| Ar 195 first prototype | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Torpedo bomber |
| Manufacturer | Arado Flugzeugwerke |
| Status | Prototype |
| Primary user | Luftwaffe |
| Number built | 3 |
| History | |
| First flight | 1937 |
| Developed from | Arado Ar 95 |
TheArado Ar 195 was a single-engineprototypecarrier-basedtorpedo bomber, built by theGerman firmArado for service on theGerman aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin, duringWorld War II. Due to performance issues and a lack of aircraft carrier construction, only three prototype units were produced and the aircraft never entered service.
The Arado Ar 195 was designed as a derivative of theAr 95, which had been designed as a torpedo and reconnaissance aircraft.[1] It was a two-seat biplane powered by an 880-hpBMW 132 9-cylinder radial piston engine that could produce a range of 650 kilometres (400 mi) and a top speed of 290 kilometres per hour (180 mph).[1] The weapons included a forward-facing synchronized 7.92-mmMG 17 machine gun, a manually-aimedMG 15 in the rear cockpit, and a bomb capacity of 700 kilograms (1,500 lb).[1] Wingspan was 12.5 metres (41 ft) and total length was 10 metres (33 ft).[1]
The Ar 195 was intended as atorpedobomber to equipNazi Germany's firstaircraft carrier, theGraf Zeppelin, which was named afterGraf Ferdinand von Zeppelin, of dirigible fame. Construction of the carrier had begun in 1938, but over the course of the war, aircraft carriers were seen as less of a priority for the navy and construction was still complete in 1945 and never saw action.[1] The Ar 195 was fitted with anarrestor hook andcatapult equipment as well as a tallercanopy than the Ar 95. Although three prototypes were flown in 1937, the design did not meet the requirements of the specification. It suffered an excess of drag which was detrimental to its flyability, and so was rejected in 1938[2]: 18 in favour of theFieseler Fi 167, which was considered superior.[3]
Data from[4]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
