rmp@Eng.Sun.COM (Richard Pottorff) (01/23/91)
From: rmp@Eng.Sun.COM (Richard Pottorff) I remember reading about the German's V-1s (buzz bombs) and V-2s that were launched at England in WWII. The buzz bombs were fairly easily shot down, but there was no warning for the V-2s. I'd like someone in the know about the V-1s, V-2s, and SCUDS to post a comparison of them: Payload, Range, Max Velocity, Propellants, etc. As a bit of humor, Saddam Hussein has shot down at least 11 of our Patriot missles with his SCUDs. Rick
msjohnso@ensub.Wichita.NCR.COM (Mark Johnson) (02/04/91)
From: msjohnso@ensub.Wichita.NCR.COM (Mark Johnson) Richard Pottorff writes: > >I'd like someone in the know about the V-1s, V-2s, and SCUDS to post >a comparison of them: Payload, Range, Max Velocity, Propellants, etc. V-1 (proper name Fi-103) Payload: 2000 lbs Amatol Range: 175-200 mi Propulsion System: Gasoline-fed pulsejet (LOUD) Launcher: Fixed-site 'ski jump' about 100 yards long Velocity: < 400 kt (interceptible with Hawker Tempest) Altitude: usually less than 5000 feet. Guidance: Simple 2-axis autopilot. Locked elevator in full down position when fuel exhausted. [The first cruise missile] V-2 (proper name A-4) Payload: 2000 lbs Amatol Range: 175-200 mi Propulsion System: Ethanol (80%) and LOX, pure rocket. Launcher: Truck-mounted platform. Velocity: > 2000 kt (detectible on radar but not interceptible) Altitude: 60 mi at apogee Guidance: Gyroscopic autopilot with guide vanes in rocket exhaust. The V-2 and the SCUD are fairly comparable; the SCUD probably is somewhat more accurate...I've never seen any CEP estimates for the V-2 but I'd have to guess it was no better than 2-3 miles, if that good. Because of its airplane-like altitude and speed, the V-1 was very vulnerable to coastal antiaircraft fire and fast fighter interception. Some V-1's were downed by Tempest pilots without a shot--they placed their wing above one wing of the V-1, breaking its lift and causing it to roll over...the autopilot couldn't recover from more than about a 15-20 degree roll and the bomb would spin in to open country (ref: _The Big Show_, by Pierre Clostermann, now Air Minister of France, then a Free French pilot with the RAF). -- Mark Johnson WB9QLR/0 NCR Peripheral Products Division Mark.Johnson@Wichita.NCR.COM 3718 N. Rock Rd. (316) 636-8189 NAR #14025 Wichita, KS 67226
fiddler@Eng.Sun.COM (Steve Hix) (02/05/91)
From: fiddler@Eng.Sun.COM (Steve Hix) In article <1991Feb4.071827.23373@cbnews.att.com>, msjohnso@ensub.Wichita.NCR.COM (Mark Johnson) writes: > airplane-like altitude and speed, the V-1 was very vulnerable to coastal > antiaircraft fire and fast fighter interception. Some V-1's were downed by > Tempest pilots without a shot--they placed their wing above one wing of the > V-1, breaking its lift and causing it to roll over...the autopilot couldn't > recover from more than about a 15-20 degree roll and the bomb would spin in > to open country (ref: _The Big Show_, by Pierre Clostermann, now Air Minister > of France, then a Free French pilot with the RAF). The pilot usually (if using the tipping method) would put his wing *under* the V-1's wing, then tipping it away and tumbling the gyros. Spoiling the lift on the V-1's wing would cause it to roll *toward* you... surely a CLM*. This from a friend who flew RAF Spitfires and Typhoons, 485 (NZ) Squadron. He never went after a V-1, but he knew "Tiffy" pilots who did. (Shooting one down wasn't a really good idea: if close enough to reliably hit the thing, you were likely to be too close when it went *bang*!) * CLM = Career-Limiting Maneuver -- ------------ The only drawback with morning is that it comes at such an inconvenient time of day. ------------
thos@softway.sw.oz.au (Thomas Cohen) (02/07/91)
From: thos@softway.sw.oz.au (Thomas Cohen) In article <1991Feb5.044322.6890@cbnews.att.com> fiddler@Eng.Sun.COM (Steve Hix) writes: > >He never went after a V-1, but he knew "Tiffy" pilots who did. (Shooting >one down wasn't a really good idea: if close enough to reliably hit the >thing, you were likely to be too close when it went *bang*!) > Interestingly enough, when they did blow up a V1 in mid air (using 20mm cannons, you could probably do this 400m away) they invariably flew throught the explosion and came out upside down. It seems that once there was no air pressure on the wings in the vacuum of the explosion, the propeller of the Typhoon had enough torque to flip the plane. Apparently confused them mightily for a while. Of course, this wouldn't have happened with a Meteor, but the debris would be more likely to damage the engines. -- thos cohen |Softway Pty Ltd "Stopping to pick up passengers would disrupt |ACSnet: thos@softway.oz the timetable" - Alderman Cholerton, on why|UUCP: ...!uunet!softway.oz!thos the council's buses didn't stop for passengers|Internet: thos@softway.oz.au