V2 (missile)

The rocket S V2 are the first operational rockets or ballistic missiles with being developed by the German at the time of the Second world war.

History

V2 were conceived at the experimental station of the German army of Peenemünde and Blizna thanks to the German engineer Wernher von Braun, then manufactured in series.

The letter V , usually used within the meaning of Versuch (prototype) means Vergeltung here, i.e. “reprisals” or Vergeltungswaffe " arms with représailles". Indeed, V2 were launched in answer to the Bombardement S Alliés.

The first successful flight of V2 took place in October 1942; the rocket reached a Altitude of 85 km and a speed of Mach 5. The first test had taken place little before the war on a reduced model, baptized A5, which had reached: 13000 meters of altitude before its engine explodes.

Starting from 1944, V2 were operational as ballistic missiles, but they did not bring the superiority discounted by the Germans in the Second world war, because of their inaccuracy (several hundred meters) and of their relatively weak destroying effect (" seulement" 1000 kg of traditional explosive). Taking into account its speed and of its trajectory " in cloche" , V2 was vulnerable only during a few seconds, at the time of its takeoff. None could be intercepted.

During the fall of first V2 on London, nobody understood at the time that it was about a bomb: V2 arrived at a speed of Mach 3,5, higher than that of the sound - thus in total silence - contrary to the V1 which had a humming characteristic evoking the engine of a motor cycle. One accepted the explosion of building due to gas until the discovery of the remains of the conduit.

Use

A first shooting had been envisaged the September 6th, since the Plateau of the Sizes, but of the technical troubles and the advance of the Allied ones which had crossed the Meuse forced the Germans to approach their border. First V2 was thus drawn the September 8th 1944 since Gouvy in Belgium in direction from Paris. In 5 minutes, it reached Houses-Alfort, in Parisian suburbs, where it made about thirty victims.

In all: 4000 machines were built to be launched towards the England and London, under very hard conditions for the prisoners assigned to these forced labors (underground factory of Dora). V2 killed twice more Déporté S in Germany that civilians in England.

Brought very late into service, V2 were launched since sites that the advance of the allied troops forced to move several times: with the Netherlands starting from the area of Middelburg and especially $the Hague (allowing to reach London) then Rijs (area of Norfolk), Hellendorn and Dalsfem (towards Belgium); in Belgium and the Rhineland, launching took place since Saint-Vith and Mertzig towards Paris, then neighborhoods of Coblentz (Euskirchen and Hachenburg) towards the north of France and Belgium. The last batteries were installed in the area of Münster, aiming Antwerp and Liege.

In spite of the damage inflicted with the infrastructures of manufacture and launching: 1560 V2 were launched between on September 8th and the end of 1944, mainly towards London (450) and Antwerp (920), but also towards Norwich (40), Liege (25), Paris (20) like worms Lille, Tourcoing, Maastricht, Hasselt, etc

Shootings of: 1500 other V2 continued until the March 27th 1945 mainly from $the Hague, always towards London - principal civil target of the Germans and Antwerp like worms some targets military. The last rockets were drawn towards the Kent.

On the whole the area of London accepted: 1350 V2 and that of Antwerp more: 1600, making mainly civilian victims.

Characteristics of a4/V2

Rocket engine with liquid propellents

carbinol (Methanol) (: 3710 kg)
Oxygen liquid (: 4900 kg)

Weight with launching: : 13000 kg
Other fluids: hydrogen peroxide (130 kg); sodium permanganate (16 kg); Nitrogen (15 kg)
Pushed on takeoff: : 25000 kg
Time of combustion: 65 S
Maximum speed: : 5400 km/h
maximum Altitude: 96 km
Carried: 320 km
Explosive load: 738 kg with the problem of the heating during the flight (until: 1200 °C on the surface)

Derived versions

Three derived versions from V2 were studied: A4b, equipped like an apparatus with research aerodynamic, A9, an intercontinental bomber and A6, an apparatus of recognition high-altitude and high-speed.

Characteristic of the EWM A4b:

Propulsion: Rocket engine EMW of: 25300 kg of thorough
Maximum speed: : 7290 km/h
Mass: : 16260 kg charge
Envergure with it: 3,5 Meter S with the wings
Length: 14,2 meters
Warhead: 1 ton of Amatol
Carried: 800 km

Characteristic of the EWM A9:

Propulsion: Rocket engine EMW of: 25300 kg of thorough
Maximum speed:: 10500 km/h
Mass:: 16260 kg (for A9)
Scale: 3,5 meters
Length: 14,2 meters
Warhead: 1 ton of Amatol
Carried:: 4300 km with stage A10

Outside, the project was presented in the form of A4 (V2) increased. The first stage was to be A-10 with an operating time 50 seconds. Two versions were considered, the first using a beam of 6 engines of V2 with a common conduit, the second, only one more powerful rocket engine. After the operation of the first stage, the second separated and took over.

At the beginning, it was envisaged to use either V2, or A4b not controlled (V2 with wings), and with a push reaching 30 tons. The maximum altitude reached by the second stage culminated to 330 km and speed after extinction of the engines was calculated with: 10200 km/h! The maximum mass on takeoff was estimated at 85 tons. If a second winged stage were used, the maximum range was of: 4800 km with a warhead of a ton. With this range, Washington and New York could have been attacked since sites in Europe.

A9 was a derivative of controlled a4b program. Wind tunnel tests showed that the wings standard “delta” reduced the Traînée substantially and increased the range. Because of the weak development of the equipment of guidance of the time, A9 was to be controlled to reach its targets.

Characteristic of the EWM A6:

Propulsion: Rocket engine EMW of: 12474 kg of thorough + a Ramjet of the unknown type
Maximum speed:: 2900 km/h
Combustive Fuel/ M-Stoff (Methanol) & A-Stoff (liquid oxygen)
Scale: 6,33 meters
Length: 15,75 meters
Altitude:: 95000 meters
Carried: 800 km

A6 should have been a research program Hypersonique, including/understanding a auxiliary Statoréacteur, only used with very high-speeds. This was envisaged on this apparatus with the apogee of the trajectory, very high-speed and after exhaustion of the fuel of the principal Moteur-fusée. The ramjet (burning synthetic oil) then gave to A6 the possibility of continuing its flight for twenty or thirty minutes additional without lose speed or of altitude.

Assessment

Churchill could be ironical about the weak tactical results of V2: In the place of Hitler, I would have made shoot the engineer who made me build such an expensive weapon and also not very effective . Indeed, V2 was a weapon practically imparable (contrary with the V1), but which asked for a manufacture long and complex for less than one ton of explosive and a poor detail. No military or industrial target notable was struck by V2. Its role especially was of Propagande, to maintain the illusions Führer and the German opinion, persuaded that the secret Armes were going to turn over the fate of the war.

Tactical failure, it is however a brilliant technical success: V2 is directly at the origin of the intercontinental missiles, but also of the Space flight and the Space conquest.

If the Bataille of heavy water had not prevented other German laboratories from developing the nuclear weapon, V2 would have appeared an absolute weapon.

The technology of V2 was exploited by the allies after the end of the world war. With the the United States, shootings of tests of V2 were carried out since the Launching base of White Sands with the New Mexico. In addition, the first two launchings since Cap Canaveral in July 1950, were made with Bumper , were composed of surmounted modified V2 of a rocket WAC Corporal . The rockets Bumper were useful for technological tests and the study of high the Atmosphère.

The Soviets, who had inherited the site of Peenemünde and part of the technicians remained in Eastern Germany, also integrated the technology of V2 in their space program.

Finally, the English and the French also re-used the technology and the men of V2.

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