The Arado 95, a reconnaissance and patrol biplane, was developed and manufactured by the German company Arado in the late 1930s.
It was ordered by Chile and Turkey, but when World War II began, a number of these aircraft were acquired by the German Navy, known as the Kriegsmarine.
Originally designed in 1935 as a two-seat seaplane, the Arado 95 was intended for coastal patrol, reconnaissance, and light attack missions.
The first prototype, constructed with an all-metal biplane structure and equipped with a BMW 132 radial engine, successfully took flight in 1936.
A second prototype, powered by a Junkers Jumo 210 liquid-cooled engine, was also developed.
Both prototypes underwent evaluation alongside the Focke-Wulf Fw 62, a similar aircraft.
The BMW-powered version of the Arado 95 showed promise and was deemed worthy of further investigation.
As a result, a batch of six aircraft was sent for evaluation during the Spanish Civil War with the Legion Condor.
Furthermore, the Arado Ar 95 served as the foundation for the prototype Ar 195 carrier-based torpedo bomber.
This variant was proposed for deployment on the German aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin.
Arado Ar 195
The Arado Ar 195, developed by the German company Arado, was a torpedo bomber designed specifically for carrier-based operations.
It featured a single engine and was intended to serve on the renowned German aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin during World War II.
The Ar 195, a variant of the Ar 95, was equipped with an arrestor hook, catapult equipment, and a taller canopy.
It was intended to be a torpedo bomber for Nazi Germany’s first aircraft carrier, the Graf Zeppelin, named after Graf Ferdinand von Zeppelin.
Despite three prototypes being flown in 1937, the Ar 195 failed to meet the required specifications.
Its high drag negatively impacted its flying capabilities, resulting in its rejection in 1938 in favour of the Fieseler Fi 167, which was deemed to be a better option.
Specifications
Crew
2
Length
11.10 m (36 ft 5 in)
Wingspan
12.50 m (41 ft 0 in)
Height
3.60 m (11 ft 10 in)
Wing area
45.40 m2 (488.7 sq ft)
Empty weight
1,111 kg (2,450 lb)
Max take-off weight
3,560 kg (7,848 lb)
Powerplant
1 × BMW 132De, air cooled 9-cylinder radial engine,
Sources Arado Geschichte Eines Flugzeugwerks-Jorg Armin Kranzhoff. Aircraft of the Luftwaffe 1935-1945, An Illustrated Guide-Jean-Denis GG LaPage. The Official Monogram Painting Guide to German Aircraft, 1935-1945-Kenneth A Merrick & Thomas H Hitchcock.
Arado AR 95