Messerschmitt Me 321 Gigant

Messerschmitt · Germany · first flew 1941 · glider

The Messerschmitt Me 321 Gigant was a massive German military glider designed to carry heavy equipment including tanks and artillery pieces during World War II. With a wingspan of 55 metres, it was one of the largest gliders ever built.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × none, embedded-mounted
F — Fuselage	28.15 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Unpowered sailplane — no engine
World War II German heavy assault glider
Enormous high-wing layout carrying tanks and vehicles

An immense high-wing glider with an enormous slab-sided fuselage and braced wings; the sheer scale and clamshell nose doors for vehicle loading distinguish it from any other aircraft.

Specifications

The Messerschmitt Me 321 Gigant has a length of 28.15 m (92 ft).
It has a wingspan of 55 m (180 ft).
Its maximum speed is 220 km/h (137 mph).
Typical crew: 2-5.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in February 1941, the Me 321 was intended for Operation Sea Lion (the proposed invasion of Britain) but was used primarily on the Eastern Front. Towing it required three Bf 110s or a specially modified He 111Z Zwilling, making logistics complex.

Variants

The Me 323 Gigant was a powered version of the same airframe, fitted with six radial engines; the Me 321 itself had no major sub-variants but experimented with different towing arrangements.

Where you'll see it

Used on the Eastern Front to supply encircled German forces, most notably during the battles around Demyansk and later Stalingrad; the type suffered heavy losses due to its vulnerability and difficult towing requirements.

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