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Type: Assault/Troop Transport Origin: Gothaer Waggonfabrik AG Models: Go 244B Crew: 1 or 2 pilots; 23 troops First Flight: N/A Service Delivery: N/A Final Delivery: 1943 Production: 133 converted from Go 242 Engine: Model: Gnome-Rhône 14M4/5 Type: 14-Cylinder Radial Number: Two Horsepower: 700 hp Sometimes BMW 132Z or Russian M-25A engines installed. Dimensions: Wing span: 80 ft. 4½ in. (24.50m) Length: 51 ft 10 in. (15.81m) Height: 15 ft. 5 in. (14.70m) Wing Surface Area: 693.22 sq. ft. (64.40m²)
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Performance: Maximum Speed: 180 mph (290 kph) Cruise speed: – 168 mph (270 kph) at 3,900 m (12,795 ft) Rate Of Climb: 5,000 m/min (16,405 ft/min) Service Ceiling: 24,605 ft. (7500m) Range at sea level: 272 Miles (600 km) Armament: Four 7.92mm MG 15 Machine guns. Variants: Go 244A-1 Prototype, using the BMW 132 radial engine
Go 244B-1
Go 244B-2
Go 242B-3
Go 244B-4
Go 244B-5 |
The Go 244 was the powered version of the Gotha Go 242. After the fall of France, the German army came across large stockpiles of the Gnome-Rhône 14M radial engines. It was decided to use these engines to modify Go 242 gliders, the modification also added a tricycle undercarriage. They hoped that by doing this they would be able to increase the performance as well as operational versatility. But the engines proved to be underpowered. After the invasion of Russia in June 1941, the Germans captured large stockpiles of the Shvetsov M-25A radial engines. But they proved to be just as underpowered as the French engines. The A series of the Go 244 were prototypes and some were powered by BMW 132 radial engines. The B series was the main production model. 43 were built as full production models and 133 were converted from Go 242B.
Sources:
Gunston, Bill & Wood, Tony - Hitler's Luftwaffe
, 1977, Salamander Books Ltd., LondonSource: Wikipedia
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