| The Blohm & Voss BV 138 Seedrache (Sea Dragon, but nicknamed Der Fliegende Holzschuh (flying clog) was a World War II German flying boat that functioned as the Luftwaffe's main long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft. A total of 297 BV 138s were built between 1938 and 1943. The aircraft was unusually powered by three engines, with one mounted high above the centerline driving a four-bladed propeller, and one on each wing driving three-bladed propellers. The preproduction prototypes and the BV 138 A-01 to BV 138 A-06, were powered by various makes of engines ranging from 650 hp to 1000 hp. The first standardized version BV 138 B-1, was powered by three 880 hp Junkers Jumo 205D Diesel engines. Unusual were the aircraft's twin boom tail unit, and gun turrets at the bow and the stern of the fuselage, as well as behind the central engine. These features together produced the aircraft's ungainly appearance. The first of the 227 standard service model, BV 138 C-1, began service in March 1941. Although various versions of the aircraft carried a variety of armament, the standard included two MG 151 20mm cannon, one in a power-operated bow turret and one in a power-operated stern turret, up to three MG 15 machine gun, and an MG 131 machine gun in the aft center engine nacelle. It could carry 500 kg (1,100 lb) of bombs or depth charges or, in place of these, up to 10 passengers. Most were fitted with FuG 200 Hohentwiel search radar for anti-shipping duties. Some were converted for minesweeper role. The BV 138 MS variant carried a degaussing device, a hoop with the same diameter as the length of the fuselage and field-generating equipment, instead of weapons. | 
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