Technical data (BV 138C-1)Type: Long-range Maritime Reconnaissance FlyingBoatPower Plant: Three Junkers Jumo 205 D six-cylinder vertical opposed-piston compression-ignition two-stroke engines, each rated at 880hp for take-off.Armament: One 20-mm MG 151 cannon in bow turret, one 20-mm MG 151 cannon mounted in the turret in the hull tail, and one 13-mm MG131 machine gun on the open position of the central engine, plus (optional)one 7.9-mm MG 15 machine gun firing through the hatch in the starboard side of the hull. (Offensive) Three 110-lb. bombs on racks beneath the starboard wing centre section, or (U1) six 110-lb. bombs or four 331-lb. depth charges.Performance:
maximum speed: 177 m.p.h. at sea level (at 31967 lb.)
normal cruising speed: 146 m.p.h. at 3280 ft.
climb to 10390 ft.: 24 min.
service ceiling at 31967 lb.: 16400 ft.
service ceiling at 38912 lb.: 9185 ft.
normal range: 758 miles at 122 m.p.h.
maximum range: 2670 miles with 825 Imp. gal.
normal endurance: 6.5 hrs
maximum endurance: 18 hrs
Weights:
empty: 25948 lb.
normal loaded: 31967 lb.
maximum loaded: 38912 lb.
Dimensions:
span: 88 ft. 4.25 in.
length: 65 ft. 1.5 in.
height: 19 ft. 4.25 in.
wing area: 1205.558 sq. ft.
VersionsPrototypes:
Ha 138 V1 – (D-ARAK), flew 15.7.37
Ha 138 V2 – (D-AMOR), flew 8.37, redesigned
Ha 138 V3 – never completed, scrapped
Models:
BV 138A-0 – 6 delivered 1939, 1st flew 2.39, one modified to B-0standard
BV 138A-1 – 25 delivered 1939-40, 1st tested 4.40
BV 138B-0 – 10 delivered 1940, normal loaded weight increased from30313 lb. to 31930 lb.
BV 138B-1 – 21 delivered from 12.40, Jumo 205 D engines, increased defensive armament
BV 138B-1/U1 – offensive load increased, see armament above
BV 138C-1 – delivered from 3.41, structural strengthening, four-bladed airscrew, a 13-mm MG 131 replaced the 7.9-mm MG 15 machine gun, and an optional 7.9-mm MG 15 could be added. Some were later fitted with the FuG200 Hohentwiel radar. About 70 BV 138C-1 were fitted with catapult points for operation from the Luftwaffe’s seaplane tenders.
BV 138C-1/U1 – similar to B-1/U1 version
BV 138MS – few BV138C-1 were converted to minesweepers in 1942-43, no armament, dural hoop used to sweep mines (see image above).
