RNoAF Heinkel He 115N

RNoAF Heinkel He 115N

TYPE: 3-seated Torpedobomber
AMOUNT IN NORWEGIAN SERVICE: 6

OFFENSIVE ARMAMENT

Spoiler

1x Colt M/29 Lett Førermitraljøse Nose

-Placement: Nose/cupola
-Caliber: 7.92x57mm
-Model: Lightweight variant, only used in planes
-Muzzle velocity: 775 M/S
-Firerate: 580 RPM
-One ammunition belt contained 250 Rounds (Unknown of there were more in storage/stowage)
-Producer: Kongsberg arms factory
-Amount of machineguns made: 181x
-Production period: 1936-1937

1x Colt M/29 Lett Førermitraljøse Rear Gunner

-Placement: Rear seat/gunner position
-Caliber: 7.92x57mm
-Model: Lightweight variant, only used in planes
-Muzzle velocity: 775 M/S
-Firerate: 580 RPM
-One ammunition belt contained 250 Rounds (Unknown of there were more in storage/stowage)
-Producer: Kongsberg arms factory
-Amount of machineguns made: 181x
-Production period: 1936-1937

This cannon, was intended to be mounted, and many modifications were made to the plane and nose cupola to fit the cannon. but one does not know if this ever were mounted. The cannon had as a fact arrived, and probably laid at the post office when the fights of the invasion started. I dont know how this would work. but i include it here.
1x 20mm Oerlikon cannon
-Placement: in the Nose, cupola which was modified to fit the cannon

SECONDARY ARMAMENT

Spoiler

3x 200 Kilogram bombs in the fuselage bomb-bay
6x 75 Kilogram bombs (3x under each wing)
2x 200 Kilogram bombs (1x under each wings)
1x 800-100 Kilogram torpedo (uncertain model)
Bomb sight: Goertz PZ1

AMMUNITION 7.92x51mm

Spoiler

250x cartrigde box specifications

Box with MG belt with 250 cartridges in cloth belt.
The box measures approx. 260 x 170 x 87mm, and weighs approx. 6.74 kg. The total length of the tape, with cartridges in it, is approx. 3475 mm. The width of the fabric band is approx. 27.5 mm, while the length of the brass part is approx. 82.5 mm.
The tapes are stamped with the numbers 1 to 4 for every 50 shots. The marking is upside down as seen from the shooter.

Raufoss Ammunisjonsfabrikker - 7.92x57 - Skarp

Spoiler

Model and production
Caliber: 7.92x57
Type: Sharp Model
Manufacturer: Raufoss Ammunitionsfabrikker
Country of manufacture: Norway
Year of production: 1931-1950

Technical data
Total length: 80.3 mm
Cartridge weight: 25.7-26.5 grams
Ball diameter: 8.2 mm
Bullet length: 34.9 mm
Bullet weight: 12.85 grams
Bullet type: Full jacket
Ball casing material: Copper-nickel-plated steel/Copper-plated brass
Ball core material: Lead
Gunpowder weight: 2.9-3.1 g
Ignition mechanism: Berdan
Tooth cap diameter: 5.50 mm
Sleeve material: Brass
Sleeve length: 56.9 mm
Bottom diameter: 11.9 mm
Sleeve base: Rimless
Teeth cap: None
Quantity in packaging: 15, 50 or 250

Raufoss Ammunisjonsfabrikker - 7,92x57 - Sporlys - MG lett

Spoiler

Model and production
Caliber: 7.92x57
Type: Track light
Model: MG light
Manufacturer: Raufoss Ammunitionsfabrikker
Country of manufacture: Norway
Year of production: uninterrupted until about 1941/capitulation

Technical data:
Total length: 80.3 mm
Cartridge weight: 24.0 grams
Ball diameter: 8.2 mm
Bullet weight: 11.0 grams
Bullet type: Track light
Ball casing material: Copper-nickel coated steel
Bullet core material: Lead and tracer kit
Sleeve material: Brass
Sleeve length: 57.0 mm
Bottom diameter: 11.9 mm
Sleeve base: Rimless
Teeth cap: none

Raufoss Ammunisjonsfabrikker - 7,92x57 - Skarp - MG tøybelte

Spoiler

Model and production
Caliber: 7.92x57
Type: Sharp
Model: MG cloth belt
Manufacturer: Raufoss Ammunitionsfabrikker
Country of manufacture: Norway
Year of production: 193x

Technical data
Total length: 80.3 mm
Cartridge weight: 26.5 grams
Ball diameter: 8.2 mm
Bullet length: 34.9 mm
Bullet weight: 12.8 grams
Bullet type: Full jacket
Ball casing material: Copper-nickel coated steel
Ball core material: Lead
Gunpowder weight: 2.9 g
Ignition mechanism: Berdan
Tooth cap diameter: 5.50 mm
Sleeve material: Brass
Sleeve length: 56.9 mm
Bottom diameter: 11.9 mm
Sleeve base: Rimless
Teeth cap: None
Quantity in package: 250x

TECHNICAL DATA
Wingspan: 22.00 m
Length: 17.30 m
Height: 6.60 m
Net weight: 5,300 kg
Maximum take-off weight: 10,400 kg
Top speed: 355 km/h
Cruising speed: 295 km/h
Peak altitude: 5,500 m
Crew: 3x Pilot, front nose gunner, rear gunner
Engines: 2× BMW 132N radial engines (856 hp)

SERIAL NUMBERS - times in service and fates

NORWEGIAN MODIFICATIONS
-New modified nose cupola prepared for a 20mm Oerlicon cannon
-Goertz PZ1 bomb sight
-7.92x57mm Colt M/29 Lightweight machineguns produced at Kongsberg Vaapenfabrikk instead of the MG15’s
-Telefunken FuG III R/C radio instead of the FuG X
-To fit the 20mm Oerlicon cannon in the nose compartment, the nose cupola had to be modified to accept this larger and heavier weapon. These changes translated into distinct external differences, such as a large cirkular D/F loop a short distance behind the pilots sliding canopy, the relocation of the radio mast a little further back on the mid-canopy section and the lack of the characteristic fairing for the “Lofte” bomb sight beneath the nose section
-A streamlined cover over the oil coolers to keep the ice out wich had left only a small cooling slit on the top.
-The ikaria rotating cupola was dispensed with, being replaced by a somewhat shorter cupola with a larger aperture without external frames or bracing. This important distinguishing feature was unique to the Norwegian Heinkels!
-Secondary loadout
-Natural metal propeller blades (only seen on the Norwegian and Swedish Heinkel He155’s)

HISTORY
In the 1930s, a commission was tasked with assessing the equipment in the Navy’s Air Force. One of the conclusions was that one should look for modern torpedo planes that could carry the new and much heavier aircraft torpedoes that were being developed. Several aircraft types were under consideration when, in the autumn of 1937, an inquiry came from Heinkel in Germany with an invitation to look at their new He 115. The aircraft made a good impression and was also released for export in the spring of 1938.

At the same time, it became known that the Luftwaffe would invest in the aircraft and that the Swedish Air Force would follow Norway’s choice. On 24 August 1938, 6 aircraft were ordered and future license production in Norway was negotiated. The first aircraft, the F.50, was formally taken over on 14 July 1939 and flew to Horten. The rest were retrieved individually throughout the late summer and autumn of 1939, partly under dramatic circumstances. Norway was also offered to buy a further 6 aircraft for delivery at the end of March 1940. The offer was accepted, but these aircraft never arrived in Norway and were subsequently taken over by the Luftwaffe.

When the war came in 1940, three of the aircraft were stationed in southern Norway and three in northern Norway. The F.60 was on the sun, but was not airworthy and was taken by the Germans. F.52 and F.58 were stationed on Flatøy and F.58 was sent up to bomb the German vessels on their way in to Bergen. None of the bombs did any damage. F.52 was then evacuated together with an M.F.11 to Norheimsund, Granvin and later Eidfjord, while F.58 and the rest of the M.F.11 aircraft were eventually gathered in Balestrand in Sogn. Both groups became involved in the battles against German forces and vessels. On 23 April, the group in Hardanger was disbanded and F.52 was transferred to Sogndal in poor technical condition. On 1 May, the defense in Western Norway was abandoned and F.58 was sent north to Skattøra, while F.52 and M.F.11 F.328, both of which were quite worn out, were sent over to Great Britain. The F.328 was probably shot down by British anti-aircraft fire, while the F.52 arrived with one engine out of order.

The three Norwegian He-115 machines at Skattøra were initially involved in attacks on German aircraft, but then things calmed down until the beginning of May. However, the division was reinforced with two German He 115b which had made emergency landings at Brønnøysund and in Glomfjord due to a lack of fuel. These got Marines No. F.64 and F.62. The Heinkel planes carried out several successful attacks in the first half of May and towards the end of the month

When the fighting in northern Norway was over, the Four Heinkels that were in the best condition, F.58, F.54, F.56 and F.64 were sent over to Shetland. The F.50 was sent to Finland and the F.62 was left behind. However, the F.54 encountered problems on the way and returned to Norway, where it was sunk. The F.50 was then used by the Finns until it was shot down by the Russians in Eastern Karelia on June 4, 1943. The aircraft has since been raised. The four aircraft that were in Great Britain were put in and out of German-occupied areas. The planes were flown individually by naval aviators Knut Skavhaugen and Håkon Offerddal, and are said to have completed a number of successful missions on the French coast. Developments in North Africa made it necessary to travel from Malta, and one machine was lost here. Later, a trip to the Norwegian coast from Woodhaven was planned. The last aircraft was chopped up at Woodhaven in late 1942

Norwegian Aircraft Torpedoes
As is known, the first aircraft torpedoes were first developed in Italy in 1911, and were used during the First World War. In August 1915, the first aircraft to sink a ship in war with an aircraft torpedo was a British Short 184 aircraft.

Later, Norway began to carry out tests with torpedoes on aircraft, around 1923/24 and at the Navy’s main shipyard in 1932 an aircraft torpedo was developed with a stabilizing rudder which fell off when the water surface was hit, this torpedo had the designation F.1 and was among other exported to a number of countries!

A number of torpedoes were developed, up to the F.5. At one point in time, the Germans had tried to get hold of the data on these torpedoes as these stabilizing rudders were quite groundbreaking, and they succeeded in this through a company in Sweden that had bought around 5 of these torpedoes and then passed on the information from these Norwegian-developed torpedoes . The Germans developed them further and made at least two variants of them.

These Norwegian torpedoes were developed and produced at the torpedo factory in Horten, but in an allied bomb attack on the factory the archive/all data on these was unfortunately lost, and it is therefore very difficult to find information and history regarding these, so I am not entirely sure on which model was used on the Norwegian Heinkel He 115 aircraft, but this I will do my best to find out.

CAMOUFLAGES

STANDARD CAMOUFLAGE

Spoiler


i will provide some detailed pictures here, so if the plane would be added, the camouflages could be made as accurate as possible!

National markings

The left illustration is of the Rudder, wich is Centred on lower rudder egde.
The right illustration is the markings wich we see on the tip of each wing, these are 250cm wide

Markings & inscription s on the floats/flotators

As seen in the image "Detail of the stencilling of each float on the He 115 N. (Støttepungt -->) trasnlated into english “support point” are painted on.

Here is also an image of the plane, this is from a model but it show the kind of colour and placements very nicely.

SECONDARY CAMOUFLAGES

Spoiler

SECONDARY CAMOUFLAGE - F.52 1939 Neuttrality camouflage

Spoiler

SECONDARY CAMOUFLAGE F.52 Cerric D5 Aluminium finish

SECONDARY CAMOUFLAGE F.52 As delivered by the Heinkel factorya at Rostock

SECONDARY CAMOUFLAGE F.52 Unique Wartime camouflage, applied hastely

ALBUM

Spoiler

heinkel 115N — ImgBB

SOURCES

Spoiler

Norsk He 115
Redirecting...
https://www.norli.no/boker/dokumentar-og-fakta/historie-og-dokumentar/krig-og-historie/luftforsvarets-historie-fortalt-gjennom-75-gjenstander?
https://www.adlibris.com/no/bok/norske-militarfly-9788271286873?
Heinkel He 115 – Store norske leksikon
Heinkel He 115 – Wikipedia

ammunition and updates
Kongsberg Våpenhstoriske Forening
Chandos Heinkel He 115 Developmental & Operational History 1937-1952 CHN1654 for sale online | eBay

POLL

Would you like to see this in-game?
  • Yes
  • No
0 voters

This post was made by
Til_Dovre_Faller
Warthunder_Norway

1 Like

Is there actually any difference between this and the T-2 we just got or could it just be a skin for it?

3 Likes

between this N verison and the B verison the difference is both skin and armament, and between the 115’s added to the game this update is also armament ans skin hehe

No other country in the world uses the Norwegian Colt heavy machinegun in 7.92x61mm wich these machineguns do, and the torpedo should be a norwegian modified or made one, so it is different from all the others :)

tupolev tu2?

Well in that case yes, add in a folder with the Swede T 2 we just got! As a whole though there’s gonna be a fair share of scandinavian vehicles that could be added in just one form with camos from multiple nations

1 Like

Finland used the HE115 as well with their verison, so there are many 115 planes hehe, but yes, there are many vehicles/planes wish a solution like that would work

Here is the Heinkel He 115N with the pennant number F.52. This picture according to my sources, was taken the moring of the German invasion of Norway 9th of april 1940, when they were sent up to attack some of the German vessels wich were on their way in to Bergen City. They were at that time on their way to Byfjorden and Kvarven fort

I can tell where the plane is taking off from!
The plane should be exactly where i put the yellow line, we can se Frekhaug township to the left in the background of the picture!
https://i.ibb.co/2NnCcTt/Screenshot-2024-04-24-195358.png

I discovered something interesting, i won’t be able to update the post yet as i am waiting for some material to arrive, but new information say that the plane, was built by Norwegian requirements/specifications wich seems to be some changes/modifications on the hull as well

stay tuned :)

+1 in folder with T 2

1 Like

So i just did a larger update on the post

What i added:
-New armament, devided into offensive and secondary armament, now foldered
-Detailed specifications for machineguns and ammunition
-History regarding the Norwegian-developed torpedoes used on these
-Norwegian modifications “section”

i will update it again with the rest of the information i have acquired as soon as i can, and hopefully find the torpedo model we used on this plane. I also found some really rare/important pictures i am going to add here

I did a further small update

What i added
-New head picture
-Details and pictures of the standard camouflage
-Picture of the unique modification to the Norwegian aircraft torpedo
-Preparations for camouflages

I found at least 18 different camouflages for the Norwegian planes, wich looks very good. Here is a small taste of one of them. This was painted during the invasion of Norway in April 1940, while the fights went on thus details such as the Norwegian national markings on the rudder are only half painted.



As mentioned in the suggestion, many modifications were made to fit a 20mm cannon in the nose of the aircraft, internal and external changes were made, wich gave the Norwegian 115N a special look


1x 20mm Oerlikon cannon
-Placement: in the Nose, cupola which was modified to fit the cannon

Due to it not being known if the cannon were ever mounted or used, i am not so sure how it would work. The cannon, as i have understood it had arrived and laid at the post office, when the invasion of Norway started. very little information about that avaliable, but i am working to find more about it.