The Arado Ar 232 “Millipede”: Pioneering the Modern Military Transport

During World War II, the need to move troops, cargo, and even vehicles efficiently shaped the evolution of military aircraft. While many designs from that era now appear outdated, a few were so far ahead of their time that their influence echoes in the cargo planes of today. Among these visionary creations stands the Arado Ar 232, a “do-it-all” German transport whose unusual looks belied innovations that are fundamental to modern airlift design. Nicknamed the “Millipede” for its forest of landing wheels, the Ar 232 introduced engineering concepts that would become standard decades later.

A Transport Revolution Born From Necessity

In the late 1930s, Nazi Germany’s Luftwaffe recognized that its transport fleet—primarily the venerable Junkers Ju 52—was limited, especially in its ability to operate from rough or improvised airfields. As the demands of the war grew, so did the need for an aircraft capable of:

• Carrying heavy, bulky cargo (including light vehicles)
• Taking off and landing from short, muddy, or uneven runways
• Loading and unloading quickly in the field

Thus, engineers at Arado Flugzeugwerke set out to build something entirely new.

Meet the “Millipede”: Wheels, Wheels, and More Wheels

At first sight, the Ar 232 instantly drew attention—not for its speed or armament, but for its landing gear. Where most aircraft sported three main wheels, the Ar 232 famously had dozens of small wheels arranged in lines under the broad fuselage, earning it the nickname “Tausendfüßler” or “Millipede.” In its initial twin-engine version, it sported a total of over 20 wheels (at times up to 22, depending on prototype), with two main nose and tail wheels and a pair of long, low bogies under the belly.

But this was no mere curiosity. The multi-wheel arrangement distributed the Ar 232’s weight over a much larger area, allowing it to operate from fields so soft, muddy, or riddled with shell craters that other aircraft would simply get bogged down or snap their landing gear. The “Millipede” could even taxi over obstacles up to 50 cm high, giving German logistics planners a versatile new tool.

Engineering Innovations: Four Engines, Ramp, and Raised Tail

The earliest Ar 232s used two Bramo 323 radial engines. However, these were soon judged underpowered for the increasing demands of wartime supply. Later models were equipped with four BMW 801 engines, providing the thrust needed to carry heavier cargo loads and improving all-around performance—especially on short or improvised strips.

Yet the Ar 232’s most significant advancements weren’t visible until you looked inside. At a time when most cargo planes were little more than bombers with the bombs removed, the Ar 232 dared to feature:

• A high-mounted tailplane: This T-tail design ensured that the rear cargo doors and ramp were completely unobstructed by horizontal stabilizers, a crucial element for unhindered loading and for operating large, wheeled vehicles.
• A rear loading ramp: This was revolutionary. Few aircraft in the 1940s, even among Allied forces, allowed trucks or artillery pieces to roll directly in and out. The ramp could be lowered to ground level, making it possible for troops, cargo, or light vehicles to board and deplane rapidly—without needing cranes or elaborate ground equipment.

With a rear cargo door spanning the width of the fuselage, Ar 232 crews could load and unload directly from the tail, setting the template for postwar legends like the C-130 Hercules, Transall C-160, and C-17 Globemaster III.

Built for the Battlefield: Performance at the Front

The Ar 232’s true value emerged in practice. On the muddy, chaotic airfields of the Eastern Front, ordinary transports would often grind to a halt in the mire. The “Millipede,” however, could roll in, deliver supplies, and depart again where no other aircraft dared. Its spacious fuselage swallowed medical equipment, munitions, paratroopers, and small vehicles.

The four-engine Ar 232B, albeit produced in small numbers, boasted cargo loads over 8,000 kg and could cruise at over 200 mph. Defensive armament was minimal, trusting speed and rapid turnaround to keep it out of harm’s way.

Rare but Influential

Despite its promise, only a handful of Ar 232s were built before the factories and war priorities shifted. Operational use was limited, with just a few machines making it to frontline service where their capabilities were both admired and envied—not least by the Allies, who captured several intact examples and studied them closely.

The Millipede’s Enduring Legacy

While the Arado Ar 232 itself disappeared into the annals of rare warplanes, the ideas it pioneered are everywhere in the world of modern airlift:

• High T-tails and rear ramps? Standard today, rare in 1941.
• Multiwheel, short-field landing gear? Now a requirement for tactical transports.
• Emphasis on quick, all-weather, all-terrain cargo operations? Absolutely critical for every major modern military force.

The Ar 232 was the unsung ancestor of every airlifter that followed, a machine ahead of its time. Few aircraft can claim to have been “the first” to roll a jeep or artillery piece directly down a ramp and onto a battlefield.

In the rolling thunder of its engines and the clatter of its many wheels, the Arado “Millipede” taught the world that the true secret to military air power wasn’t just about speed or firepower—but about being able to keep the fight supplied, anywhere, anytime, whatever the conditions on the ground. A humble, odd-looking bridge to the age of the airlifter, it remains a testament to wartime ingenuity and the power of thinking far ahead of the curve.