Monday, June 9, 2014

Arado Ar 196 A-3 Seaplane and Bismarck Story

This blog entry is about the Arado Ar 196. 

Commentary about the build is in blue and the history of the Arado and its association with the Bismarck is in black. 

The Arado AR was the seaplane that flew off the German Navy's capital ships during WW2. 

I built this 1/32 kit from Revell because I am also building the 1/350 Bismarck with full photo etch [Academy's new version] and one of the things I like to do is build any associated items with any model I build such as this Arado.

For example I am also completing the IJN Akagi, the aircraft carrier that was the Japanese flagship for the attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941. So with it, I am building the three types of aircraft that flew from its deck.



To start this history of the Arado, and its sad story in association with the Bismarck, consider this picture [left]. This is a photo of the Arado aircrews on the Bismarck during its Baltic Sea training period in the fall of 1940 before putting to sea for its 9 day epic first cruise climaxing in it being sunk on May 27, 1941 with the loss of 2,206 lives. Only a 115 survived to be rescued by HMS Devonshire.
The Bismarck, the death star of its day, only lasted 277 days from its commissioning.


The sinking of the Bismarck [seen right with an Arado flying by] has remained a WW2 controversial story. The Bismarck was the most fearsome weapons platform ever built up until that time.


Bismarck's airwing.

Arado Ar196
Crew
Werk.No.052, markings T3+IH
Pilot: Unteroffizier Ernst Lange.
Observer: Leutenant Günter Lademann.
Werk.No.110, markings T3+AK
Pilot: Feldwebel Oskar Andersen.
Observer: Leutenant zur See Rolf Hambruch.
Werk.No.123, markings T3+DL
Pilot: Feldwebel Josef Kempfle.
Observer: Oberleutenant Siegfried Mühling.
Werk.No.150, markings T3+MK
Pilot: Feldwebel Werner Seeliger.
Observer: Leutenant Martin Lange.


The Bismarck carried 4 Arados [ it could handle as many as 6].

One remains in its hangar, a shattered wreck from a direct hit from the Rodney. How do we know? The Rodney pounded the Bismarck from one side while the King George V hit it from the other therefore the entry hole points to the origin of each shot.

If you wish to view an excellent briefing on the Bismarck I suggest you view James Cameron's [Titanic exploration] at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkGeoWR8gFo  






This is a picture of one of the Arado hangers as it sits deep on the ocean floor today.

Only one member of the four aircrews and several maintenance technicians survived the sinking on that fateful morning.



1/32 scale is a large scale for aircraft leading to the problem of what to do with the finished kit. 

For that reason many aircraft modellers choose the 1/48 or even the 1/72 scale which offer great detail in more compact kits. 


I like the large scale both for its size and detail. For example the radio panels to the left I are large enough that I can paint them by hand.

Plus I do have the storage and display capability for the kit in Canada, but for our home on Crete I shall have to change as it is simply too small to overwhelm my partner with my large kits there. 

The twin-seat seaplane had a metallic structure and was covered with metal in the front and fabric in the rear. The engine was a BMW 132W [A-5]. 

Like most other capital ships of the time, the Bismarck was equipped with aircraft for reconnaissance, patrol missions, and artillery spotting. 

These were very robust and heavily armed single-engine aircraft with twin floats. Two aircraft were stored in the 120 m² double hangar under the mainmast, and the other two in single hangars of 60 m² each to both sides of the funnel amidships. 
To save space their wings could be folded. These aircraft belonged to the 1st Squadron (1.Staffel) of the board reconnaissance group 196 (Bordfliegergruppe 196) that had been formed before the war in 1937, and the pilots and technicians were members of the Luftwaffe.

 The radio operator sat in the second seat from where he could turn and operate the 7.92 MG 15 [with 525 bullets per canister]. 

The plane also had a bomb dropping capability with 2 - 50kg contact bombs under its wings

The radio operator, at the rear seat, had a machine gun 7.92 mm MG 15 (525 bullets). 







I chose to build the kit with some contrasting colours rather than the prescribed colours only to better display the components. With all of the pre-construcion of the many parts on the frame before adding them to the main fuselage but was pleasantly surprised with how easily it all went together. 

Such is the quality of the new Revell kits.







The Arados were launched on a 32-meter long double catapult that could be extended telescopically beyond the ship's sides to a length of 48 meters. This catapult was located amidships between the mainmast and the funnel and could be deployed to both sides. 







After completing a mission, the seaplane landed on the water close to one of the ship's sides, and was then lifted aboard by one of the big 12-ton cranes. This was always a dangerous manoeuvre as the ship had to lie almost dead in the water to pick up the aircraft making it vulnerable to attack by submarine.
Once lifted out of the water, two other small cranes under the funnel searchlight platform helped to place the aircraft back in the hangars.
The kit allows for the Arado to be built in either its stored configuration with wings folded or in the flight position with winds extended.

I chose a hybrid of both to best display the Arado. One side is fully open and one side fully folded. 

The way Revell creates its build plans takes a little getting used to but once understood are quite good. I was surprised to realize no swastika was included with the kit and then learned that it is illegal to print the swastika in Germany- and as Revell is German company- no swastika!



In the early morning of 27 May 1941, the last day for the Bismarck, Admiral Lutjens [below]  tried to send the war dairy of the Bismarck back to occupied France. 
Unfortunately, the catapult was damaged and therefore the aircraft could not be launched. The Arado could not be left on catapult as it would be a fire hazard in the coming battle so it had to be pushed overboard. 
With Bismarck's steering jammed as a result of an unbelievably  lucky shot worthy of a Hollywood genre, and his[German ships are referenced by the male gender in contrast to our tradition of 'she'] speed slashed, the Bismarck and his crew of 2,200 were left the proverbial 'sitting duck' and at the mercy of the Royal Navy. The British as a result of the sinking of HMS Hood with the loss of all but three men, and with Churchill's orders to sink him, there was to be no mercy for the Bismarck. 
On the morning of the 27th HMS Rodney and King George V closed in and shot over 2400 shells at the helpless Bismarck with many hitting the battleship yet it refused to sink. It was reduced to a blazing inferno. 

Although the British claimed with confidence they sank him,  the Bismarck's crew claimed they scuttled it. The evidence from the wreck bears witness to the fact that the Germans indeed scuttled the burning hulk as none of the many torpedo hits penetrated the inner hull. 


This is a picture of the Arado in Norway in 1941 [left]. These planes were also used for coastal patrol.

Above right is a painting of the Arados over Crete where they searched for British submarines resourcing the Cretan resistance throughout the occupation.

This last picture [right] is taken by the radioman from the rear seat of an Arado on patrol along the coast of occupied Crete. 

Bob's Building Tips:

Start with a larger scale kit. These are more expensive but more forgiving at the same time. 

Buy a good kit! Hasegawa, Revell, Academy, Tamiya and several others make really good kits. You get what you pay for so don't let the price scare you. 

At the same time look at what the kit includes and go on line and look up the kit you are considering under "build review of "name, kit and #". Here you will get more info to help you choose the right kit.

If you are just beginning- leave photo etch and other add ons until later!

and enjoy!












 



1 comment:

  1. German ships are not referenced by the male gender. In German, it's "die Bismarck" and not "der Bismarck" which would be a reference to the name-giving person.
    Apart from that, a very nice article. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete