                  The Dornier Do217N-2/R22

In 1943 the Dornier Do217N-2 nightfighter entered service
with Nachtjagdgeschwaders 3,4, and 6, with II/NJG 4 almost
exclusively equipped with it.  In the east, I/NJG 100 was
equipped with the Do217.
With the success of the "schraege musik" weapon system in the
Bf110, it was installed in the Do217N-2 as a rustsatz (field
conversion kit), thereby being the Do217N-2/R22. This
consisted of 4 x MG151 20mm cannon mounted behind the
cockpit, firing forward and upward at an angle of 70 degrees
from the horizontal.  The "schraege musik" (literally "jazz"
or "oblique" music) weapon also had the advantages of firing
up into the enemy bomber's unprotected belly and not blinding
the pilot as nose weapons were prone to do.  Additionally,
"schraege musik" weapons normally did not fire tracers so as
to assist in masking their attacks.  Many times British
bombers would be destroyed without anyone realizing an attack
had taken place, attributing the loss to mechanical reasons
or flak.

The Do217N-2/R22 had the FuG 220 Lichtenstein SN-2 radar as
well as the FuG 202 or 212.  Some were eventually fitted out
with the FuG 227 Flensburg for homing in on the British
Monica tail-warning radar, and the FuG 350 Naxos which homed
in on the H2S radar of the British pathfinder aircraft.

DATA:  Top speed 311 mph at 19,685 feet, Armament: 4 x 20mm
MG151 cannon and 4 x 7.9mm MG17 machineguns in the nose, plus
4 x 20mm MG151 cannon in a "schraege musik" configuration.
Ceiling: 29,200 feet.  Range 1,090 miles.
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