DEU - Rheinbote

At the time of the tests of the famous rocket A-4 (V-2) was created in the company Rheinmetall-Borsig design for a remote dust rocket. According to the project, the missile was to bring a 100 kg warhead at a distance of 100-120 km, later the required range values were increased to 160-180 km.

8/1942 began theoretical work on the project under the leadership of designers Klein and Vullers. The first task was to solve the hitherto insufficiently clarified problems of multi-stage missiles. The factory designation was Rh.Z 61/9 Rheinbote, the military designation was R.Spr.Gr.4831. of various sources ranged in values of 1550 - 1750 kg, of which 580 - 590 kg of fuel. The construction used mainly steel components. The warhead weighing 40 kg contained 20 kg of explosives. Its effects due to the construction were explosive. The total length of the missile was 10.8 - 11.2 m. The rocket was fired at an angle of 45-65 ° and the rate of fire was one shot per hour.

Stages of work of individual degrees:
First degree-burning time about 1 second. It dropped out with the help of exhaust gases after the second stage ignition. The second and third scales were identical and had a burning time of 5 seconds. Separation of individual stages proceeded in the same way. After the last rocket engine burned out, the 4th stage with a warhead reached a speed of 1600 - 1640 m/s and covered a distance of 220 km in 225 seconds.

Theoretical work was completed in 1944, when the first prototype was created and experimental tests began. A verification series of 50 missiles was created. The tests began on November 15, 1944 at the Leba shooting range, later continued at the Heidekraut shooting range in Poland. The operational deployment took place in 1/1945, when a special fire unit launched missiles from Dutch territory to the port of Antwerp. After the launch of about 200-220 missiles, the unit was disbanded and the remaining missiles were left to their fate. The results of the project were disappointing. According to the testimony of Gen. Dornberger, who took part in the first tests, the warhead exploded in sandy terrain, creating a crater of small depth and about 1.2 m in diameter.

1. degree
step diameter: 536 mm
length: 1,550 m
stabilizing wing span: 1.5 m
grade weight: 710 kg
rocket engine weight: 470 kg
TPH weight: 240 - 245 kg
type and dimensions THP: seven-hole powdered dust L = 1100 mm
working pressure: 15.7 MPa
rocket engine thrust: 372 kN
activity time: 1s
stage separation distance: 3 km

2. degree
step diameter: 267 mm
length: 2,630 m
stabilization wing span: 1,050 m
grade weight: 380 kg
rocket engine weight: 240 kg
TPH weight: 140 kg
type and dimensions THP: diglycol tube dust 232 x 91.5/2240
working pressure: 14.7 MPa
rocket engine thrust: 54.7 kN
activity time: 5s
stage separation distance: 12 km

3. degree
step diameter: 267 mm
length: 2,630 m
stabilizing wing span: 0.85 m
grade weight: 360 kg
rocket engine weight: 220 kg
TPH weight: 140 kg
type and dimensions THP: diglycol tube dust 232 x 91.5/2240
working pressure: 14.7 MPa
rocket engine thrust: 54.7 kN
activity time: 5s
stage separation distance: 22 km

4.degree
step diameter: 191 mm
length: 3,990 m
stabilizing wing span: 0.6 m
grade weight: 206 kg
rocket engine weight: 100 kg
TPH weight: 60 kg
type and dimensions THP: diglycol tube dust 159 x 59.5/2130
working pressure: 8.8 - 11.8 MPa
rocket engine thrust: 23.5 kN
activity time: 3.5 - 4s
stage separation distance: last stage - impact


After evaluating the tests, the company Rheinmetall-Borsig began to prepare an improved project for a multi-stage operational-tactical missile. It was a three-stage missile capable of transporting a 220 kg warhead at a distance of 160 km. At a distance of 100 km, it was possible to transport a warhead weighing up to 570 kg. According to the project, the rocket was to be 10.53 m long and weighing 2405 kg. Stabilization was again ensured by stabilizing wings. The missile was to be fired from a smooth barrel and therefore the wings of the first stage had to be dismantled. The missile in the barrel gained a speed of 240 m/s. Cadence was to be 4 shots per hour. Due to the absence of recoil equipment and the need to fire from the built position with a concrete opera, the weapon set was to have up to 80 tons, which greatly limited the mobility of the set. The project did not go beyond theoretical considerations. Compared to the previous project, the concept was operationally more reliable and efficient, but the project outlined the proposed method of firing.

1. degree
step diameter: 445 mm
length: 3.45 m
stabilizing wing span: expandable
number of stabilizing wings: 8
grade weight: 1100 kg
engine burn time: 8.6 s

2. degree

step diameter: 394 mm
length: 2.36 m
stabilizing wing span: 0.85 m
number of stabilizing wings: 8
grade weight: 635 kg
engine burn time: 8 s

3. degree
step diameter: 318 mm
length: 2.42 m
stabilizing wing span: 0.85 m
number of stabilizing wings: 4
grade weight: 450 kg
engine burn time: 4 s

Header
step diameter: 318 mm
length: 2.3 m
grade weight: 220 kg

Jiří Kroulík, Bedřich Růžička - Military missiles, Our Army, year of publication 1985, ISBN: ISBN 28-067-85
www.ebay.de

www.zweiterweltkrieg.org

Mě se podařilo zjistit tyto údaje:


Výrobce: Rheinmetall
Celk. délka: 11400 mm
Průměr 1. stupně: 53,5 cm
Průměr 2. a 3. stupně: 26,8 cm
Průměr 4. stupně: 19 cm
Celk. hmotnost: 1,75 t
Hmotnost výbušniny: 20 kg
Hmotnost paliva: 585 kg
Odpáleno: 200 ks
Nasazení: Antverpy
Pokusné střelby: 15.11.1944 (výsledek: kráter širší něco přes metr)

RAF Museum Cosford

source:
www.youtube.com