Dornier Do 24

Reconnaissance / Transport / Search and Rescue Flying Boat

Nazi Germany | 1937

"The Dornier Do 24 is one of the few World War 2 aircraft with the distinction of having served on both sides of the conflict."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/21/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Dornier Do 24 was a capable flying both serving in limited numbers both Allied and Axis powers in World War 2. The system was classified as a flying boat, capable of operations on both land and sea, and was the product of German engineering and a Dutch Navy requirement. The Do 24 achieved her maiden flight on July 3rd, 1937 and entered service in November of that year. Some 279 total examples were produced before, during and after the war with several models serving up until the early 1950s.

Design of the Do 24 was conventional as flying boats go. The system featured a hull-like fuselage with sponsons for added on-water stability. The wings were high-mounted monoplane systems held in place by struts extending from the fuselage and sponsons. The cockpit was held forward of the wings with entry to the fuselage made through a wide hinged door in the upper portion under the wing assembly. Three BMW/Bramo Fafnir 323R-2 series 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines developed 1,000 horsepower each, provided up to 340 kilometers of speed and were fitted across the middle of the wing section, over the main body of the fuselage. These engines featured a slim nacelle design and five-bladed propellers (Do 24 ATT). The tail section consisted of a split "T" type with twin vertical fins extending out from the fuselage end. Crew accommodations amounted to 5 or 6 personnel. Armament was strictly defensive - as is expected for the type of role she was designed for - and consisted of a two 7.92mm MG 15 machine guns in a bow and tail position, 1 x 20mm MG 151 cannon in a central fuselage position and up to 12 x 110lb bombs as needed.

With the Dornier Wals of the Dutch Navy effectively on their way out of service, the brand decided a replacement was in order and contracted the German aircraft firm of Dornier to design the replacement. Utilizing this Dutch requirement, the Do 24 was born as an all-metal constructed system capable of the needed operations in the Dutch East Indies where they would be used. The initial batch of early aircraft appeared with varying powerplants, the first two featuring Junkers Jumo types followed by three more with Wright Cyclone types. Production was handled by both German and Netherlands facilities.

All progressed as planned until the eventual occupation of the Netherlands by German forces, effectively killing all future Dutch production of the system. The German occupation forced the confiscation of all completed and under construction systems for Luftwaffe use. Future models produced in Dutch facilities naturally shifted use of German powerplants away from the American Wright-branded products and featured the BMW Bramo series. In action through World War 2, the Do 24 served with German, Australian (existing Do 24 systems already operating in the East Indies) and Spain. Spain offered up the type in a somewhat neutral role, providing search and rescue services for pilots of both sides of the conflict. France made use of the time for a time and the Sweden "captured" a German Do 24 making an emergency landing in the neutral nation. The aircraft appeared in various arrangements through her production life, differing mainly through powerplants and minor changes throughout.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Dornier Do 24T-1 Reconnaissance / Transport / Search and Rescue Flying Boat.

3 x BMW/Bramo Fafnir 323R-2 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engines developing 1,000 horsepower each.
Propulsion

211 mph
340 kph | 184 kts
Max Speed

19,357 ft
5,900 m | 4 miles
Service Ceiling

2,952 miles
4,750 km | 2,565 nm
Operational Range

468 ft/min
143 m/min
Rate-of-Climb

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Dornier Do 24T-1 Reconnaissance / Transport / Search and Rescue Flying Boat.

5 or 6
(MANNED)
Crew

72.2 ft
22.00 m
O/A Length

88.6 ft
(27.00 m)
O/A Width

18.9 ft
(5.75 m)
O/A Height

20,062 lb
(9,100 kg)
Empty Weight

40,565 lb
(18,400 kg)
MTOW

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Dornier Do 24 Reconnaissance / Transport / Search and Rescue Flying Boat .

STANDARD:
1 x 7.92mm MG 15 machine gun in bow position
1 x 7.92mm MG 15 machine gun in tail position
1 x 20mm MG 151 cannon in midship position

OPTIONAL:
12 x 110lb (50kg) bombs

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Dornier Do 24 family line.

Do 24K-1 - Initial Production Model Designation; 6 examples produced.

Do 24K-2 - License production models by the Dutch; fitted with 3 x Wright R-1820-G102 engines of 1,000 horsepower each.

Do 24N-1 - License production search and rescue (SAR) models by the Dutch for German use; fitted with 3 x Wright R-1820-G102 series engines of 1,000 horsepower each; 11 examples produced.

Do 24T-1 - French and Dutch Produced Do 24; 48 examples produced by French; Dutch examples fitted with BMW Bramo 323R-2 series engines.

Do 24T-2 - Based on the Do 24T-1

Do 24T-3 - Based on the Do 24T-1

Do 24 ATT - Fitted with 3 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-45 series engines.

Do 318 - Single Example Model based on the Do 24T.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Dornier Do 24. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 279 Units
Contractor(s): Dornier Flugzeugwerke - Germany / Aviolanda-de Schelde - Netherlands

[ Netherlands, Australia, France, Spain, Sweden and Nazi Germany. ]

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Going Further...
The Dornier Do 24 Reconnaissance / Transport / Search and Rescue Flying Boat appears in the following collections:

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