- Yes
- No
- K-1 (1200kg bombs, 2x Colt-Browning 7,7 mm machine-guns with 500 rounds each, 1x SAMM turret (middle location) with HS 404 20mm cannon)
- K-2 (only 1 completed and in-service, X-37. Up to 1500kg bombs, MG 15 2x 7.92mm, 525 rounds, 1x HS 404 20mm cannon)
- Can we haz both?
- I said No
- Rank 2 (can be used in Easy Tasks)
- Rank 3 (can be used in all tasks)
- I chose No.
- Potentially game winning seaplane!
- Unique aircraft, will be a great addition to War Thunder family
- Need more seaplanes! (specifically seaplane)
- Other reason not listed
- I chose No.
Wait, a GERMAN aircraft in the FRENCH tree? What heresy is this?
Yes sir, its perfectly au naturel!
The development history of the Dornier Do 24 is possibly the most interesting in history. This successful seaplane won a competition for a new patrol seaplane for the Dutch (Netherlands) air force. While the first few Dornier Do 24 were built in Germany full production was in Holland. The German Luftwaffe did test two of them, but had no desire for its air force (they had the He 115 and BV 138 for itself). It was only after the occupation of the Netherlands did the German Search and Rescue unit find an ideal seaplane in production and available. Just like the P-51, an aircraft built for another country (UK) was eventually accepted by his home country.
Since the Dornier 24 was designed an eventually built for the Netherlands, and the BeNeLux nation is a sub-tree in the French nation, it is only natural it should be in the French tree. And if you still doubt that, get this: the Germans ordered the French to produce Do 24’s during the war, and after the liberation the new French government decided to keep the production going, building 80 more being used by the French navy until the early 1950’s.
Why is this worthy? In short 37 of the first Do 24 went on patrol in Dutch East Indies, and continued to operatre despite the occupation of Netherlands. When Japan entered the war the Dutch air forces fought vigorously against the Japanese, bombing and sinking the destroyer IJN Shinonome. When it was obvious the D.E.I. could not stop the Japanese, these aircraft were instrumental in the retreat to Australia, 4 survivors eventually transferred to the RAAF for logistic duties. .
It was produced by the allied Netherlands and was used by the Allies forces in combat against Japanese Axis foes! The Dutch Do 24K is an important aircraft in history and deserves to be a main tree unit of the French (+BeNeLux) tree, helping bolster the limited French seaplane selections.
Why should WarThunder make this version of the Do 24?
Unlike the German version, limited to sea rescue only and did not carry bombs, the Dutch 24K did carry bombs, BIG BOMBS! (200kg known, 300kg is documented but limited details)
Another reason is variations of the Do 24 could be added to the German, United Kingdom, French, Swedish, and even a Soviet version, of this awesome aircraft is possible. Of all the aircraft used in the 1940’s the Do 24 is one of the most widely used.
History of aircraft development in depth.
The Dornier Do 24 was designed to meet a Royal Netherlands Navy requirement for a replacement of the older Aviolanda built Dornier Wals work horse being used in the Dutch East Indies (DEI, present day Indonesia region). Dornier beat out 2 other designs (a Fokker and Curtis) to win the contract, with production of the Do 24K-1 to be built under license in the Netherlands by Aviolanda at Papendrecht using American Wright R-1820 Cyclone radial engines (a few were built by Dornier in Fredichafen before the Aviolanda started).
The Dutch upgraded the initial Do 24K-1 to Do 24K-2, which used a more powerful version of engine and up-armed the 3 turrets from 3x 7.7mm Browning’s to German made 7.92 MG-15 and French made 1x 20mm HS 404 guns and up to 1500kg of bombs, however only one (X-37) left Netherlands before occupation by the Germans (The Germans captured 11 more of the K-2’s under construction, but where finished as the N series).
The Dutch produced 37 units all of them reaching the DEI before the Netherlands was occupied by Nazi Germany. The German Air-Sea rescue service was eager for a modern aircraft for its service and quickly arranged to continue production for its air-sea rescue duties.
X-1 to X-12: 3 turrets 7.7mm Browning’s; up to 1200kg of bombs (depending on mission requirements)
X-13 to X-36: 2 turrets 7.7mm Browning’s, middle turret with SAMM (AB 15 version?) turret 20mmm HS 404 cannon; up to 1200kg of bombs (depending on mission requirements)
X-37 (only K-2 used by Dutch): Stronger engine, 2x 7.92 MG 15, 1x 20mm HS 404 guns and up to 1500kg of bombs
(Trivia note: all 3 turret rings were the same size, so it was possible to mount the round top SAMM / AB 15 turret to the nose or tail)
Here is picture of middle .30 browning “flat top” turret look to rear of aircraft. The strap is the gunner seat! It is all muscle, not a powered turret.
Here is a load diagram made by the Dornier company, where the first batch of Do 24K-1’s were made.
It lists up to 1200kg of bombs with the known 200kg bomb and the limited info 300kg bomb. The Do 24K-2 was a Dutch update, so need a Dutch manual to confirm this information.
Bomb rack under the Do 24 wing, dropping 50kg “VMNo2” (Vliegtuigbom Marine No2) Dutch bombs. Note some mounts are larger than others.
History of Dutch Do 24 operations in brief:
When the Netherlands was occupied by Nazi Germany, the government fled to London on 15 May 1940 and the Dutch government-in-exile continued military operations over its vast holdings in Asia with aid from UK. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands was determined to hold on to its territories and resist the axis (unlike the French who eventually lost its Asian colonies to Japan). The 37 Dutch Do 24K (marked X-1 to X-37) that did reach the Dutch East Indies attached to the KNIL Air Force actively patrolled the region, income from oil and rubber exports paying for the military force’s needs. There was at least 11 more 24K-2 under various states of completion captured by Germany, they where modified to German instruments and radios and designated Do 24N, but still kept most of its equipment and the Wright Cyclone engines and weapons of 24K-2
War with Japan was fully expected, and Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands did not hesitate to declare war on Japan the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, actually hours before the US and UK as Do 24’s and RAAF Hudson spotted Japanese invasion force in south Pacific about 90 min before attack on Pearl Harbor. The US was now readily able to openly support the KNILAF with spare parts, especially for the Wright R-1820 engines. Combat was brutal in the DEI and Japanese was eventually successful in occupying nearly all of the DEI .
By 9 March 1942 the Dutch forces in DEI surrendered and the remaining air and sea forces retreated to Australia. No longer able to support their aircraft with consumables, surviving aircraft were passed on to the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force). Although Wright engine parts were easy to acquire and still combat capable, the RAAF had limited supplies of armaments specific to the the Dutch Do 24’s so eventually they were relegated to other vital duties. By wars end, at least 4 of the Do 24’s remained intact (X-4, X-8, X-9, X-24) but retired to No.1 Flyingboat Repair Depot at Lake Boga due to lack of parts. Today the forward fuselage of one exists in Australia, formally used as a yacht, now in museum. This is the only Do 24K remaining, unknown which of the four it is.
Source material:
Book: Dornier Do 24 Units by Peter de Jong
http://www.dornier24.com
https://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/dornier-24/dornierDo24.html
http://www.dornierdo24k.nl/
[Films]Dornier 24 film archive in Holland
http://www.deutscheluftwaffe.com/archiv/Dokumente/ABC/d/Dornier/Dornierwerke.htm
https://kw.jonkerweb.net/index.php/en/aircraft/aircraft-d/704-dornier-do-24k-uk?start=1
Dornier Do 24 Walkaround Gallery (actually a 24T-3, made to look like a 24K-1)
Dornier Do 24
http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a49.htm
Filmed in Indonesia (DEI) shows preparing a Dutch Do24K armed with Browning .303 and HS 404, also views of the bomb racks in certain angels.
Mass formation flight of 9 Do 24’s with the smaller Fokker T.VIII (which was also used by RAF) and some unknown biplanes.
Pros:
FAST for a flying boat , will be one of the fastest seaplane in game
Respectable bomb load, against one of the best for size
Hard landing will not rip off non-existing wing floats!
20mm cannon possible
Capture naval points
Spare engine, can stay well on 2.
It’s DUTCH!
Cons:
Cannot compete with land bombers
Might not have armor or self sealing fuel tanks
only 3 turrets with 1 mg each, vulnerable to enemy fighters.
Do 24K-1 or K-2, Dutch
Basic stats:
Do-24K-2
Wingspan: 27,30 meter
Length: 22,05 meter
Height: 5,53 meter
Wing area 108 m²
Engines Three Wright Cyclone R-1820-G105A (with two-speed supercharger) Yes, AMERICAN engines !
Speed maximum 340 km/h
Cruise 260 km/h
Range 3500 km
Crew 5 or 6
Armament two 7,9 mm MG 15 machine guns, one 20 mm Solothurn canon, 1500 kg bombs
Bombs: 12x 50kg, 6x 100kg, 6x 200kg, or 4x 300kg bombs.
Bombs used on Dutch Do-24K are the “VMNo2” (Vliegtuigbom Marine No2):
50kg_VMNo2
100kg_VMNo2
200kg_VMNo2
300kg_VMNo2 (type mentioned but few details unlike others)
I believe this is 100kg_VMNo2 bombs (being slightly larger than the 50kg seen in videos)
This is the attachments for the racks when all the mounts are removed.
NOTE: the tail unit on the Do 24 is basically an enlarged Do 17 tail unit.
Early colors, likely peace time, before declaration of war against Japan in 8 Dec 1941.
Colors worn by KNILAF in the DEI
Considerations:
It is not the most heavily armed or carried the most bombs for a seaplane, but compared to others was one of the fastest.
It was also one of the most wildly used seaplanes in the world. Besides the Netherlands and Germans, over 80 were used by the French, 12 by Spain, the 6 or so by Australia, and a few flown by Norway, Sweden, and Russia.
This the the camouflage the RAAF used while they operated it, unarmed only because it was worn out from years of hard service.
The RAAF skin could be as prize or 200GE.
The nations that used it praised its rough water abilities, with a UK record of one Do 24 landing to rescue a RAF crew in seas a circling Short Sunderland would not dare land.
Here is the last airworthy (but modified) Do 24 spinning out after hitting a submerged object (tree trunk?), but staying intact and afloat (flew out 7 days later for more repairs at home base)
