Best Jet of the War?

[the lancaster kicks ass]

could just be the disk.............

 

[Nonskimmer]

Well that'd be a new one, on me. I've never heard of that before!

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

parhaps if i put the disc in upside down...............

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The V-1 (also known as a flying bomb, buzz bomb or doodlebug) was a pilotless monoplane that was powered by a pulse-jet motor and carried a one ton warhead. They were launched from a fixed ramp and travelled at about 350mph and 4,000ft and had a range of 150 miles (240km). It was 8 metres (25 feet) long and had a wingspan of about 5.5 metres (20 feet).

Germany launched its new weapon from Pas-de-Calais on the northern coast of France, on 12th June, 1944. The first ten failed to reach the country but on the following day one landed in Essex. Over the next few months 1,435 hit south-east England. These attacks created panic in Britain and between mid June and the end of July, around one and a half million people left London.

Germany fired 9,521 V-I bombs on southern England. Of these 4,621 were destroyed by anti-aircraft fire or by RAF fighters such as the new turbojet fighter, the Gloster Meteor. An estimated 6,184 people were killed by these flying bombs. By August only 20 per cent of these bombs were reaching England.

 

[Anonymous]

Random fact on the V-1 - Approx. 7000 were launched at Britain which accounted for just over 6000 deaths.

Pretty darn expensive way to kill civilians huh?

Historical note: The USA copied the V-1 under project MX544, designating it the JB-2 (USAAF)/KUW-1 (USN) with some minor changes.

USAAF JB-2 / JB-1

Despite the V-1's limitations, the US military was very interested in it. In contrast to the bumbling American efforts in radio-controlled flying bombs such as the BQ weapons, the German V-1 looked pretty good, and in July 1944 captured V-1 components were shipped to Wright-Patterson Field in Ohio for evaluation. Within three weeks, the USAAF and American industry had built their own V-1, which was designated the "Jet Bomb 2 (JB-2)".

In August, the USAAF placed an order for 1,000 JB-2s with improved guidance systems: Ford built the pulse-jet engine, designated "PJ-31"; Republic built the airframe; and other manufacturers built the control systems, launch rockets, launch frames, and remaining components.

The JB-2s were launched off a rail with a solid rocket booster, in contrast to the somewhat complicated steam catapult system used by the Germans. Two versions were built, one with a gyroscopic guidance system like that used with the V-1, and the other with a radio-radar guidance system.

The USAAF then experimented with air-launching the JB-2. Most of the launches were from a B-17 bomber, though some were performed from B-24s and B-29s. The Air Force was so enthusiastic with the results that they increased the order for JB-2s to 75,000 in January 1945. However, the end of the war in August dampened enthusiasm for the weapon, and the program was terminated in September of that year after 1,200 had been built.
http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=1362

The intent was to use these to deliver nerve gas and/or anthrax if Japan refused to surrender by the intended invasion date (Jan 1946?). There are numerous small islands around Japan which would have brought almost the whole country within the 200 mile range of these weapons.

=S=

Lunatic

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 17 ft. 8 in.
Length: 27 ft. 1 in.
Height: 4 ft. 8 in.
Weight: 5,023 lbs. loaded
Armament: 2,100 lb. high-explosive warhead
Engine: Ford PJ-31-F-1 of 900 lbs. thrust (copy of German Argus-Schmidt pulse-jet)

PERFORMANCE
Operating speed: 375-400 mph
Launching speed: 220 mph
Range: 150 miles
Operating Altitude: 2,000 to 4,000 ft.

 

[Anonymous]

SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 17 ft. 8 in.
Length: 27 ft. 1 in.
Height: 4 ft. 8 in.
Weight: 5,023 lbs. loaded
Armament: 2,100 lb. high-explosive warhead
Engine: Ford PJ-31-F-1 of 900 lbs. thrust (copy of German Argus-Schmidt pulse-jet)

PERFORMANCE
Operating speed: 375-400 mph
Launching speed: 220 mph
Range: 150 miles
Operating Altitude: 2,000 to 4,000 ft.

Actual US studies indicated the range could be extended to 200 miles - perhaps at a lower speed.

It's not very easy to find, but there is substantial evidence that the intended warheads would be chemical/biological. In fact, it was Churchill's intent to drop Anthrax on Germany in 1944, but the US dragged its feet on providing him with the bombs.

=S=

Lunatic

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Anthrax a nasty bio weapon.

 

[plan_D]

And there's the firing platform for the Loon.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

interesting though, how the V-1 pretty much paved the way for the cruise missiles that we use today.

 

[plan_D]

And the V-2 (and Von Braun - member of SS and technology director of the Nazi party) paved the way for ICBMs and space travel.

 

[GermansRGeniuses]

I wonder how an HWK rocket motor from the Me-163 would do in the V-1 if they were to be used as short-range battlefield artillery...


The mind boggles...

 

[plan_D]

What's the point, they used the Nerbel-Werfer instead...

 

[GermansRGeniuses]

True, true...


Had forgotten the "Fog-Thrower!"

Still, I think it could be a good rocket delivery motor, at least when dropping airborne, like for a large anti-ship or armor rocket, coupled with a big warhead...

 

[plan_D]

Anti-shipping would have been its best role, certainly.

 

[GermansRGeniuses]

Yep, the speed of the weapon coupled with a large warhead with a shaped charge would pierce armor well!

 

[plan_D]

If you're air-launching it then drop down to just above sea-level and fire straight into the ships side, it wouldn't stand a chance. Although, it is dangerous with that engine...that tended to explode...

 

[GermansRGeniuses]

They could always create a fuse mechanism...


That way, when dropped in a dive, the rocket would drop, a fuse would be struck, and while a safe difference from the mothership, it would automatically light...


Something like that - Clever those Germans were, they'd figure something out...

 

[plan_D]

I'm sure they would, that does actually sound like a good idea. You'd have been a good use to the German war machine.

They did still have the Henschel Remote Bombs though, that did quite a bit of damage. Or you could have a Stuka dive on the ship with a SC1000...

 

[GermansRGeniuses]

Stuka = Junk...


He-177, Ju-188/288, or Do-217 would make a good launch platform, I feel...


Though the Henschel bombs and torpedos were effective...