It is in fact, well known that the strides forward taken by German science in the field of jet propulsion could have taken a heavy toll of the British and American bomber squadrons if they had been applied to priority to fighter interception. In addition to (and in spite of) the delays caused by the bombing of Peenemunde on the night of the August 17-18, 1943, the Luftwaffe was ready to undertake once more its attack on London with the help of its V-I flying bomb and V-2 rocket. The former, flying at a maximum speed of 410 mph, was still within the capacity of fighter defence and anti-aircraft fire, but not so the V-2. This was a real missile in the sense in which we now use the word. It plunged on to its target at a speed close to 2,350 mph and was unstoppable. These missiles, carrying nearly a ton of explosive, had a range of between 190 and 250 miles. Moreover, these terrible weapons were highly economical, both in money and labour. The German Fieseler FZG-76 (V-1) flying bomb Engine: one Argus as 014 pulse jet. 740 Ib static Thrust. Warhead: 1.870 Ib of high explosive. Speed: 410 mph. Range: 150 miles. Ceiling: 9.150 ft. Cruise: 360 mph at 2.500 feet. Weight loaded: 4.858lbs. Span: 17 feet Si inches. Length: 25 feet 4:1 inches. (V stands for VerQelrungswalfe or Revenge Weapon). A captured Fieseler Fi 103, FZG 76 The German Peenemunde A-4 (V-2) ballistic missile Engine: One liquid oxygen- and ethyl alcohol-fuelled liquid propellant rocket. 70,000 Ibs of thrust. Warhead: 2,150 Ibs of high explosive. Speed: 3.440 miles per hour maximum. Range: 185 miles. Weight loaded: 28,500 Ibs. Diameter: 5 feet 5 inches. Height: 46 feet 11 inches. Span: 11 feet 8 inches (across fins).
German Engineers prepare a V-2 Rocket for launching. The V-2 was a more formidable proposition than the V-1 as its approach could not be detected.
(Note to self: get a scanner! ) Found this video of the end a V1, shot down by cannon fire from a Hawker Tempest: http://www.hawkertempest.se/mpg/v1kill.mpa Visit here to see Wing Commander Beaumont explain how to flip a V1 out of control with a wing tip: http://www.hawkertempest.se/movies.htm
Nice find Dave, the Tempest was very close after shooting the Bomb down. It looked as thou it had to fly thru the explosion. Oh, and do look out for a Scanner, they are very usefull.
A good film to see about the V Weapons is Operation Crossbow. Starring George Peppard (Of The A Team fame) some good background stuff on there about the development and production of the weapons and their use against Britain.
Yes in the fact that they used them towards the end of the war and that they were used earlier than was wanted as all the testing was not finished to make it a very accurate and dangerous weapon. Given more time this weapon could have done quite a lot more damage to City's in Britain at the time. Unlike the V1's the public couldn't hear these coming.. i:
V-1 flying bomb was a guided missile used by the German forces during second world war.It was made by so advanced technology that after the war US,France & Russia experimented V-1 to get the technology. V-2 rocket was the first ballistic missile.The most significant feature of V-2 was its speed.It travells at supersonic speed & reaches the target in silence. Both V-1 & V-2 played a vital role for Germany in second world war.
