Dornier Do-335 Pfeil |
A secret picture of the Luftwaffe's Dornier Do-335 Pfiel (Arrow) |
"Fightin' those things was like shootin' at tanks. They just
wouldn't go down!"
- Unnamed captured pirate, prior to
his execution.
Name - Dornier Do-335 Pfiel (Arrow)
Class - Heavy Fighter/Gunship (Tractor and
Pusher)
Manufacturer - Dornier Flugzeigwerke - Stuttgart,
Germany
Engine - (2) Daimler-Benz DB603E-1 12 Cylinder Inverted Vee
Engines 1800 h.p. each
Loaded Weight - 8,250 lbs.
Service Ceiling - 20,000 ft.
Range - 967 miles
Max. Speed - 254 mph
Max. Accel. - 65.7 feet/second
Max. Decel. - 64.9 feet/second
Wing Span - 45 ft. 3 in.
Length - 45 ft. 5 in.
Height - 16 ft. 5 in.
Weapons:
(1) Rheinmetall Mk 103 70-caliber cannon (propellor
hub)
(2) Rheinmetall MG 151/15 50-caliber cannon (wings)
(2) Mauser "Jaeger" 40-caliber machine guns (nose)
Design History:
In 1934 the re-constituted Luftwaffe issued a requirement
for an aircraft capable of performing the missions of daylight fighter,
interceptor, long-range escort and ground attack gunship. In order
to fulfill
these diverse requirements, the Dornier Flugzeugwerke developed a radical
new design utilizing two engines in a push-pull arrangement. Initial
testing showed much promise, and further development was authorized in
1935.
The arrangement of the Arrow's engines offers certain
advantages over traditional twin designs. The in-line positioning
results in a narrow front profile that is not only aerodynamically clean
but also more difficult to hit in combat. It also provides additional
pilot protection against enemy fire coming from the front and rear - the
two most likely directions.
Powered by two Daimler-Benz DB603E-1 engines, the
Arrow offers respectable flying performance. Maneuverability is average,
though the rate of roll is exceptional for a twin-engine craft. Acceleration
is average, but top-end speed is sufficient to stay with all byt the fastest
opponents. The Arrow is woll armed with twin 40 cal guns in the nose,
two 50 cals in the wings, and a big 70 cal cannon firing down a hollow
shaft through the propellor hub. Armor is heavier than average, a
blessing in ground attack operations and an equalizer when tangling with
more nimble fighters.
As you might expect, the position of the rear engine
makes bailing out particularly dangerous. To alleviate the problem,
Dornier installed a pilot-activated explosive charge that blows the rear
propellor off the aircraft. Three separately routed wires ensure that at
least one will be functional through any damage short of swvering the fuselage
entirely. Should the unforeseen occur and a pilot is forced to bail
out with the propellor in place, the pilot would stall the Arrow while
rolling inverted. At the moment when all forward momentum is lost,
the pilot drops clear of the craft. While this sounds fine in theory,
no one is willing to test it in practice!
Role:
Currently the Arrow
is undergoing combat trials with the ISA air militia as part of the military
exchange agreement between the ISA and Germany, whereby the ISA receives
equipment and "advisor" personnel support while the Germans gain valuable
combat experience for their pilots and aircraft. Air combat tactics
with the Arrow emphasize slash-and-run attacks, while relying on teamwork
to defeat tighter-turning adversaries.
Deployment:
Only a handful of Arrows are on the continent, and
these are used in a purely defensive role. To prevent any copies
from falling into unwanted hands, Arrow pilots are strictly prohibited
from crossing the ISA border. The Arrow is expected to go into full
production by mid-1936, with license manufacturing in the ISA starting
early 1937. Expect Arrow pilots to show a more agressive posture
when that happens.
Pilots and Campaigns:
To date only one major action has occured involving
the Arrow. A flight of Arrows on a long-range test hop with advisor
pilots and full war load came across a pirate raid in progress against
an ISA harbor on Lake Superior. As the Arrows went to intercept,
a flight from a rival pirate band joined the fray. After an initial
three-way combat, the pirates decided to team up and split the spoils later.
Though hard pressed by superior numbers, the Arrows downed three pirates
and forced the rest to withdraw due to low fuel. No Arrows were lost
in the engagement.
Game Points | Mass | |
Base Target Number | 6 | 5000 lbs. |
Maximum Speed | 3 | 900 lbs. |
Maximum G's | 2 | 700 lbs. |
Maximum Acceleration | 2 | 350 lbs. |
Armor Points | 300 | 900 lbs. |
Nose | 60 | 180 lbs. |
Port Wing Leading | 60 | 180 lbs. |
Port Wing Trailing | 40 | 120 lbs. |
Starboard Wing Leading | 60 | 180 lbs. |
Starboard Wing Trailing | 40 | 120 lbs. |
Tail | 40 | 120 lbs. |
Weapons | Arc | Mass |
70 cal. Cannon | Forward: Nose | 850 lbs. |
50 cal. Cannon | Forward: Right Wing | 400 lbs. |
50 cal. Cannon | Forward: Right Wing | 400 lbs. |
40 cal. Machine Gun | Forward: Nose | 250 lbs. |
40 cal. Machine Gun | Forward: Nose | 250 lbs. |