The largest flying-boat to achieve operational status during World War II, the Blohm und Voss BV222 was designed originally by Dr Ind Richard Vogt and Herr R. Schubert to meet a 1937 Lufthansa requirement for a long-range passenger transport.
Three aircraft, each powered by six 1,000hp BMW-Bramo Fafnir 323R radials, were ordered in September 1937, and work on the first began in January 1938. There were a number of notable features incorporated in the design, including an extensive unobstructed floor area, made possible by a beam of almost 3.05 m. (10 ft) and an absence of intermediate bulkheads above floor level. The wing incorporated a tubular main spar that served also to contain fuel and oil tanks (a feature of Vogt designs), and the outboard stabilising floats each split into halves to retract sideways into the wing.
On 7 September 1940 Flugkäpitan Helmut Rodig made the first flight with the prototype, which clearly had military potential. Indeed, soon afterwards it was fitted with enlarge doors for transport duties with the Luftwaffe, undertaking its first sortie on 10 July 1941. After initial service on the route to Norway it was transferred to the Mediterranean theatre, being used to carry supplies for German forces from Greece to Lybia.
Armament was introduced with the second and third prototypes, flown on 7 August and 28 November 1941, repectively. The third carried only a 7.92mm MG 81 machine-gun in the bow, but the second was fitted additionally in each of four waist positions and in two upper turrets, plus a pair of 13mm MG 131 guns in two gondolas located beneath the centre-section. The first prototype was retrospectively equipped with similar bow and waist armament, and with a MG 131 in each of the upper turrets. On 10 May 1942 it was delivered to Luftverkehrsstaffel "C" (later redesignated Lufttransportstaffel See 222). It was joined by the second prototype in August of that year, after the aircraft had been provided with a modified bottom to the hull.
In addition to the three prototypes there were five BV222A-0s (V4 to V8), and five BV222C-0s (V9 to V13), the latter being powered by Jumo 207C diesel engines and featuring revised defensive armament and rockets for assisted take-offs. The BV222B was a proposed Jumo 208-powered version for Lufthansa, while the BV222D was to have been a military model with Jumo 207Ds. Unavailability of this engine led to the proposed BV222E, which would have fitted six Bramo Fafnir 323 radials.
Transport operations in the Mediterranean built up during 1942, but the V6 and V8 were shot down by the RAF. Operations switched to night, and continued until early 1943, when the surviving Wikings moved to Biscarosse for maritime patrol duties with Aufklärungsstaffel See 222 (subordinate to 3./KüFlGr 406). For their new role the BV222s were fitted with FuG 200 Hohentwiel radar and long-range communication equipment. The V3 and V5 were sunk at their moorings, but the force was augmented by further deliveries. The unit was redesignated 1./Seeaufklärungsgruppe 129 in October 1943, and continued to support U-boat operations far out in the Atlantic.
A further loss was the BV222C-010, shot down by the RAF, but one of the Wikings dispatched a Lancaster. In July 1944 the unit disbanded, and the BV222s returned to transport duties. Seven survived hostilities, and three were captured and evaluated by the Allies.
