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Missiles and Rockets of the Nazi era.
In the collection of the Imperial War Museum at
R.A.F.Cosford,Shropshire,England.
Link to official site
Link to site with extensive textual info' and good pics on most
of the models featured here
V1
Click the picture for more details
Rheintochter
Click the picture for more details
V2
Click the picture for more details
Enzian
Enzian (Gentian Violet) Manufacturer: Messerschmitt AG 1943.Surface
to Air (SAM)
Range: 16miles. 25kms Guidance: Radio. Propulsion:
Rocket with boost motor assistance for launch.
Control: Aerodynamic (Elevons)
More details
Hagelkorn BV246
Hagelkorn BV 246 (Hailstone) Air to Surface (ASM) Tactical. Manufacturer:
Blohm und Voss 1943.
Range: 130 miles.209kms. Guidance: Radio Command
Link. Propulsion: None.
Control: Aerodynamic. Notes: essentially a 'glide
bomb' with excellent aerodynamic qualities.
More
details
Link to
site with vast amount of info' and great pics
Rocket motor
Ruhrstahl X-4
X-4 Air to Air (AAM) Manufacturer: Ruhrstahl. 1943.
Range: 2.17miles. 3.5kms.
Guidance: Wire. Propulsion: Rocket (BMW) Control:
Aerodynamic (control surfaces at rear)
Notes: this weapon established the AAM as a practical
concept and demonstrated the immunity
to countermeasures that is obtained through the use of wire guidance.
Link to great site with tons of info' and pics
Wasserfall
Model of theWasserfall. The Wasserfall missile was developed
at Peenemünde concurrently with the
V-2 missile, and was one of the earliest attempts to develop
a guided anti-aircraft missile.
A supersonic missile, it would reach speeds of 770 m/s (about
1700 mph). Guidance
was to be a combination of radar and radio control, with an operator
on the ground
steering it toward the radar return of enemy bombers. An acoustic
proximity fuse would
detonate the warhead when it got close enough to its target.
(left to right) Wasserfall compared to Rheintochter
Link
to site containing vast amount of info and pics of the Wasserfall
Henschel HS298
Henschel HS298
The HS298 was the first Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) in the
world to be successfully built and developed.
The missile used a twist-and-steer control system based on ailerons
on each of the mid-mounted
swept wings. The tail used elevators although the need for a
rudder was overcome by use of the
twist-and-steer system.The 25kg (55lb) explosive warhead was
detonated on
receipt of a coded pulse transmitted from the launch aircraft,
over the radio command link.
It is believed that a proximity fuse was eventually fitted to
replace the coded signal.
The lower nose of the missile carried a windmill generator supplying
power for guidance and control.
The project, in common with most German missile development,
was abandoned in 1944
as resources became scarce.
Link
to site with amazing pics of the HS298
Rheinebote
Rheinbote
Centre of picture, standing vertically. Rheinbote. Surface
to Surface (SSM) Land tactical.
Manufacturer: Rheinmetall-Borsig. 1944. Range: 135miles.
218kms.
Guidance: Unguided -aimed at target via line of sight.Propulsion:
Rocket.
Control: None.Stability was maintained in flight through
canted fins creating a spin.
Notes: the Rheinbote is particularly notable for its remarkable
maximum velocity of
Mach 5.55 or 4,224 mph (6,800km/h)a missile velocity not repeated
until the era of Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles.
Link
to French site with amazing pics
Fuerlilie (Firelily) F55 and Butterfly HS117
On the Right in Silver: Fuerlilie
F55 (Fire Lilly) Surface to Air (SAM) Manufacturer: Rheinmetal-Borsig.
1944.
Designed for research and development. Range: 4.7 miles.
7.5kms. Propulsion: Liquid
or solid fuel rocket with solid fuel boosters. Guidance: None.
Control: Aerodynamic
On the left in Red. Schmetterling
HS 117 (Butterfly) Surface to Air (SAM)
Manufacturer: Henschel. 1943.Guidance: Radio. Propulsion:
Rocket with boost motor
assistance for launch. Control: Aerodynamic (Wagner bars
on the wings)
Notes: Used initially for visual engagements, the warhead
being detonated by the operator.
more details
Link
to site with plenty of info and great pics of the Firelily
Link
to site (Russian?) with some interesting pics of the HS117
Link
to site (Italian?) site with amazing pics of the HS117
HS293
HS293. Air to Surface (ASM) Tactical. Manufacturer: Henschel.
1943.Range: 11miles.18kms.
Propulsion: Rocket, duration: 10 seconds. Control:
Aerodynamic.
Notes: The HS293 was the first ASM in the world to sink
a ship - HMS Egret on 27th.August 1943.
More details
Link to
(Russian?) site with amazing pics
Tyfun (Typhoon)
Taifun (Typhoon) Surface to Air (SAM) Manufacturer: EMW
1945. Range: 5 miles. Guidance: None.
Propulsion: Rocket. Control: None - spin stabilised.
Fired in groups of 30 from a modified gun mounting.
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