Messerschmitt Me 323 "Gigant"

Type: Heavy Cargo Transport
Origin: Messerscmitt AG
Models: D And E
Crew: 5 (two pilots, two flight engineers and a radio operator)
First Flight: Fall 1941
Service Delivery: May 1942
Final Delivery: March 1944
Production: 198

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Powerplants:

• Model: Gnome-Rhône 14N 48/49
• Type: 14-Cylinder two row radials
• Horsepower: 1,140
• Number: Six
• Propellers: 3-bladed Chauvière variable-pitch propellers LH and RH rotation

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Dimensions:

• Wing span: 55m (180 ft. 5.5 in.)
• Length: 28.15m (92 ft. 4.25 in.)
• Height: 10.15m (33 ft. 3.5 in.)
• Wing Surface Area: 300 m2 (3,200 sq ft)

Weights:

• Empty: 27,330kg (60,260 lbs.)
• Gross weight: 29,500 kg (65,036 lb)
• Maximum: 43,000kg (94,815 lbs.)
• Capacity: 130 troops or 10,000–12,000 kg (22,046–26,455 lb) payload

Performance:

• Maximum Speed: 285kph (177 mph)
• Initial climb: 710ft/min (216m/min)
• Range: 684 miles (1100km)
• Service Ceiling: 13,100 ft (4000m)

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Armament:

• Five x MG 15 mounted in nose mounts
• Six x MG 34 infantry MG's in beam windows

Waffentraeger (Weapons Carrier)

• 11 x 20mm MG 151 cannon
• 4 x 13mm MG 131 Machine Guns

This version also carried several tonnes of armor and bulletproof glass. Eventually it was decided that escort fighters would be more effective and this version did not see wide-spread production.

Bomb load:
One 17.7 ton bomb was dropped in trials, though the aircraft crashed during the trials due to structural failure after the test aircraft had been straffed by Allied fighters days earlier.

Sources:
Gunston, Bill & Wood, Tony - Hitler's Luftwaffe, 1977, Salamander Books Ltd., London
Wikipedia: Messerschmitt Me 323