Aircraft template

In 1935, the German Reich Air Ministry (RLM, Reichsluftfahrtministerium) produced a requirement for a twin engined general purpose floatplane, suitable for patrol and for anti-shipping strikes with bombs and torpedoes. Proposals were received from Heinkel Flugzeugwerke and from the Blohm & Voss aircraft subsidiary Hamburger Flugzeugbau. On 1 November 1935, orders were placed with Heinkel and Hamburger Flugzeugbau for three prototypes each of their prospective designs, the He 115 and the Ha 140
The first prototype Heinkel flew in August 1937, testing was successful and the He 115 design was selected over the Ha 140 early in 1938, leading to an order for another prototype and 10 pre-production aircraft.The first prototype was used to set a series of international records for floatplanes over 1,000 km and 2,000 km closed circuits at a speed of 328 km/h

Armament initially consisted of two 7.92 mm 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 MG 17 machine guns in the engine nacelles. He 115 variants carried LTF 5 or LTF 6b torpedoes and SD 500 500 kg or SC 250 250 kg bombs. Some also carried LMB III or LMA mines.
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At the outbreak of the war, the He 115 was used for dropping parachute mines in British waters, normally aiming for narrow passages close to busy ports on the English south coast; the River Thames was also a prime target. The aircraft had its finest moment on anti-shipping operations against Arctic convoys from bases in northern Norway. Because the first convoys lacked air cover, the slow and lightly armed He 115 was less vulnerable than near the English coast. With the appearance of carriers and escort carriers, coupled with new Soviet heavy fighters like the Petlyakov Pe-3bis, Luftwaffe air superiority over the convoys was challenged and losses increased.
Apart from its use as a minelayer and torpedo bomber, the He 115 was used for coastal reconnaissance and by KG 200 to drop agents behind enemy lines.

He 115 A-0 10 pre-production examples, armed with a single machine gun
He 115 A-1 added a nose-mounted machine gun.
He 115 A-2 similar to A-1, exported to Norway and Sweden
He 115 A-3 modified weapons bay and changes to the radio equipment
He 115 B-0 the 'B'-series introduced the ability to trade fuel and bomb load, as well as the possibility to carry a 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) magnetic mine
He 115 B-1 added increased fuel capacity
He 115 B-1/R1
He 115 B-1/R2
He 115 B-1/R3
He 115 B-2 had reinforced floats for operation from ice or snow
He 115 C-1 introduced additional armament
He 11 5C-1/R1
He 115 C-1/R2
He 115 C-1/R3
He 115 C-1/R4
He 115 C-2 reinforced floats in same manner as B-2
He 115 C-3 minelayer version.
He 115 C-4 torpedo bomber version.
He 115 D one aircraft fitted with BMW 801C engines rated at 1,147 kW (1,560 PS) each.
He 115 E-1 similar to the 'C'-series, but with revised armament.

Type	B-2 3-seat seaplane, torpedo bomber - reconnaissance - bomber
Engine	2 BMW 132 K with 3-bladed variable-pitch propellers
Dimensions	Length 17,30 m , height 6,60 m , span 22,28 m , wing area 87,70 m2 , aspect ratio 5,65, airfoil root NACA 2221
Weights	Empty 6910 kg, loaded 10605 kg, max. take off weight
Performance	Max.. speed 295 km/h at sea level, 305 km/h at 1000 m, 295 km/h at 2000 m, cruising speed 275 km/h at sea level, 285 km/h at 1000 m, 295 km/h at 2000 m, range 2600 km at cruising speed, 2800 km at economical speed, endurance , service ceiling 5600 m , climb to 1000 m 4,9 min., to 2000 m10,9 min., to 3000 m 20,8 min., landing speed 100 km/h, landing run 580 mover 15 m obstacle, start run 400 m, 580 m over 15 m obstacle
Armament	1 MG 15 (7,92 mm) A-Stand with 525 rounds, 1 MG 15 (7,92 mm) im B-Stand with rounds Bombload1000 kg