germans used helicopters
 

I was watching history channel about the battle of the atlantic and I saw that the germans used small helicopters to increase their visibility I had never heard of anything like this. has anyone else?

What do you mean exactly to extend their visibility ? To what you are refering (uboat, surface ships ?)

For uboats there was experimental kite thing but it didnt worked well if i remember corectly.
Otherwise i havent heard for germans using helicopetrs.

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/6...2615130638.jpg

http://www.centennialofflight.gov/es...a_223/DI52.htm

http://robroy.dyndns.info/targetkites/Fa-330/intro.html

Interesting invention, but they never lived up to expectations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/****e_Achgelis_Fa_330

pwnd by the filter!

(didn't even know there was a filter)

As Jimbuna has pointed out via screenshot above... you can find the FA-223 helo in GWX thanks to Privateer

Video of the real thing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IWml...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE8M1aQNgos

The F o c k e Argelis 330:
http://www.bredow-web.de/Museum_Duxf...is_fa_330.html

A helicopter like machine that was towed by U-boats to increase their visual range above what the conning tower could provide.

Here is another link for the Fa 330.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/****e_Achgelis_Fa_330

Technically, they are not helicopters, but gyro-gliders. They do not have a power source of themselves to power the rotor. Power was gained by towing the craft by the uboat, and the air flowing through the rotor disk/blades spinned up the rotor and was enough to maintain lift up. So they couldn't lift up straight vertically from the spot. An 'auto-gyro' does have a power source, but it is only providing forward thrust like a propellor aircraft does. (so avoiding the need for a towboat ;) ) The lifting power also comes from the air flowing through the rotor disk. The rotating blades create the same lifting effect as ordinary fixed wings. So it neither lifts up vertically from the spot. It's more like a STOL (short take-off or Landing) type aircraft.

The aircraft in the image jimbuna posted appearantly is a (dual rotor) helicopter that was self powered. I thought helicopters were only succesfully developed after WW2. Oh well, history lesson learned. :up:

U-boat helicopters
 

U-177 carried a motorless observation craft that resemled a helicopter. The full reference and details can be found at www.uboatarchive.net.

A photo of the craft can be seen here: http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-177.htm
The interrogation report of survivors wth further descriptions can be found at: http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-177INT.htm


Now that would be a hell ova mod.

Came accross the Achgelis the other day, started my patrol out of Lorient and thought, "WTH is that noise?" i thought my graphics or sound had corrupted, so i went to the bridge and it was louder?
imagine my shock when i saw it wheeling overhead! :yeah:
excellent bit of modeling in GWX! totally love that craft ;)

You should see who is driving it!:o

Probably the most intelligent and best looking person I've seen in a cockpit :hmmm:

Bloody Hell... I just took screenies of that chopper, last career I had actually made it to Bergen again and then perished. :damn:

Now I have to make it to 44 and get a better look at whos flying the bloody thing.. sheisse!! :damn:

ROFLMAO :rotfl:

[quote=Brer Rabbit;1149349]U-177 carried a motorless observation craft that resemled a helicopter.

The interrogation report of survivors wth further descriptions can be found at: http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-177INT.htm


There were acually survivors from flying that thing. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: