Arado Ar 196

The Ar 196 was primarily built as a shipboard reconnaissance aircraft and was manufactured by the German firm Arado. The first prototype was started in 1936 and by the following year it was selected as the winner of a Kriegsmarine design contest, and became the standard aircraft of the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) throughout World War II. As the war progressed it's war time role was expanded. The Ar 196 was responsible for the sinking of at least one merchant ship and accounted itself well in a dog fight shooting down several allied aircraft. Like so many other German aircraft very few survive to this day.