Arado Ar 232
Arado Flugzeugwerke · Germany · first flew 1941 · transport aircraft
The Arado Ar 232 was a German WWII-era military transport designed for rough-field operations, featuring an unusual multi-wheel 'centipede' undercarriage to distribute weight on soft ground.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Centipede undercarriage with multiple small wheels under fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Centipede undercarriage with multiple small wheels under fuselage
- High-wing WWII German military transport
- Large cargo door on port rear fuselage
Identified by the distinctive row of ten small auxiliary wheels beneath the central fuselage and the square-section high-wing layout; resembles no other wartime transport.
Specifications
- The Arado Ar 232 has a length of 23.52 m (77 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 33.5 m (110 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 330 km/h (205 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Development began in the late 1930s as a replacement for the Ju 52, with the prototype flying in 1941. Only a small number of pre-production and production aircraft were completed due to wartime material shortages. The type saw limited operational service on the Eastern Front and other theatres.
Variants
Two main versions were built: the twin-engined Ar 232A prototype and the four-engined Ar 232B production variant, the latter to ease demand on BMW 801 radials.
Where you'll see it
A handful served with Luftwaffe special operations and transport units; none survive today.
Related aircraft
- Arado Ar 231
- Arado Ar 240
- Arado Ar 199
- Arado Ar 234
- Beechcraft GB-1
- Beechcraft JB-1 Traveller
- Beechcraft JRB-1 Voyager
- C-47 Skytrain
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