Bomberaircraft Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Dornier Do 11

Dornier 11C, probably serving with the Behelfskampfgeschwader in 1934.[1]

The Dornier Do 11 was the production version of the Do F monoplane bomber developed by Germany during the early 1930s.

Development[]

Dornier's Swiss subsidiary at Altenrhein was one of the few German-controlled plants where, in the late 1920s, development of heavy bombers could be contemplated. The first to appear, in 1930. was the Do P with four Jupiter engines. This was followed by the Do Y, with three. and the Do F, which had only two similar engines. but nevertheless promised to be better than its larger ancestors. An innovation was the retractable landing gear, though this gave much trouble and eventually was permanently locked down. Worse, the production Do 11 flew poorly, and after many delays — partly owing to Siemens’ late delivery of engines - small numbers entered service as freighters with the German State Railways (a cover for the first Luftwaffe bombing units). By the end of 1934 the short~span Do 11D was well established, with 77 operating in by now overt Fliegergruppen and the Kampffliegerschulen (war flying schools). But accidents were frequent, and the unpopular Do 11 was never the important bomber it had been planned to be.[N 1] The improved Do 13 was not much better, but it eventually emerged as the Do 23.[1]

Specification (Do F (Do 11a), 11C and D)[]

  • Origin: Dornier Metallbauten. Switzerland; later Dornier-Werke GmbH. Type: Heavy bomber. Engines: (C, D) two 650hp Siemens (Bristol-licence) Sh 22B-2 nine- cylinder radials.
  • Dimension: Span (prior to D) 91ft 10 1/4in (28.00m). (D) 86ft 3 1/2in (26.29m); length 61ft 8in (18.79m): height 18ft (5.49m).
  • Weights: Empty (D) 13.173|b (5975kg); maximum (D) 18.080|b (8200kg).
  • Performance: Maximum speed (D) 161mph (259km/h); cruise 14Omph (225km/h); service ceiling 13,450ft (4,100m); max range (bomb load not stated) 596 miles (960km).
  • Armament: Three manually aimed 7.92mm MG 15 in nose, dorsal and ventral positions; internal bomb load of 2.205lb (1000kg).
  • History: First flight (Do F) 7 May 1932. (Do 11C) late 1933.[1]

References[]

Notes[]

  1. The Do 11's unpopularity led to it becoming known as the Flying Coffin[2]

Sources[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Wood, Tony and Bill Gunston. Hitler's Luftwaffe. Salamander Books. 1997. ISBN 0 86101 935 0 Page 142
  2. Template:Luftwaffe Secret Projects - Strategic Bombers Page 18
Advertisement