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GERMAN VENGEANCE WEAPON, V-2THE ROCKET BOMB

Classification cnangea,~ss&> i *by authority f AC of S, G-2, WDGS

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By authorityDate VA@PS.. . /*)hydrogen peroxide turbine unit and two pumps for the liquid oxygen and alcohol

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section two is suitable for measurement of slant range. Equipment in sectionthree is believed to control the elevator air vanes, the fuel cut-off, and anover-ridinf control for section one, as well as such miscellaneous functions asarming the mr bead. Section four hfcuses equipment which mipht be expected tobe used on the ground for transmitting to section three; its presence in theprojectile itself suggests two-way coded communication.

Recent rockets have contained equipment which makes them capable ofcomplete self-guidance, without any use of radio, to a predetermined range andazimuth and over a preselected trajectory during the burning period. However,it is believed that the existing radio equipment in the projectile is used tomake finer adjustments by means of radio-monitored gyros.

FUEL

The rocket obtains its propulsive power from liquid oxygen and alcohol.The rei^ht of fuels necessary to give an average range of 200 miles totalsabout 9c tons and is consumed in 7^ seconds. As the alcohol burns, the liquidoxygen furnishes the necessary accessory for combustion. Both liquids are fedseparately by turbine pumps into 18 jets which open into the combustionchamber. The turbine pumps ere operated by exhaust gases from a smallcombustion daamber using hydrogen peroxide and cAlcium permanganate as fuels.

COMBUSTION CHAMBER

The jets spray the two fuels evenly into the front of the combustion

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^ L^~ ,JThe trajectory of the V-2^?spredetermined before firing. The projectileis launched vertically from a special firing table. Ito initial speed is

slow but increases rapdily. At the end of the burning time of Ik seconds, amaximum speed of some 5,000 feet per second has been attained at a height of 19miles. At this point, 600,000 horsepower 5s developed. The maximum altitudefor a 200 mile range is 58 miles and a time of flight of * minutes. Theoretically the calculated maximum range is 230 miles although the maximum recordedthus far is 210 miles. At its maximum altitude, the speed of the rocket is3,800 feet per second increasing on its downward path to 5,300 feet persecond owing to lack of air resistance in the stratosphere. When the rocketreaches the lower atmosphere where air density is greater, the speed deceleratesto a striking velocity of about 3>7OO feet per second.

LAUNCHING

Unlike the 7-1, the V-2 requires only a very simple launching mechanismand site. The 'launching equipment is portable, consisting only of a metaltable with a water sprayer for cooling. This may be set upon any hard surfacesuch as a paved road. One site discovered in France, although undoubtedlynever used, was located on a leveled area having a group of concrete slabsemplaced in a manner apparently intended to aid the correct and rapid arrangement of the various vehicles required for the fueling and preparation of theprojectile. The prepared sites in France were found to be constructed on, orlevel with, existing tree-lined roads making them easy to camouflage and difficultto detect from the air except when actually in use.

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IAVFRAGE MAN

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NT FOR LARGE ROCKETS(V-2)2 5 M

WARNING SWITCH

15 CMFOR ROTATINGMOUNTING RING TUBULAR STEEL LEGSABOUT1.40 M tv FOR ELEVATINGU MOUNTING RING

THREAD DEVICE FOR RAISINGAND LOWERING THE TABLE

FEET INCORPORATE BALL JOINTAND SELF-LEVELLING DEVICE

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ROCKET TRAJECTORYTIME IN SECONDS

170 3 3 0

END OF (I) BURNING(2) CONTROLSPEED 5,000/SEC BLA ST DAMAGE V4 MILESPEED 3,7007

8 0 100 120 180 2 0 0RANGE IN MILES