy's capitulation. Do 217's were phased out of combat use in mid 1944.

Like the Do 17 and the Ju 88, the aircraft was used in a variety of roles, including that of the night-fighter - a sign that Germany desperately needed fighters far more than it needed bombers. Production was stopped in April 1944 in favor of single-engined fighters. Operational use of the Do 217 as a night-fighter was restricted in 1943 to the NJG 4. The main part of the production was used in the training role.^{[citation needed]}

The only capability in which the Do 217 was used up to the end of the war was as a night reconnaissance plane. Like the Do 17, this important type of service in the Luftwaffe is frequently overlooked.

[edit] Survivors

A total of 1,905 Do 217s were produced. Today no complete aircraft survives. The largest known relic of this aircraft, a large piece of the rear fuselage, can be found at the Italian Air Force museum in Rome.^[3]

[edit] Production

The Do 217 was built in series from November 1940 to May 1944. In 1943, 395 aircraft could not be delivered to the Luftwaffe due to shortages of the DB 603 engines used in the M-1 and N-1 versions. These aircraft were stored, and while some were refitted in 1944 when the engines became available, the remainder (around 125) were scrapped. The Do 217 was only built by the three Dornier companies: Dornier Friedrichshafen (DWF): 316 aircraft, Dornier München (DWM): 985 aircraft and Norddeutsche Dornier-Werke (NDW): 602 aircraft. Production stopped in Friedrichshafen in December 1942, and in Wismar (NDW) in October 1943.

Version	Dornier	DWF	DWM	NDW	SUM
Prototypes		4			4
A-0		9			9
C-0		9			9
E-1		44	50		94
E-2	169				169
E-4	527				527
J-1		130			130
K-1	220				220
M-1			258	180	438
N-1/N-2		10	315		325
H (Conversion)		(3)			(3)
P (Conversion)		(4)			(4)
R (Conversion)		(4)			(4)
SUM	916	206	623	180	1.925

Sources: Files from the Bundesarchiv/Militärarchiv Freiburg and the National Archives, Washington

[edit] Variants:

• Do 217 A-0 : Pre-production series with two 1,100 PS (1,085 hp, 809 kW) DB 601B inline piston engines, used for reconnaissance missions. Only eight aircraft were built.
• Do 217 C-0 : Pre-production bomber, DB 601B engines, increased defensive armament. Only four built.
• Do 217 E-0 : Pre-production bomber with deepened fuselage and powered by two 1,560 PS (1,539 hp, 1,147 kW) BMW 801A engines.
• Do 217 E-1 : Production bomber with five 7,92 mm MG 15 machine guns and one 15 mm MG 151 cannon for defence.
• Do 217 E-2 : Bomber with dive bombing capabilities, with three 7,92 mm MG 15 machine guns, two 13 mm MG 131 machine guns, one 15 mm MG 151 cannon, and a 4,000 kg (8,818 lb) bombload.
• Do 217 E-3 : Level bomber, seven 7,92 mm MG 15 machine guns and one forward firing MG FF cannon.
• Do 217 E-4 : BMW 801L engines.
• Do 217 E-5 : E-4 with extended wingspan, modified on production line to launch Henschel Hs 293 missile.
• Do 217H : Conversion of a Do 217E with DB 601 engines fitted with experimental turbo-superchargers.
• Do 217K : Bomber with redesigned forward fuselage with stepped windscreen eliminated. Two 1,700 PS (1,677 hp, 1,250 kW) BMW 801 G-2 radial piston engines.
  • Do 217 K-1 : Standard bomber version.
  • Do 217 K-2 : Extended wingspan to carry Fritz X glide bombs on underwing racks.
  • Do 217 K-3 : Similar to K-2, but capable of carrying both Henschel Hs 293 or Fritz X.
• Do 217M : Bomber, a Do 217K with 1,750 PS (1,726 hp, 1,287 kW) DB 603A inline piston engines.
  • Do 217 M-1 : Equivalent to the K-1.
  • Do 217 M-3 : DB 603A-engined equivalent to the K-3.
  • Do 217 M-5 : Henschel Hs 293 carrier with a single missile mounted semi-externally beneath the fuselage.
  • Do 217 M-11 : Similar to the K-2 with extended wingspan and Fritz X missiles.
• Do 217J : Night fighter based on the Do 217E. Solid nose with four 7,92 mm MG 17 machine guns and four 20 mm MG FF cannons.
  • Do 217 J-1 : Night intruder version.
  • Do 217 J-2 : Dedicated night fighter. Bomb bays removed.
• Do 217L : Modified version of the Do 217K with rearranged cockpit and defensive armament. Only two built.
• Do 217N : Night fighter based on the Do 217M. Armament similar to Do 217J but with improved MG 151 cannon replacing the MG FF cannon plus the addition of four MG 151 cannon as Schräge Musik.
  • Do 217 N-1 : Similar to J-2.
  • Do 217 N-2 : N-1 with defensive gun turret removed to reduce weight.^[4]
• Do 217P : High altitude reconnaissance aircraft with two 1,860 PS (1,834 hp, 1,368 kW) DB 603B supercharged by a DB 605T in the fuselage with a ceiling of 16,155 m (53,000 ft). Three Do 217 P-0 pre-production aircraft only.^[2]
• Do 217R : Redesignated Dornier Do 317 prototypes used as Henschel Hs 293 carriers.

[edit] Operators

 Germany

• Luftwaffe

 Italy

• Regia Aeronautica

[edit] Specifications (Do 217J-2)

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Length: 18.20 m (59 ft 8½ in)
• Wingspan: 19.00 m (62 ft 4 in)
• Height: 5.00 m (16 ft 5 in)
• Wing area: 57.00 m² (613.54 ft²)
• Empty weight: 9,350 kg (20,615 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 13,180 kg (29,059 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× BMW 801A 14-cylinder radial engine, 1,560 PS (1,539 hp, 1,147 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 487 km/h at 5,500 m (303 mph at 18,045 ft)
• Range: 2,050 km (1,274 miles)
• Service ceiling 8,400 m (27,560 ft)

Armament

• 4 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns in nose with 1,000 rpg
• 4 x 20 mm MG FF cannons in nose with 250 rpg
• 2 x 13 mm MG 131 machine guns in dorsal and ventral positions with about 500 rpg apiece

[edit] Specifications (Do 217M-1)

General characteristics

• Crew: 4
• Length: 17.00 m (55 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 19.00 m (62 ft 4 in)
• Height: 4.96 m (16 ft 3½ in)
• Wing area: 57.00 m² (613.54 ft²)
• Empty weight: 9,100 kg (20,062 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 16,700 kg (36,817 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× DB 603A 12-cylinder inverted-vee engine, 1,750 PS (1,726 hp, 1,287 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 557 km/h at 5,700 m (347 mph at 18,700 ft)
• Cruise speed: 400 km/h (248 mph)
• Range: 2,145 km (1,332 miles)
• Service ceiling 7,370 m (24,180 ft (with max bombload))
• Rate of climb: 210 m/min (688 ft/min)

Armament

• 4 x 7.92 mm MG 81 machine guns in nose and lateral positions
• 2 x 13 mm MG 131 machine guns in dorsal and ventral positions
• up to 4,000 kg (8,818 lb) of disposable stores

[edit] References

"German Aircraft and Armament" US Army Air Force 1944, Brassey's republished in 2000, ISBN 1-57488-291-0

[edit] See also

v • d • e Aircraft built by Dornier Flugzeugwerke By Project Number Company designations pre-1933: Do A • Do B • Do C • Do D • Do E • Do F • Do G • Do H • Do J • Do K • Do L • Do N • Do O • Do P • Do Q • Do R • Do S • Do T • Do U • Do V • Do X • Do Y Delphin • Komet • Libelle • Merkur • Spatz • Wal RLM designations 1933-1945: Do 10 • Do 11 • Do 12 • Do 13 • Do 14 • Do 15 • Do 16 • Do 17 • Do 18 • Do 19 • Do 20 • Do 22 • Do 23 • Do 24 • Do 25 • Do 26 • Do 212 • Do 214 • Do 215 • Do 216 • Do 217 • Do 317 • Do 318 • Do 335 • Do 417 • Do 435 • Do 635 P.59 • P.85 • P.174 • P.184 • P.192 • P.231 • P.232 • P.238 • P.247 • P.252 • P.254 • P.256 • P.273 • P.1075 Company designations post-1945: Do 24 • Do 25 • Do 27 • Do 28 • Do 29 • Do 31 • Do 32 • Do 34 • Do 128 • Do 132 • Do 228 • Do 231 • 328 • 428 • 528 • 728JET • 928JET Projekt 621 Collaborative ventures Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet

v • d • e Reich Air Ministry aircraft designations 1 to 99 B 9 • Do 10 • Do 11 • Wn 11 • Do 12 • Do 13 • Do 14 • Do 15 • Wn 15 • Do 16 • Wn 16 • Do 17 • Do 18 • Do 19 • Do 20 • Do 22 • Do 23 • Do 24 • Kl 25 • Do 26 • Kl 26 • M 27 • Do 29 • Kl 31 • Kl 32 • W 33 • L 33 • W 34 • Kl 35 • Kl 36 • HD 37 • HD 38 • G 38 • DFS 39 • BV 40 • DFS 40 • A 40 • Fw 42 • He 42 • A 43 • HD 43 • Fw 44 • He 45 • He 46 • Ju 46 • Fw 47 • He 47 • K 47 • A 48 • He 49 • Ju 49 • He 50 • A 50 • He 51 • K 51 • Ju 52 • K 53 • NR 54 • Fw 55 • NR 55 • Fw 56 • Fw 57 • Fw 58 • He 58 • He 59 • He 60 • Ju 60 • Fw 61 • He 61 • Fw 62 • He 62 • He 63 • Ar 64 • He 64 • Ar 65 • He 65 • Ar 66 • He 66 • Ar 67 • Ar 68 • Ar 69 • He 70 • He 71 • He 72 • He 74 • Ar 76 • Ar 77 • Ar 79 • Ar 80 • Ar 81 • Ju 85 • Ju 86 • Ju 87 • Ju 88 • Ju 89 • Ju 90 • Ar 95 • Ar 96 • Fi 97 • Fi 98 • Fi 99 100 to 199 He 100 • Al 101 • Al 102 • Al 103 • Fi 103 • Fh 104 • Kl 105 • Kl 106 • Kl 107 • Bf 108 • Bf 109 • Bf 110 • He 111 • He 112 • He 113 • He 114 • He 115 • He 116 • Hs 117 • He 118 • He 119 • He 120 • Hs 121 • Hs 122 • Hs 123 • Hs 124 • Hs 125 • Hs 126 • Hs 127 • Hs 128 • Hs 129 • Hs 130 • Bü 131 • Hs 132 • Bü 133 • Bü 134 • Ha 135 • Ha 136 • Hü 136 • Ha 137 • BV 138 • Ha 139 • Ha 140 • BV 141 • BV 142 • BV 143 • BV 144 • Go 145 • Go 146 • Go 147 • Ju 147 • Go 149 • Go 150 • Kl 151 • Ta 152 • Kl 152 • Ta 153 • Ta 154 • BV 155 • Fi 156 • Fi 157 • Fi 158 • Fw 159 • Ju 160 • Bf 161 • He 162 • Bf 162 • Bf 163 • Me 163 • Me 164 • Fi 166 • FK 166 • Fi 167 • Fi 168 • He 170 • He 172 • He 176 • He 177 • He 178 • Bü 180 • Bü 181 • Bü 182 • Ta 183 • Fl 184 • Fl 185 • Fw 186 • Ju 186 • Fw 187 • Ju 187 • Ju 188 • Fw 189 • Fw 190 • Fw 191 • Ao 192 • DFS 193 • DFS 194 • Ar 195 • Ar 196 • Ar 197 • Ar 198 • Ar 199 200 to 299 Fw 200 • Si 201 • Si 202 • DFS 203 • Si 204 • Fw 206 • Me 208 • Me 209 • Me 209-II • Me 210 • Hü 211 • Do 212 • Do 214 • Do 215 • Do 216 • Do 217 • Hs 217 • He 219 • He 220 • BV 222 • Fa 223 • Fa 224 • Ao 225 • Fa 225 • BV 226 • Ho 226 • Fg 227 • DFS 228 • Ho 229 • DFS 230 • Ar 231 • Ar 232 • Ar 233 • Ar 234 • Do 235 • BV 237 • BV 238 • Fw 238 • Ar 239 • Ar 240 • Go 241 • Go 242 • Go 244 • BV 246 • Ju 248 • BV 250 • Fw 250 • Ho 250 • Ho 251 • Ho 252 • Ju 252 • Fi 253 • Ho 253 • Ta 254 • Ho 254 • Fi 256 • Sk 257 • Fw 261 • Me 261 • Me 262 • Me 263 • Me 264 • Fl 265 • Me 265 • Fa 266 • Ho 267 • Ju 268 • Fa 269 • He 270 • We 271 • Fw 272 • He 274 • He 275 • He 277 • He 278 • He 280 • Fl 282 • Fa 283 • Ta 283 • Fa 284 • Fl 285 • Ju 286 • Ju 287 • Ju 288 • Ju 290 • Me 290 • As 292 • Hs 293 • Hs 294 • Hs 295 • Ar 296 • Hs 296 • Hs 297 • Hs 298 300– Fw 300 • Me 309 • Me 310 • Do 317 • Do 318 • He 319 • Me 321 • Ju 322 • Me 323 • Me 328 • Me 329 • Fa 330 • DFS 331 • DFS 332 • Fi 333 • Me 334 • Do 335 • Fa 336 • Fl 339 • Ar 340 • Wn 342 • He 343 • Rk 344 • So 344 • Go 345 • DFS 346 • Rk 347 • Ba 349 • Ju 352 • Me 362 • Me 364 • Ju 388 • Ju 390 • Fw 391 • Ar 396 • Ta 400 • Me 409 • Me 410 • Do 417 • He 419 • ZMe 423 • Ar 430 • Ka 430 • Ar 432 • Do 435 • Ar 440 • Ju 452 • Me 462 • Ju 488 • Fw 491 • Me 509 • Me 510 • He 519 • ZSO 523 • Ar 532 • Do 535 • Me 609 • Ar 632 • Do 635

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