Blohm und Voss BV 155

The Blohm und Voss BV 155 was an interceptor aircraft, which was designed for the German Luftwaffe to fight against the American long-range bombers, such as the Boeing B-29. Although it was tested for about two years, it never went into mass production, as none was ever introduced into service. Only three prototypes were built. One of the main features of this German aircraft was its extremely large span and relative narrow wings.

The Blohm und Voss BV 155 was first designed by Messerschmitt in two models; the Me 155A and the Me 155B, a bomber and a high-altitude interceptor respectively. Since Messerschmitt was too busy with the mass production and developement of the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the Me 410, and the Me 262 Schwalbe fighters and jet interceptor respectively, the project for a high-altitude interceptor aircraft was put aside, but it would be picked up and continued by Blohm und Voss in 1943.

The prototype, the BV 155 V1, performed its maiden flight on September 1, 1944. Due to lack of adequate cooling on the first couple of tests, the engineers decided to build a second prototype, with a larger radiator intake, which was fitted outboard under the wing instead of above it. Thus, the second prototype, the V2, first flew on February 8, 1945. Although, it showed a good performance, it was too late, for Germany was about to lose the war as the Red Army was closing in on Berlin.

Technical Description

The Blohm und Voss BV 155 was a single-seat, single-engine monoplane. It had cantilever low wing and an all-metal fuselage. Had it entered mass production, the aircraft would have been armed with one 30-mm MK-102 and two 20-mm MG-151 cannons.

Specifications

Type: High-Altitude Interceptor

Wing Span: 20.5 m (67 ft, 3 inch)

Length: 12 m (39 ft, 4 inch)

Wing Area: 39 m2 (420 sq. ft)

Height: 3 m (9 ft, 10 inch)

Power Plant: one Daimler-Benz DB-603A, inverted V-12 piston engine, delivering 1,600 horsepower.

Maximum Speed: 690 km/h (429 mph) at high altitudes.

Range: 1,440 km (895 miles)

Crew: 1

Below, front view of the German interceptor prior to its first flight. You can see that the air intakes are located under the wings.

Below, the drawing of the first prototype (V1) design made in 1943. Notice that the air intakes are above wings.

The Blohm und Voss BV 155 V1 prototype in a hangar in 1944.