Description

The Do 217 had a much larger bomb load capacity and had considerably greater range than the Do 17, which it replaced in frontline service from mid to late 1941. Although initially used simply as a bomber, later variants were developed to allow the Do 217 to undertake the precision maritime strike role. In order to perform the latter mission, the Do 217 was modified to launch glide bombs – units employing these pioneering weapons enjoyed some success in the Mediterranean from the autumn of 1943. During the course of these operations the Do 217 became the first aircraft in military aviation history to deploy a precision-guided bomb in combat in the form of the 'Fritz X' radio-guided, free-fall weapon, which sank the Italian battleship Roma shortly after Italy capitulated in September 1943. The Do 217 served on all fronts, and was often used on anti-shipping strikes during the Battle of the Atlantic and against the Allied invasion fleet at Normandy. This versatile aircraft was also converted into a nightfighter, seeing action in the Defense of the Reich through to war's end.

This highly illustrated study explores the design and development of the Do 217 and chronicles its use in the frontline as a strategic bomber, launch platform for first generation precision weapons, reconnaissance aircraft and nightfighter, among others.

Table of Contents

1. Design, Development and into Action
2. Need for Change
3. New Developments
4. Maximum Effort, Minimum Returns
5. Decline and Disappearance
Appendices
Index

Product details

Published Sep 16 2021
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781472846181
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Series Combat Aircraft
Short code COM 139
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Chris Goss

Chris Goss is a retired senior Royal Air Force off…

Illustrator

Janusz Swiatlon

Janusz Swiatlon lives in Krakow, Poland. A veteran…

Illustrator

Mark Postlethwaite

Mark Postlethwaite was born in Leicestershire in 1…

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