To enable the original recon machine loaded with fuel to outrun enemy
fighters at 461 mph. But at least the Ar-234 has one small claim to
fame. In March 1945 B-2s repeatedly hit the Remagen bridge with 2,000
lb bombs until it finally collapsed. The Germans had tried everything
from frogmen to V-2s to collapse the bridge but failed until the
Arados did the job.

Bob,
The Ar 234s never hit the Remagen Bridge, although they attacked it
on a number of occasions. They sure as shootin' couldn't carry
2,000# (or more tp the point, 1,000 lg/2200# bombs.) - there just
wasn't enough clearance between the racks & the ground. The Ar
234 wasn't a very big airplane - it's about 2/3 the size of a P-38
or Me 110.

FYI, from 3/7-3/17/45 Ar 234B-2s from III/KG 76 hit the bridge several
times using the "Egon" blind bombing system in horizontal attacks from
16-26,000 ft. Their cumulative attacks weakened the bridge to the
extent that it finally collapsed 10 days after its capture. Some
Fw-190s and a few Me-262s from KG 51 also targeted the bridge but
failed to hit it. The Arados, however, did repeatedly. A total of
fifty-five Ar 234B-2s attacked the bridge over a 10 day span with a
loss of 5 aircraft.

Heavywieght 234s could cary 3 500 kg/1100# bombs, one
under each nacelle, and one semi-recesses under the fuselage, but
I've seen no credible evidence that they were ever used on
operations.

The Ar-234B-2s of III/KG 76 used both the 500 kg bombs and the single
PC 1400.


Rob