Arado Ar 232/432, Projects, Prototypes & Variants

[Stargazer]

Having noticed that we don't have any topic on the Arado Ar 232 (despite its being mentioned several times in other topics) I've elected to start one.

I hesitated as to where to place it. Nicknamed the "Tausendfüssler" (centipede) because of its many wheels, the type was operational, although only 22 were built in all, including the prototype (Ar 232 V-1).

Here is a set of photos of the twin-engine Ar 232 A version, 10 of which were built (A-01 to A-10). Also included is a photo of a model showing a planned floatplane variant.

• L'Arado 232 A-03 VD+YC, qui s'écrasa le 15 août 1943 à Schönwalde
• L'Arado 232 A-03, détruit dans un accident quelques jours après son premier vol (Gaël Elégoët)
• Un Arado 232 A, vraisemblablement le A-06 L5+BR, à Eger, en mai 1944
• Gros plan sur le nez de l'Arado 232 A-06 à Eger, pendant l'été de 1944
• L'Arado 232 A-08, détruit à l'atterrissage, le 14 décembre 1944, à Jesau
• L'Arado A-010 de l'Oberleutnant Schütze, Westa 5, en Norvège
• L'Arado 232 A-10 TC+EG, de la Westa 5, en fâcheuse posture après un atterrissage au Spitzberg
• L'un des premiers Arado 232 A en vol
• Maquette de l'Arado 232 A muni de flotteurs

 

[Stargazer]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

Here is a set of photos of the four-engined Ar 232 B version, 11 of which were built (B-01 to B-011):

• L'Arado 232 B-01 en cours d'achèvement
• L'Arado 232 B-05, posé en URSS, lors de l'Opération Zeppelin
• L'Arado 232 B-07 A3+RB, après sa capture par la RAF (Gaël Elégoët)
• L'Arado 232 B-07 le 27 septembre 1946, à Farnborough
• L'Arado 232 B-09 à Mühldorf (immatriculé J4-UH)
• Le B-09 à Mühldorf, été 1944
• Le B-09 à Mühldorf au décollage, été 1944
• Probablement le même B-09 à Mühldorf, caché sous des branchages
• L'Arado 232 B-010 L5+DR, de la 7.Erg TG à Zlistea, en avril 1944

 

[Stargazer]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

More photos of the Ar 232 B version, as well as a series of detail shots from unspecified versions:

• Un Arado 232 B, avec les atterrisseurs principaux partiellement relevés
• Un Ar 232 B et la partie inférieure d'un fuselage d'Ar 232, au milieu d'épaves à Eger
• Camouflage d'hiver appliqué sur les peintures vertes d'un Ar 232 B pendant l'opération Rennstrecke
• La planche de bord et le sommet des deux poignées de volant
• La soute vue vers l'arrière, avec le poste de tir arrière au-dessus de l'ouverture
• L'atterrisseur droit avec son système de compression
• Le moteur intérieur droit de l'Arado B-01 après son incendie survenu en vol le 30 juillet 1943
• Le train de roues central, vu du logement de la roue avant
• Les commandes de vol probablement sur le prototype

 

[Stargazer]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

And finally a few drawings and charts. All of the images posted in this topic this far were taken from the excellent 19-page article published in Le Fana de l'Aviation N° 362 (January 2000) and have been reduced for copyright purposes. For some reason the forum now refuses to display names of files that contain accentuated foreign characters, so I'll have to provide the names within the posts.

• Croquis extrait du Typenblatt
• Plan extrait du Typenblatt
• Profils comparés avec le Nord 2501
• L'insigne de la 7e Staffel de transport supplétive
• Caractéristiques des Arado 232
• Équipements des Ar 232 A
• Tableau récapitulatif de la carrière des Arado 232
• Le soufflage des volets des Arado 232
• Le Fana de l'Aviation N° 362

 

[Michel Van]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

Thx for Picture Skyblazer

it's was a unique cargo aircraft, it relay sad that the Ar 232 had no future in post war Germany

 

[Stargazer]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

More about the Ar 232, this type from Flug Revue (number unknown):

• Der erste Kampfzonentransporter der Welt
• Von der Ar 232A-0 wurden zwei Maschinen gebaut, die V1 und V2
• Die VD+YA noch im Rohbauzustand
• Die zweite Ar 232A (VD+YB) war bereits mit Waffen ausgerüstet
• Arado Ar 232A-0 (V2) Plan (by Redemann)
• Die zweite Ar 232A während ihrer Mustererprobung in Rechlin
• Die mit den Kennzeichen VD+YC versehene V3 galt als Ausgangsmunster für die viermotorige Ar 232B
• Ar 232B-0 Profilansicht

 

[GTX]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

Interesting - I have never seen the floatplane version before.

 

[Stargazer]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

Interesting - I have never seen the floatplane version before.

As the caption implies, it's a model. This was only a projected version.
The article gives a lot of interesting information, but it's way too long to translate. However, on the subject of the floatplane, I can translate the following:

Interestingly, according to the June 1st, 1942 documents, the B version was initially conceived as amphibious. The project was quickly abandoned, though, as confirmed by the added mention "only as landplane" on one of the reports.
However, the float system that was planned had already been tested, as confirmed by a report from the Naval Aeronautics Institute of December 1941.

Of course, "tested" doesn't mean "fitted", least of all flown. The model was likely a flyable sub-scale Ar 232 in float configuration that was successfully tested before the idea was shelved.

 

[PlanesPictures]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

I think in Sloval language we are more precise. "Tausendfüssler" = 1000 legs, in Sloval language it is only "Stonozka"= "Hundredfussler"= 100 legs. Who is near to real state?

 

[Stargazer]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

I think in Sloval language we are more precise. "Tausendfüssler" = 1000 legs, in Sloval language it is only "Stonozka"= "Hundredfussler"= 100 legs. Who is near to real state?

As a matter of fact, both the words millipede and centipede exist in English, though only the latter is used in modern language.

And in French we also say "un mille-pattes"...

 

[GTX]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

As a matter of fact, both the words millipede and centipede exist in English, though only the latter is used in modern language.

Errr...you might wish to check your facts there.

 

[AeroFranz]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

Centipede was an Atari 2600 game (ask me how i know!). Maybe it was a British-only term? Not sure what is commonly used in the US...

edit: it might also be that those are two different species...

 

[Stargazer]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

As a matter of fact, both the words millipede and centipede exist in English, though only the latter is used in modern language.

Errr...you might wish to check your facts there.

I'm 50 and have read books and watched movies/TV in English for 40 years. I have lived in England. I have spoken with countless Americans, Canadians and Britons... but I have NEVER encountered the word "millipede" other than in dictionaries... every time it was "centipede" that was used.

Now I appreciate the talk about language, but I'd much rather the Ar 232 was discussed here!!

 

[CJGibson]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millipede

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centipede

Completely different beasts.

Take it from me, the Tausendfüssler is a millipede and they are different. It was a mythical beast as well.

Chris

PS - I appear to have cut and pasted in reverse! Mods, please fix topic title. I didn't know you could change topic titles.

 

[Abraham Gubler]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

I'm 50 and have read books and watched movies/TV in English for 40 years. I have lived in England. I have spoken with countless Americans, Canadians and Britons... but I have NEVER encountered the word "millipede" other than in dictionaries... every time it was "centipede" that was used.

That's because those soft, easy living Americans, Canadians and Brits don't know anything about insects. Now in AUSTRALIA we have centipedes and millipedes. The difference is the millipedes are more worm like (with legs of course, but they are almost hair like) and the centipedes are more 'crab' like with harder shells and longer legs, claws, bad attitudes etc. Both can be very big and very unpleasant when crawling over your collar bone and in under your shirt.

PS: Thanks for the pictures!

 

[Abraham Gubler]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

Take it from me, the Tausendfüssler is a millipede and they are different. It was a mythical beast as well.

I hope you aren't referring to Der Menschliche Tausendfüssler... :'(

 

[sferrin]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

Yep. Hell, even as kids we knew the difference between millipedes and centipedes. "Don't mess with centipedes."

 

[Stargazer]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

Since we don't have centipedes over here, I've always assumed the both words refered to what we know as "mille-pattes".
The fact that in PlanesPictures's language the millipede is called a "hundred legs" (centipede, literally) shows that the concepts we take for granted often vary widely from one language to the next!

 

[lastdingo]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

The plane (or something similar) might have made some sense in Africa, but the C-47 flood was overwhelming and the efficiency (horse power/ton of cargo, for example) was poor.
Heavylift helicopters had occupied the military niche by the 70's, and planes like the Caribou/Buffalo did the rest.

The truest bush planes post-W2 were the Twin Otter, C-47 and An-2.

 

[CJGibson]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

Take it from me, the Tausendfüssler is a millipede and they are different. It was a mythical beast as well.

I hope you aren't referring to Der Menschliche Tausendfüssler... :'(

I had to Google that. You 'orrible man. On a Sunday morning. And I haven't had breakfast.

Centipede/millipede - you don't want the former in your sleeping bag or boots. I think I'd rather have a ferret down my trousers than a centipede.

Chris

 

[newsdeskdan]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

When your Ju 88 fuselage absolutely positively has to be there overnight

 

[Wurger]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

Great stuff!

 

[newsdeskdan]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

Take it from me, the Tausendfüssler is a millipede and they are different. It was a mythical beast as well.

I hope you aren't referring to Der Menschliche Tausendfüssler... :'(

I had to Google that. You 'orrible man. On a Sunday morning. And I haven't had breakfast.

Centipede/millipede - you don't want the former in your sleeping bag or boots. I think I'd rather have a ferret down my trousers than a centipede.

Chris

Interestingly, I cannot find any contemporary reference to the Ar 232 being called 'Tausendfüssler', neither German nor Allied. Naturally, the type is referred to again and again in numerous reports and accounts but that word never appears. I can see why, logically, the nickname might have been applied but as far as I can tell, during its development and brief service career, the Ar 232 was never called the 'Tausendfüssler'. Anyone able to prove me wrong?

 

[CJGibson]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

Spreche der Gefreiter.

Chris

(Apologies to German speakers!)

 

[Michel Van]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

Spreche der Gefreiter.

Chris

(Apologies to German speakers!)

it's "Sprach der Gefreite"

first nickname or insult came from RLM Generalmajor Carl August von Gablenz.
„Aluminiumfresser übelster Sorte“ = "Aluminium devourer of the worst kind"
von Gablenz consider the project as waste of resources, that can be done by two Ju-52s

in most version of story: the Luftwaffe Personel nicknamed the Ar 232 "Tausendfüßler"

 

[CJGibson]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

As I said, apologies. I learned my German from Commando books.

None of the Air Ministry intelligence files give it that name and refer to Rechlin 104 and Brandenburg 110 throughout until they have a definite name for it. The manner in which the story of the Ar 232's identification unfolds is very interesting and (gratuitous plug follows) is in On Atlas' Shoulders.

Chris

 

[newsdeskdan]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

Interestingly, I cannot find any contemporary reference to the Ar 232 being called 'Tausendfüssler', neither German nor Allied. Naturally, the type is referred to again and again in numerous reports and accounts but that word never appears. I can see why, logically, the nickname might have been applied but as far as I can tell, during its development and brief service career, the Ar 232 was never called the 'Tausendfüssler'.

Okay, Jörg Armin Kranzhoff’s Arado Ar 232 “Tatzelworm” book of 2012 includes a report on p17 from some Zeppelin employees who went to Arado at Brandenburg on other business in November 1943 and got to have a ride in an Ar 232. They give a description of the aircraft which includes the line “unter dem Rumpf befindlicher Doppelräder (Tausendfüssler) sowie einem in zwei Stellungen enziehbaren Bugrad”.
There’s that word… but it’s not used as the name of the aircraft, rather as a colourful description of the undercarriage arrangement.

Anyone else got anything?

 

[Jemiba]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

... There’s that word… but it’s not used as the name of the aircraft, ...

This may have been enough for mentioning it in post war publications, from where it was spread
over the world of aviation wisdom ! Not the only case, I'm afraid.
To my opinion, the often found name "Würger" for the Fw 190 is based on a similar misinterpretation
of an alleged sentence by Kurt Tank, not quite free from some irony. Though to be translated into English
as "strangler", sounding morbid and dangerous, the "Würger" is a small bird, actually belonging to the
species of sparrows, not a name really suitable for a first line fighter ! And Tank certainly new that ...
What about a thread in the designations section, listing names (alleged names) of German WW II aircraft
and trying to find out, if they were used officially or not, or just post war misinterpretations ?

 

[CJGibson]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

Sparrow, Jemiba? A rather 'hard' sparrow! Shrikes are active predators and the name 'butcher bird' refers to them impaling their prey on thorns for storage and dismemberment. I always thought Würger was an apt name for the Fw 190.

They kill shrews and you know what was supposed to called Shrew!

Chris

 

[Arjen]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

Shrike/Würger, family Laniidae, member of the order Passeriformes (songbirds). The order Passeriformes derives its name from the genus Passer, of which Passer domesticus (house sparrow) is a well-known member.

Great grey shrike / Nördliche Raubwürger image from wiki. Note the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) prey propped up on thorn. A songbird with attitude.
Class: Aves (birds)
Order: Passeriformes (songbirds / sparrow-formed birds)
Family: Laniidae (Eurasian-American shrikes)
Genus: Lanius (typical shrikes)
Species: L. excubitor

 

[Jemiba]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

Indeed, "Würger" or "Neuntöter", red-backed shrikes, biological category Passeriformes (Sperlingsvögel in
German) as the sparrow, kill other animals, but when there are really shrews amongst their prey, then
certainly very young and small ones. At least, that's, what my wifes book about the birds of Europe says.
And the name didn't mean, that they strangle someone, but that they heave up food for their fledglings
("würgen" in German doesn't only mean "to strangle", but also "to retch").
Ok, the Fw 56 was called "Stösser" (Goshawk), so the name seems not to have been directly related
to the relevance of the aircraft. And the tomtit kills animals, too.

 

[CJGibson]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

Of course it's a sparrow! Half the birds on Earth are Passerines. There's even moves afoot to class falcons as Passerines so they'd be 'well hard' sparrows.

Chris

 

[newsdeskdan]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

You could be forgiven for thinking that Würger was a made-up name for the Fw 190 except for this brochure cover (see attached). It dates from 1942 at the latest. It is solid proof that Focke-Wulf actually did refer to the type by that name at least once in-period. There's nothing I'm aware of that's similar for the Ar 232. It's generally just referred to as 'Transportflugzeug'. There doesn't appear to be any evidence for calling it 'Tatzelwurm' either.

 

[Arjen]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

Of course it's a sparrow! Half the birds on Earth are Passerines. There's even moves afoot to class falcons as Passerines so they'd be 'well hard' sparrows.

Chris

Errr... no, it isn't. Being a member of the order Passeriformes doesn't make a bird a sparrow. Neither is a brown bear to be classed as a dog (genus Canis) because of the bear's membership of the suborder Caniformia (dog-formed mammals).

 

[Jemiba]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

You could be forgiven for thinking that Würger was a made-up name for the Fw 190 except for this brochure cover..../quote]

Thanks for this, haven't seen this before ! Probably the same then with the Fw 187 "Falke", a company name ?

 

[CJGibson]

Re: Arado Ar 232 "Tausendfüssler" : The world's first war theatre transport

'Errr... no, it isn't. Being a member of the order Passeriformes doesn't make a bird a sparrow.'

'scuse my sarcasm.

Chris

 

[hesham]

German Rechlin 104 Airplane ?

Hi,

in the magazine; The Aviation Historian No.22,there was an article about this twin engined
medium cargo/transport airplane of Germany during WWII,and a drawings and photo to it,
but I want to know if this aeroplane was real or someone has a more Info ?.

 

[CJGibson]

Re: German Rechlin 104 Airplane ?

Very real. Arado Ar 232A

Chris

 

[hesham]

Re: German Rechlin 104 Airplane ?

OK,and many thanks dear JCC.

 

[Richard N]

Re: German Rechlin 104 Airplane ?

Aeroplane Porn!!