Le D-OBRA entrera de
même à la Luftwaffe

The Ju 46 was a strengthened version of the Junkers W 34, modified for catapult launches. It was externally essentially identical to the W 33 apart from a revised vertical tail. Compared to the W 34, this carried a broader-chord rudder with a more rounded trailing edge and a noticeably squared-off top. This revision improved control of the aircraft during the low-speed launch. The ship to shore aircraft were all seaplanes , though some Ju 46 were used with a fixed wheeled undercarriage and tail-skid at times in their careers.
The aircraft was used in the postal link service across the Atlantic Ocean and were based on board the NDL-liners SS Bremen and Europa. Each aircraft was associated with its ship and bore its name. The first Bremen and Europa were both Ju 46fi seaplane variants and went into use in 1932. Three more, Ju 46hi variants, joined them in mid-1933.
Both ships had been fitted with compressed air-driven catapults for this purpose. These catapults accelerated the 3,200 kg  aircraft to a speed of 110 km/h  at a distance of just 20 m . The launch of these aircraft, painted bright red for easy spotting by rescue planes in case of emergency landings at sea, was always a special experience for the passengers. The launch at a distance of about 1,200 km  from the destination allowed to land the mail some 24 hours ahead of the mother ship's docking. On Westbound crossings, they flew to New York; Eastbound to Southampton, where they refuelled and went on to Bremen. These activities were limited by weather to the Summer months, beginning in April 1932.

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