In addition to the pilot, the DFS-230 glider had room for nine men who sat close together on a narrow bench located in the middle of the fuselage (six facing forward, and four backward[1]). Entry and exit to the cramped interior was by a single side door. The front passenger could operate its only armament, a machine gun. It was an assault glider, designed to land directly on top of its target, so it was equipped with a parachute brake. This allowed the glider to approach its target in a dive at an angle of eighty degrees and land within 20 metres (60 ft) of its target. It could carry up to 1,200 kg (2,600 lb) of cargo.
It played significant roles in the operations atFort Eben-Emael, theBattle of Crete, and inthe rescue of Benito Mussolini. It was also used in North Africa. However, it was used chiefly in supplying encircled forces on the Eastern Front such as supplying theDemyansk Pocket, theKholm Pocket,Stalingrad, and the defenders ofFestung Budapest (until February 12, 1945). Although production ceased in 1943, it was used right up to the end of the war, for instance, supplying Berlin and Breslau until May 1945.
Two DFS 230s flying over Italy, towed by a pair ofJunkers Ju 87B tugs
By means of a cable running along the tow rope the pilots of the tow-plane and of the freight glider were able to communicate with each other which made blind flying possible, when necessary. The towing speed of the DFS-230 was approximately 190 km/h (116 mph). It dropped its landing gear as soon as it was safely in the air, and landed by means of a landing skid. The DFS-230 could be towed by aJu 52 (which could tow two with difficulty), aHe 111, aJu 87,Hs 126, aBf 110, or aBf 109. TheJu 52 towed the glider using a 40 metres (131 ft) cable or, in bad weather, a much shorter rigid bar connected by an articulated joint to the tow aircraft. The DFS-230 had the highest glide ratio (8:1) of any World War 2 military glider other than theAntonov A-7. This was because it was thought that the glider had to be capable of a long approach during landing, so that it could be released a greater distance from the target so the sound of the towing aircraft did not alert the enemy.
Larger version with capacity for 15 soldiers, one prototype (DFS 230 V7, DV+AV)
DFS 203
Two DFS 230 fuselages joined by an enlarged cantilever centre section, with span of 27.6 m (91 ft) and length of 12.1 m (40 ft) due to the rear fuselage being extended. Wind tunnel testing revealed little or no advantage over the standard DFS 230 so further work was abandoned.[2]
A single DFS 230 converted to an auto-gyro by replacing the wings with the 3-bladed rotor from aFocke-Achgelis Fa 223, mounted on a pylon above the fuselage. The undercarriage was revised to include long oleo shock absorbers with a wide track for stability. Towed behind aJunkers Ju 52/3m during trials, it was found that the low towing speed and low approach speed made the combination more vulnerable to attack.[3]
^Nowarra, Heinz J. (1993).Die Deutsche Luftruestung 1933–1945 Vol.1 – AEG-Dornier (in German). Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe Verlag. pp. 166–167.ISBN978-3-7637-5464-9.
^Smith, J.R.; Anthony L. Kay (1990).German Aircraft of the Second World War (7th impression ed.). London: Putnam. p. 603.ISBN978-0-85177-836-5.
^Green, William (2010).Aircraft of the Third Reich (1st ed.). London: Aerospace Publishing Limited. pp. 136–144.ISBN978-1-900732-06-2.
^Smith, J.R.; Anthony L. Kay (1990).German Aircraft of the Second World War (7th impression ed.). London: Putnam. pp. 100–103.ISBN978-0-85177-836-5.
Craciunoiu, Cristian (April 2003). "Du tracteur au tracté: les planeurs DFS 230 roumains" [Towers and the Towed: Romanian DFS 230 Gliders].Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (121):50–55.ISSN1243-8650.
Lynch, Tim (2008).Silent Skies: The Glider War, 1939-1945. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military.ISBN978-1844157365.
Morzik, Generalmajor Fritz (1961). Kennedy, Edward P. (ed.)."German Air Force Airlift Operations Pt.1"(PDF).USAF Historical Studies (167). USAF Historical Division: Research Studies Institute, Air University. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 13 March 2013. Retrieved15 March 2018.
Morzik, Generalmajor Fritz (1961). Kennedy, Edward P. (ed.)."German Air Force Airlift Operations Pt.2"(PDF).USAF Historical Studies (167). USAF Historical Division: Research Studies Institute, Air University. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 13 March 2013. Retrieved15 March 2018.
Morzik, Generalmajor Fritz (1961). Kennedy, Edward P. (ed.)."German Air Force Airlift Operations Pt.1, Pt.2, Pt.3"(PDF).USAF Historical Studies (167). USAF Historical Division: Research Studies Institute, Air University. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 13 March 2013. Retrieved15 March 2018.
