The He 115 was a twin-engine, twin float seaplane designed for
reconnaissance and attack and began replacing the He 59 staring in
1938.
It was a very effective floatplane for the Germans and, although
production ceased in 1941, lines were reopened in 1843 to build an
improved model. They were used to mine British coastal waters early in
the war (including the River Thames) and were important in attacking
Arctic convoys to Russia (operating from bases in Norway).
Subassemblies: Heavy Fighter-Bomber chassis +3, Heavy
Fighter-Bomber
Wings +3, two Small AFV Engine Pods [Wings:F]
+2,
two sealed Medium TD pontoons [Body:U] +2, two fixed skids +1.
Powertrain: 2¥645-kW HP aerial gasoline engines with 645-kW
props [Pod#1-2] and 960-gallon standard fuel tanks [Wings and Body];
2¥2,000-kW batteries
Occupancy: 3 CS Cargo: 12 Body
Armor
All: 2/3
Weaponry
Aircraft LMG/MG 15 [Body:F] (600 rounds)
Aircraft LMG/MG 15 [Body:B] (1,500 rounds)
Equipment
Body: Long range radio transmitter and receiver, precision
navigation
instruments, autopilot, inflatable liferaft, 2,400-lb bomb bay, 12 VSP
cargo, 1,800-lb hardpoint. Wings:
550-lb hardpoint each.
Statistics
| Size: 57'x73'x22' | Payload: 5 tons | Lwt: 11.46 tons |
| Volume: 640 | Maint.: 27 hours | Price: $55,800 |
HT: 8.
HPs: 325 Body, 300 each Wing, 225 each Pontoon, 150 each Engine
Pod.
| aSpeed: 203 | aAccel: 3 |
aDecel: 18 |
aMR: 4.5 | aSR: 2 | Stall: 56 |
| wSpeed: 25 | wAccel: 4 | wDecel: 10 | wMR: 0.1 | wSR: 2 |
Design Notes
Design speed was 188 mph. The historical wing area of 942 sf has been
used. The weight (and thus
cost and HPs) of the pontoons and wings were divided by two to reduce
weight. Loaded weight was reduced by 13%.
Aside from up to five 550-lb bombs (two underwing and three
internally), the He 115 could carry a parachute deployed mine (one TMA
or two LMAs) or a torpedo. Mines were fitted in the bomb bay and
the torpedo was carried underfuselage (blocking the bay doors).
The cargo space (between the pilot and radio operator) was normally
left empty, but sometimes two men and an inflatable were carried there,
for covertly landing agents. A third man could be crammed in, but the
dingy had to be relocated to a compartment in the starboard float. The
rest of the empty space of the design (34 VSP) should be mostly ignored.
At maximum load, the plane needs a 9 mph headwind to take off. With
hardpoints and bay empty, it needs a 6 mph headwind.