Essentially an enlarged Do 17, the Dornier Do 217 was flown as a prototype in August 1938, powered by two 1,075 hp (802 kW) Daimler-Benz DB 601A engines. Although this aircraft crashed a few weeks later, the programme was continued by three prototypes powered by 950 hp (708 kW) Junkers Jumo 211A engines. The last of these (Do 217 V4) carried armament and, to improve directional stability, had enlarged vertical tail surfaces and modified dive brakes, whose four segments when closed formed the tail cone. A further three Jumo-engined aircraft were followed by two with 1,550 hp (1156 kW) BMW 139 radials in an attempt to improve performance, but the more advanced BMW 801 of similar output, introduced in late 1939, was adopted for the production Do 217A reconnaissance aircraft, of which eight were built under the designation Do 217A-0. Carrying two cameras and armed with three 7.92 mm (0.31 in) machine guns, these entered service with the Aufklarungsgruppe Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe in 1940.

The Do 217A was followed by five examples of a Do 217C bomber version; the first (Do 217C Vl) was powered by Jumo 211A engines, but the remainder (Do 217C-0) had DB 601As; all were armed with one 15 mm MG 151 cannon and five 7.92 mm (0.31 in) machine-guns, plus a bombload of 6,614 lbs (3000 kg). The first major production version was the Do 217E that appeared in 1940, having a deeper fuselage and an enlarged bomb bay which could accept larger bombs or a torpedo. The initial variant was the Do 217E-1, able to carry a 4,409 lbs (2000 kg) bombload and armed with one 15 mm MG 151 cannon and five 7.92 mm (0.31 in) machine-guns, and followed by the Do 217E-2 with revised armament comprising a dorsal turret with a 13 mm (0.51 in) MG 131 machine-gun, a similar gun mounted ventrally, three 7.92 mm (0.31 in) machine-guns in the forward fuselage, and a 15 mm MG 151 cannon in the nose. The 1941 version of this last aircraft, designated Do 217E-4, was generally similar except that it had BMW 801C engines and introduced cable-cutters in the wing leading edges.

The Do 217E-3, developed for anti-shipping operations over the Atlantic, carried additional armour plating to protect the crew, two additional fuel tanks in the bomb bay, and was armed with seven MG 15s supplementing a single 20 mm MG FF cannon in the nose. Series production of this version was finalised by the Do 217E-5, of which about 65 were manufactured, these having underwing racks for the carriage of Henschel Hs 293 missiles. The redesignation Do 217H applied to one high-altitude experimental aircraft developed from a Do 217E and provided with Daimler-Benz DB 601 turbocharged engines. The Do 217E became operational in the reconnaissance role with 3.(F)/11 in the closing months of 1940, and as a bomber with 11/KG40 in the spring of 1941.

Starting in 1942, 157 aircraft were built to Do 217J-1 and Do 217J-2 standard, the former being a fighter- bomber with a nose similar to that of the Do 17Z-10 and housing four 7.92-mm (0.31-in) MG 17 machine-guns and four 20-mm MG FF cannon, this armament supplemented by dorsal and ventral positions each with a pair of 13-mm (0.51-in) MG 131 guns. The Do 217J-2 was a night-lighter, with 20-mm MG 151/20 cannon replacing the MG FF weapons of the Do 217J-1 and FuG 212 Lichtenstein Cl radar installed. In the autumn of 1942 Dornier introduced the Do 217K-1 bomber which had anew glazed nose with an unstepped cockpit; the ensuing Do 217K-2 carried two SD 1400 X (Fritz X) missiles beneath the wings and had FuG 203a and FuG 230a guidance equipment installed within the fuselage. It was such a missile launched by a Do 217K-2 of 111/KG100 operating from Marseilles that sank the Italian battleship Roma when, on 14 September 1943, the Italian fleet broke out from La Spezia to join the Allies. Final sub-variant in this Do 217K missile launching configuration was the Do 217K-3, which could deploy either SD 1400 X or Hs 293 missiles, but this did not represent the last of these advanced weapon carriers. Under the designation Do 217L two experimental developments of the Do 217K were built and tested, incorporating a revised cockpit and defensive dispositions, and they were followed by the Do 217M-1 which was essentially a Daimler-Benz DB 603A-powered version of the Do 217K-1, and the similar Do 217M-5 with an underfuselage rack for an Hs 293 missile. The Do 217M-3 was a DB 603A-engined equivalent of the Do 217K-3, and the Do 217M-11 an extended-span missile-carrying equivalent of the Do 217K-2.

The Ruhrstahl SD 1400 X (Fritz X) Armour Piercing Anti-Shipping Guided missile

It seems strange that the last operational variant of this successful bomber was the Do 217N night-fighter, appearing initially as the Do 217N-1 which combined the nose of the Do 217J-2 with the Do 217M airframe; it was soon replaced on the production line by the Do 217N-2 in which the dorsal turret was deleted, but the limitations of this aircraft in the night-fighter role meant that by October 1943 it had been almost completely replaced by the more effective Messerschmitt Bf 110 or Junkers Ju 88. The remaining variants include the very interesting Do 217P, of which the first Do 217P VI prototype was flown during June 1942. Developed as a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft with a pressurised cabin, it was powered by two 1,750 hp (1305 kW) DB 603B engines which were boosted by pressurisation was also a feature of a medium bomber which two-stage supercharger driven by a 1,475 hp (1100 kW) DB 605T engine mounted within the bomb bay. Armament consisted of four MG 81 machine-guns, and one Rb 20/30 and two Rb 75/30 cameras were installed in the three Do 217P-O pre-production aircraft.

Pressurisation was also a feature of a medium bomber which Dornier had proposed originally in 1939; gaining no interest at that time, the design was resurrected in 1941 under the designation Do 317 and the first of six prototypes, similar to the Do 217M airframe but with revised vertical tail surfaces and power provided by DB 603 engines, was flown in 1943. Pressurization was then, presumably, too complicated or impractical, for the remaining five prototypes were completed without pressurisation as Hs 293 missile carriers under the designation Do 217R. Production of all versions of the Do 217 totalled 1,730, and these aircraft were last used in large scale bombing operations against the UK in early 1944. By the middle of the year the majority remaining in service were missile carriers, and these continued to operate with limited success until the end of the war.

Do 217A-0

Eight reconnaissance aircraft carrying two cameras and armed with three 7.92 mm (0.31 in) MG 15 machine guns.

Do 217C

Five examples of this bomber version were built, the first (Do 217C V1) with Junkers Jumo 211A engines and the remainder (Do 217C-0) with DB 601As. All armed with one 15 mm (0.59 in) MG 151/15 cannon and five MG 15 machine guns, plus a bombload of 6,614 lbs (3000 kg).

Do 217E/E-1/E-2/E-3/E-4/E-5

The first series production variant, the Do 217E-1 was armed with one 15 mm (0.59 in) MG 151/15 cannon and five 7.92 mm (0.31 in) MG 15 machine guns, plus a bombload of 6,614 lbs (3000 kg). The Do 217E-2 introduced a dorsal turret with a 13 mm (0.51 in) MG 131 machine gun, a similar gun mounted ventrally, three 7.92 mm (0.31 in) MG 15s in the forward fuselage, and a 15 mm (0.59 in) MG 151 cannon in the nose. Developed for anti-shipping operations over the Atlantic. The Do 217E-3 carried additional armour plating to provide crew protection, two additional fuel tanks with a capacity of 750 litre (165 Imp gal) in the bomb bay, and seven MG 15s supplementing a single 20 mm (0.78 in) MG FF cannon in the nose. The Do 217E-4 was the 1941 version of the Do 217 E-2, with BMW 801C engines and cable-cutters in the leading edges of the wings; some 65 Do 217E-S aircraft were manufactured, these having underwing racks for the carriage of two Henschel Hs 293 missiles.

Do 217H

Designation of 21st Do 217E when fitted with turbocharged DB 601 engines for trial purposes.

Do 217J/J-1/J-2

Starting in 1942, 157 aircraft were built to Do 217J-1 and Do 217J-2 standard; the former was a fighter-bomber, with a nose similar to that of the Do 17Z-1 0, housing four 7.92 mm (0.31 in) MG 17 machine-guns and four 20 mm (0.78 in) MG FF cannon, in addition to the dorsal and ventral positions each with a pair of 13 mm (0.51 in) MG 131 guns; the Do 217J-2 was a night-fighter with 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon replacing the MG FF weapons of the Do 217J-1 and fitted with FuG 212 Lichtenstein BC radar.

Do 217K/K-1/K-2/K-3

Introduced in the autumn of 1942, the Do 217K-1 bomber had a new glazed nose with an unstepped cockpit; two SD 1400 X (Fritz X) missiles were carried beneath the wings of the Do 217K-2, and FuG 203a and FuG 230a guidance equipment was installed in the fuselage; it was a missile launched by a Do 217K-2 of 111/KG 100, operating from Marseilles, that sank the Italian battleship Roma; this missile or the Hs 293 could be carried by the Do 217K-3.

Do 217L

Two experimental developments of the Do 217K with modified cockpit and defensive dispositions.

Do 217M/M-1/M-3/M-5/M-11

The Do 217M-1 was essentially the Do 217K-1, but re-engined with Daimler-Benz DB 603As, the similar Do 217M-5 being equipped with an under fuselage rack for an Hs 293 missile; the Do 217M-3 was the DB 603A-engined equivalent of the Do 217K-3; the Do 217M-11 was an extended-span missile carrier equivalent to the Do 217K-2.

Do 217N/N-1/N-2

A nose similar to that of the Do 217J-2 was incorporated in the Do 217M airframe to produce the Do 217N-1 night fighter, which was quickly replaced in production by the Do 217N-2, identified by deletion of the dorsal turret.

Do 217R

Originally designed as the Do 317, lack of interest resulted in these six prototype aircraft being converted to missile carriers as the Do 217R.   

Specifications (Dornier Do 217M-1)

Type: Four Seat Medium Bomber

Design: Dornier Design Team

Manufacturer: Dornier-Werke GmbH

Powerplant: (M-1, N-2) Two 1,750 hp (1305 kW) Daimler-Benz DB 603A 12-cylinder inverted Vee piston engines. (E-2, J-2) Two 1,580 hp (1180 kW) BMW 801A or 801M 18-cylinder two row radials. (K-2) Two 1,700 hp (1268 kW) BMW 801D. (P-1) Two 1,860 hp (1388 kW) DB 603B supercharged by DB 605T in the fuselage.

Performance: (M-1) Maximum speed 348 mph (557 km/h) at 18,700 ft (5700 m); cruising speed 248 mph (400 km/h); service ceiling 31,170 ft (9500 m). (E-2) 320 mph (515 km/h). (K-2) 333 mph (533 km/h). (J and N) 311 mph (498 km/h). (P) 488 mph (781 km/h) with a service ceiling of 53,000 ft (16154 m).

Range: (M-1) 1,336 miles (2150 km) with full bombload. This range was similar for all variants.

Weight: (M-1, K-2) Empty equipped 19,489 lbs (8840 kg) with a maximum take-off weight of 36,817 lbs (16700 kg). (E-2) empty equipped 19,522 lbs (8850 kg) with a maximum take-off weight of 33,070 lbs (15000 kg). (J and N) empty equipped 21,000 lbs (9450 kg) with a maximum take-off weight of 30,203 lbs (13590 kg). (P) empty equipped about 23,000 lbs (10350 kg) with a maximum take-off weight of 35,200 lbs (15840 kg).

Dimensions: (M-1) Span 62 ft 4 in (19.00 m); length 55 ft 5 1/4 in (16.90 m); height 16 ft 4 3/4 in (5.00 m); wing area 613.54 sq ft (57.0 sq m).

Armament: (M-1) Two 13 mm (0.50 in) MG 131 and up to six 7.92 mm (0.31 in) MG 81 machine guns, plus up to 8,818 lbs (4000 kg) of bombs. Similar to the E-2 in position. (E-2) One fixed 15 mm MG 151/15 machine gun in the nose, one 13 mm MG 131 in dorsal turret, one MG 131 manually aimed at lower rear, three 7.92 mm MG 15 manually aimed in nose and beam windows plus 8,818 lbs (4000 kg) of bombs, including 3,307 lbs (1500 kg) carried externally. Could also carry torpedoes for anti-shipping. (K-2) Defensive armament similar to the E-2, plus a battery of four 7.92 mm MG 81 fixed rearward firing in the tail. Sometimes carried and additional two 7.92 mm MG 81s in nacelles (sighted and fired by the pilot). The offensive armament consisted of two SD 1400 X (Fritz X) radio controlled glide bombs and/or Hs 293 air-to-surface rocket guided missiles. (J and N) Typical armament consisted of four 20 mm MG FF cannon and four 7.92 mm MG 17 in the nose and one MG 131 for lower rear defence. The N-2 often had later guns such as MG 151/20 in the nose and MG 151/20 or MK 108 30 mm in Schrage Musik upward firing installation. (P) Three pairs of MG 81 for defence and two 1,102 lbs (500 kg) bombs on underwing racks.

Variants: Do 217A, Do 217C, Do 217E (first production), Do 217H, Do 217J (night fighter), Do 217K (SD 1400 X missile capable), Do 217L, Do 217M, Do 217N (night fighter), Do 217P (high altitude reconnaissance). Do 217R (Six prototype of the Do 217R).

Avionics: (N-1) FuG 202 Lichtenstein BC Radar. (J-1) FuG 212 Lichtenstein C1 Radar. (K-2) FuG 203a and FuG 230a missile guidance system.

History: First flight (Do 217V-1) August 1938, (pre-production Do 217A-0) October/November 1939, first delivery of the E series in late 1940, termination of production late 1943.