The Me 323 in Action
With the situation in North Africa needing attention, it was thought to utilize the Me 323 to resupply Rommel's forces where the convoys were failing. In November of 1942, the first Me 323s were being used for exactly that. Unfortunately, as with the Me 321 gliders before it, the slow Me 323 proved no match for British fighter patrols even when fielded with capable fighter escort protection themselves. An inherent advantage to the Me 323 was its ability to withstand a great deal of punishment from machine gun fire thanks to its large wooden structure - only the engines, cockpit and fuel stores were large critical areas that could render the aircraft uncontrollable. However, the lack of agility for the Me 323 meant that the pilot could not enact some sort of helpful defensive maneuver to avoid enemy attack. The onboard defensive machine guns and (later) cannon certainly helped to keep enemy fighters at bay but their reach was only so far. Defensive armament was continually addressed in future marks (to include heavier caliber machine guns and cannons) but this did little to stave off elimination of many Me 323s attempting the run across Mediterranean skies. Losses for the Me 323s in the Mediterranean Theater mounted and ultimately forced its withdrawal to the Eastern Front within time in support of the German Army against the Soviets. Africa was eventually lost to the Allies and the stage was set for the Allied invasions of Italy and France in the near future.
Me 323 Production
Sources vary as to the exact number of completed Me 323s for the inclusion of former Me 321 gliders converted to serve as powered Me 323 transports tends to muddle the numbers. Regardless, at least 200 of the type were in service at one time or another though, interestingly, not a single example survived the war intact.
Me 323 Production Marks
The initial production model was the Me 323 D-1 which fitted 6 x Gnome-Rhone 14N series radial engines. The Me 323 E-1 was the follow-up to the series that introduced 2 x armed HDL 151 series turrets (each mounting 20mm MG 151/20 cannon) into the upper wing surfaces for improved defensive capabilities. The Me 323 E-2 came online next but its turrets were now EDL 151 models that sported low-drag designs for better aerodynamics and 6 x Junkers Jumo 21 1R engines were fitted. The Me 323 E-2WT fitted an additional turret in the front of the aircraft fuselage to further help improve the defensive network.
Me 323 Prototypes and Proposals
Beyond the production models, the Me 323 was trialed as several prototype forms. This included the Me 323 V-13 with its 6 x Gnome-Rhone 14N 48/49 series engines (basis of the Me 323 E series production model), the Me 323 V-14 with its 6 x Junkers Jumo 211F series engines, the Me 323 V-16 with its 6 x Junkers Jumo 211R engines and the Me 323Z "Zwilling" ("Twins") heavy transport/heavy bomber proposal which fitted two Me 323 fuselages against a central wing appendage - similar in scope to the Heinkel He 111Z "Zwilling" development detailed elsewhere on this site. A single Me 323Z prototype was completed but lost to accident in July of 1944.
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