Aircraft/Loadouts Heinkel He-115

[DemonicPineapple 76]

Heinkel He-115 - The lesser known German marine bomber



Greetings! As an aircraft-enthusiast, there is one particular German aircraft that I really miss in War Thunder. The Heinkel He-115, marine bomber with floaters. Probably one of the fines aircrafts I know of from the WW2-era when it comes to bombers. The He-115 could manage different tasks at sea. It could seek out and destroy enemy submarines, hunt surface marine vessels, or lay mines.
The Heinkel He-115 patroled the Northern Sea along the coast of Norway. The aircraft also served at the eastern front.

Before the start of WW2, the Heinkel He-115 was bought by several countries, including Sweden, Norway and Finland. When the Germans occupied Norway in 1940, a few Norwegian Heinkels of the Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service managed to flee from the attackers. Some of them actually carried out attacks on the Germans shortly after the invasion.


Extremely rare

The Heinkel He-115 is today an extremely rare aircraft. There are no flying specimen in the entire world. One extraordinary well preserved specimen was raised from the sea in Sola, Norway in 2012. It is currently the best preserved specimen in the world. In September 1942, the aircraft had a rough landing. The base of one of the floaters broke, and the aircraft were left in the surface, critically damaged. The Germans managed to save both crew and one of the engines, along with both the floaters before it capsized and sunk.


A German Heinkel He-115 is being raised from the ocean in Sola, Norway in 2012. The Germans had a dedicated marine airbase here during the occupation



Why would the Heinkel He-115 fit perfectly in War Thunder?

The German "team" in War Thunder doesn't have any direct equals to the american Catalina. The Heinkel He-115 can do all the same tasks as the Cataline and similar aircrafts. The aircraft is a rare piece, and it holds a lot of history. Besides from serving in the Luftwaffe during WW2, it has also served in Scandinavian countries before the war. I definately think that it is an aircraft that deserves a lot more attention.





Wikipedia on the Heinkel He-115

In 1935, the German Reich Air Ministry (Reichsluftfahrtministerium or RLM) produced a requirement for a twin engined general purpose floatplane, suitable both for patrol and for anti-shipping strikes with bombs and torpedoes. Proposals were received from both Heinkel Flugzeugwerke and from Blohm & Voss' aircraft subsidiary,Hamburger Flugzeugbau, and on 1 November 1935, orders were placed with both Heinkel and Hamburger Flugzeugbau for three prototypes each of their prospective designs, the He 115 and the Ha 140.^[1][2]
The first prototype Heinkel flew in August 1937,^[1] with testing proving successful, with the He 115 being selected over the Ha 140 early in 1938, resulting in an order for an additional prototype and 10 pre-production aircraft.^[1] Meanwhile, the first prototype was used to set a series of international records for floatplanes over 1,000 km (621 mi) and 2,000 km (1,243 mi) closed circuits at a speed of 328 km/h (204 mph).^[3]
Armament initially consisted of two 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 15 machine guns, one in the nose and one in the dorsal position. Later He 115s were fitted with a fixed forward-firing 15 mm or 20 mm MG 151 cannon, and two rearward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 17 machine guns in the engine nacelles. Ordnance used by He 115 variants included LTF 5 or LTF 6b torpedoes and SD 500 500 kg (1,100 lb) or SC 250 250 kg (550 lb) bombs. Some also carried LMB III or LMA mines.

(From wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinkel_He_115 )
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKgguCO56GU

Topic was edited on April 20th. More info/pictures added.

Edited July 1, 2014 by DemonicPineapple

[Smin1080p_WT 60,444]

open for discussion.

[DemonicPineapple 76]

I can't be the only one who wants this? Seriously? :P

[Comett 4,923]

Not the only one, nope.

[DemonicPineapple 76]

Even though a few WT-players have thrown their opinions in the mix, the general response is disappointing. Moderators, what are the chances that the Heinkel He-115 actually reaches the War Thunder lineup? 

 

For the time being, I'll have to fly the Heinkel He-115 in FSX, when I'm taking a break from War Thunder of course :)

[PanzerAce 1,135]

+1 Nice plane.

 

Reminds me of the Bristol Canada Bolingbroke

[TheGreatCabbage 482]

Yeah, I'd like it! :salute:

[Comett 4,923]

 

Imagine all the fun, guys, the fun.

[Rautaa 5,801]

Personally? Yes please! The He 115 would be a must-have for me because it was used by the FAF.

However, the suggestion itself isn't very complete. The amount of information and images doesn't make it a very interesting suggestion despite the aircraft itself being viable and a good addition for the game.

[Flyboy1945 37]

Yes! More floats!

[DemonicPineapple 76]

One of the arguments should be that this aircraft equals the Catalina in many ways. It was equipped with either bombs or torpedoes. Its an aircraft with 2 machine gun positions, and it's an aircraft which was sold to other countries before the war. The aircraft was bought by Norway before the war. Some Norwegian Heinkel He-115s even engaged the Germans in Norwegian cities after the country had been occupied. It could also be a good argument that Germany doesn't have any aircrafts with floaters in War Thunder (correct me if I'm wrong). Shouldn't they? 

 

It is also a special aircraft, because there are none of them left in the entire world. The best preserved aircraft today was lifted out of the ocean a couple of years ago in my hometown, Sola in Norway. There are no flying Heinkel He-115s in the world. 

It's a rare aircraft, but an aircraft feared by allied submarines and other marine vessels during the war. It definately deserves a place in War Thunder. 

[DemonicPineapple 76]

Personally? Yes please! The He 115 would be a must-have for me because it was used by the FAF.

However, the suggestion itself isn't very complete. The amount of information and images doesn't make it a very interesting suggestion despite the aircraft itself being viable and a good addition for the game.

Hi! Thank you for your feedback! I just recently renewed the original post with some more info and a few more pictures :) I really hope that helps my "cause" :)

[DemonicPineapple 76]

 

Imagine all the fun, guys, the fun.

I renewed the original post :) made it more interesting! :) I really hope it will help our "cause"! :)

[Rautaa 5,801]

Hi! Thank you for your feedback! I just recently renewed the original post with some more info and a few more pictures :) I really hope that helps my "cause" :)

Yes, looks much better. =)

I edited out some bright red text, as that color is reserved for official posts.

[Blackart 4,984]

We need more float planes/flying boats.

[Mattiator 355]

Germany does need floatplanes (when on earth are we finally going to get that He 51 B-2 that's been in the game files forever?), but I feel there are more worthy German floaters like the Ar 196 and Bv 138. Still, more seaplanes is better than less.

[Sunleader 5,877]

Looks Fun

I support the Idea

 

its not really some High Priority thing so I assume most people wont care for it at the moment.

 

But in terms of general availability I do support the Implementation of Aircraft available :)

[Generalisator 54]

+1

[DemonicPineapple 76]

You're right about this suggestion not being a high priority :) However, the Germans still don't have any floaters :) This is an exeptional type of marine aircraft :)

[letherneck 2,067]

This is an exeptional type of marine aircraft :)

oh yeah, very exceptional. exceptionally slow, exceptionally under armed, exceptionally light payload, exceptionally outdated by 1941...and gaijin will give it a 3.7 br. LOL

 

you just want it because the rnaf used some for a while... :Ps

[Sunleader 5,877]

5x250kg Bombs or 800kg Torpedo :)

1 Frontal and 1 Rear MG

The Speed is indeed low tough.

 

But its an fine T1 Aircraft :)

[DemonicPineapple 76]

oh yeah, very exceptional. exceptionally slow, exceptionally under armed, exceptionally light payload, exceptionally outdated by 1941...and gaijin will give it a 3.7 br. LOL

 

you just want it because the rnaf used some for a while... :Ps

 

Nope, because I live close to the best preserved Heinkel He-115 in the world (Se original post). It's an aircraft with a lot of history, both from Scandinavia and the eastern front. Many allied sailors and submarine crews met their maker because of this aircraft and it's work in the Northern sea :) These aircrafts were made in different models, some of them equipped with pretty nice armament. If you compare it to land based aircrafts with standard landing gear, of course the speed is low. It's time of service in the Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service (As it was called during the german occupation) is merely a fun-fact, and not by far the reason why I would love to see this aircraft in the game.

 

And for those of us who enjoy War Thunder because of interest in military aviation history, this would be a nice addition! I dare to claim that many War Thunder players play the game for recreation, not because of the competition of kills etc. Either way, the German side of the game should really get a marine bomber with floaters. In my opinion, the He-115 is a suitable candidate!

Edited April 22, 2014 by DemonicPineapple

[HansHuckebein 1,000]

oh yeah, very exceptional. exceptionally slow, exceptionally under armed, exceptionally light payload, exceptionally outdated by 1941...and gaijin will give it a 3.7 br. LOL

 

you just want it because the rnaf used some for a while... :Ps

 

Yes. While I like new plane I don't think it will be flown much. There is the SM79 in the game, which fits lethernecks summary, but since 1.39 at least it can reach targets before being shot down. He111 has similar problems but better payload. Stuka also in game. I don't see a role or gap that the He115 fits into, where is it DemonicPineapple? 

[DemonicPineapple 76]

As an equalant to the Catalina and other marine bombers. Of course the Catalina have a gunner more, and the ability to carry heavier payload. But besides that, the Heinkel He-115 could do just the same tasks as the Catalina. My point is, the German side doesn't have any bombers on floaters yet. 

 

Also, don't forget that the He-115s were strongest in groups / squadrons. Making the perfect team raid during arcade battles is hard, but in historical, realistic flights? 

 

Adding the He-115 would not revolutionize the game. It would simply make a nice addition to the game, probably more for the historical /realistic battles. I think a lot of War Thunder players who prefer simulation and realism over "arcade-mouse-aim-combat" would appreciate this aircraft. 

 

Concider it an optional aircraft for those who like to reenact etc. Just because it's on the tech tree, doesn't mean that everyone must use it  ;)s

[letherneck 2,067]

As an equalant to the Catalina and other marine bombers. Of course the Catalina have a gunner more, and the ability to carry heavier payload. But besides that, the Heinkel He-115 could do just the same tasks as the Catalina. My point is, the German side doesn't have any bombers on floaters yet.

 

Adding the He-115 would not revolutionize the game. It would simply make a nice addition to the game, probably more for the historical /realistic battles. I think a lot of War Thunder players who prefer simulation and realism over "arcade-mouse-aim-combat" would appreciate this aircraft. 

you might want to look at this suggestion... http://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/100538-bv-138-german-flying-boat/