Описание "Фау-2" по Джейнз:
V-2 (A-4)
Type
Short-range, surface-based, liquid propellant, single warhead ballistic missile.
Development
In the early 1930s the Germans began development of two `V', for Vengeance, weapons: the V-1, a cruise missile, and the V-2 ballistic missile. The development of the V-2 ballistic missile was an Army programme under the direction of Captain Walter Dornier and Wernher von Braun. The first rocket, Aggregate 1 (A-1), which blew up when tested in 1932, was built for static tests only. In 1934 two A-2 rockets were successfully test flown and climbed to altitudes of about 2,400 m. The A-3 was purely a research vehicle incorporating for the first time stabilising fins as well as exhaust jet deflectors, and a recovery parachute. This was tested several times between 1935 and 1937. The major project was to be a large artillery rocket (ballistic missile) designated A-4. Parts of the design were tested on a small scale rocket designated A-5. The first A-5 was launched in mid-1938, without a guidance system, and reached a height of 12,800 m. The A-5 remained the standard test vehicle until 1942, when the first successful launch of an A-4 (now the V-2) took place at the German Army Test Centre at Peenemunde. In May 1943 there was a `shoot-off' at Peenemunde between the V-1 and V-2, at which the two V-1s failed while the V-2s were successful; however, the decision was made to proceed with both projects. After this, mobile V-2 batteries were organised and deployed to coastal sites. The first V-2 attack on the UK was launched on 8 September 1944 from a site near The Hague in The Netherlands. Between then and 27 March 1945 (last launch of a V-2 against the Allies) firings were also made against targets in northern France and Belgium.
Description
The V-2 was a single-stage, liquid-propelled ballistic missile, which had the general appearance of a large streamlined bomb with a pointed nose and four large clipped delta stabilising fins at its base. The nose section of the missile contained a 1,000 kg warhead with 750 kg high-explosive and an impact fuze. Behind this was the radio set (FUMG) and autopilot guidance system. The central body section contained the methyl alcohol and liquid oxygen tanks in tandem, and the rear section the motor assembly electric power generator, and control hydraulics. In the tip of each stabilising fin were small electrically operated, rectangular aerodynamic rudders, which were mechanically coupled to four jet exhaust deflectors. The radio antennae formed part of the fin trailing-edges. The V-2 was 14.00 m long, had a maximum body diameter of 1.65 m, a finspan of 3.56 m, and weighed 12,900 kg at launch. Guidance was by radio-command assisted by a three-axis gyro-control system working the exhaust deflectors and fin tip rudders. The radio commands were only used to monitor the boost phase trajectory, and to close down the motor when the correct velocity has been reached. The V-2 was designed to be road and rail mobile, and could be erected, fuelled, checked out and vertically launched from any hard surface in about 1 hour. It reached an apogee of about 85 km, had a maximum velocity of 1.6 km/s and a maximum range of 350 km with a Circular Error of Probability (CEP) of 15 to 20 km.
Operational status
The V-2 was successfully tested in 1942 and entered operational service in 1944. Between September 1944 and March 1945, some 4,300 were launched at a rate of around 20 per day. Of these 1,359 were launched against London, of which 1,054 (78 per cent) actually struck somewhere in England, and of those 517 landed inside the 1,890 km2 area of Greater London killing 2,480 people. The US Army captured the V-2 manufacturing plant at Nordhausen in April 1945, and one month later Wernher von Braun surrendered to the US Army after fleeing west from Peenemunde.
The US Army took over 100 complete missiles back to the USA for testing at the White Sands Missile Range, where they provided invaluable data for the beginning of America's missile programme. In February 1949 the US used a V-2 as the boost stage for the Bumper WAC rocket, which was the first vehicle to penetrate space. The UK rebuilt eight V-2s and tested three successfully in late 1945. On 4 May 1945 the Russians captured and took control of Peenemunde and many of its scientists and engineers. In 1950 they produced their first ballistic missile the SS-1A `Scunner', which was also a direct derivative of the V-2.
Specifications
Length: 14.00 m
Body diameter: 1.65 m
Launch weight: 12,900 kg
Payload: Single warhead; 1,000 kg
Warhead: 750 kg HE
Guidance: Command and inertial
Propulsion: Liquid propellant
Range: 350 km
Accuracy: 15,000 to 20,000 m CEP
Contractor
The V-2 was designed at the German Army Test Centre at Peenemunde (HVP).
и больше уже просто физически не могли.