V-2 Trivia

• Hitler personally determined the V-2 targets (London, Antwerp, Paris, etc.) He rejected use of the rocket on the Eastern Front
• Von Braun was opposed to the establishment of a V-2 production plant at Peenemuende.
• As early as 1935, in a meeting with General Becker on planning for the A4 and Peenemuende, Von Braun advocated spaceflight as the ultimate program objective.
• Dornberger served under General von Brauchtisch in the Reichswehr. Von Brauchtisch was able to protect the Peenemuende team from takeover attempts by industry, the Air Force, the SS, etc. Speer also was important as a protector. But later even he came into conflict with other groups in the Third Reich, and couldn't prevent the final takeover of the V-2 program by the SS.
• The film cooling used in the V-2's engine had performance penalties but was necessary, since high-quality metals for the nozzle throat were not available at the time
• Oberth's daughter was killed in a liquid oxygen plant explosion.
• Dornberger set up the first school for the rocket troops at Koslin.
• The Schwimmweste project involved a floating Wasserfall test stand, and was not connected to the submarine-towed V-2 as indicated in some histories.
• Rocket team member Konrad Dannenberg obtained his early rocketry experience through involvement with Pullenberg's underground rocket group in Hannover. He also witnessed the Opel rocket rail car tests and heard Max Valier lecture.
• The rocket engineer's efficiency was reduced significantly due to their dispersal after the raid Allied raid on Peenemuende of 17 August 1943
• There were serious problems in getting production drawings out that worked. Parts were often defective. Walter "Papa" Riedel was unfairly dismissed over the problem. In all 65,000 changes were made to the missile design between the decision to put it into production and the end of the war.
• Von Braun wanted another year of development on the A4.
• Dornberger criticized von Braun for not being focused.
• Originally it was planned that a horizontal production line be established at Peenemuende in the Versuchsserienwerk (research series production factory).
• The A7 was a subscale version of the winged A9. Considerable resources were expended on it before its cancellation in 1943.
• The Long Range Bombardment Commission observed a 'fly-off' of the V-1 and V-2 on a visit to Peenemuende. The Commission originated in a Luftwaffe plan to kill the Army's V-2. Instead both missiles were approved for production.
• The Peenemuende engineers were under constant threat of being drafted and sent to the front. Reports and results were expected from each engineer without pause in order to justify his draft exemption.
• Combustion-injection research by an American NACA engineer was used in solving V-2 engine problems. Konrad Dannenberg had seen the NACA report at Hannover while working with Pullenberg.
• As far back as the V-2, Von Braun advocated underestimating costs in order to sell projects to the government.
• In mass production, the V-2's combustion chambers and turbopumps were fabricated and tested separately. Based on these test results, they were matched according to their characteristics and mated on the assembly line.
• Reisig, on the Dornberger staff, had to convey endless changes in the missile to the launch troops.
• The use of highly qualified Peenemuende research and development staff for V-2 production was seen as a big waste of effort.
• Walter Riedel was a talented engineer but his lack of academic qualifications led to conflicts with the graduate engineers on the rocket team. Confusingly, he was replaced by Walther Riedel.
• The He-112 rocket aircraft accident was due to base pressure flame suction. This was a valuable experience when the same effect was observed on the A4.
• After takeover of the project by Kammler and the SS, Dornberger's responsibilities were limited to testing ground equipment and continuing development firings of the V-2 from the Blizna SS range in Poland.
• Rudolph and von Braun laid out their plans for spaceflight at the Kummersdorf officer's club in 1935. These studies were the basis for Von Braun's publications in the 1950s on Mars exploration.
• Thiel deserved much of the credit for development of the V-2 engine. His death in the bombing raid of 17 August 1943 was a big loss. If he had lived, the Peenemuende team could have succeeded in completing development of the Mischduese injector plate engine. This had combustion instability problems that could not be overcome before the end of the war. As a result the complex 18 injector 'basket-head' design had to be put into production instead.
• All Wasserfall launches were made from Greifswalder Oie
• Kurt Debus was in the SS, as was Von Braun.
• Von Braun decided that the V-2 central records would be saved and hidden. All other files and secondary records were intentionally burned in order to give the central records value as a bargaining chip with the Allies after the war.
• There were no significant tension in the V-2 engineering leadership over Nazi Party or political questions.
• The Wolman Doppler tracking system for the A4 was modified to command V-2 engine cut-off by radio. Later the method of calculating the moment of cut-off was changed to integration of inputs from accelerometers due to fear of Allied jamming of the command signals.
• Von Braun was forced to wear his SS uniform by Dornberger for the meeting with Himmler.
• The in-house laboratory concept for guidance-and-control development at Peenemuende was largely forced by the circumstances of heavy time-pressure and lack of experience in the industry. Its creation was not due to the ideology of the engineers.
• Von Braun was more than a manager at Peenemuende. He also contributed valuable technical solutions, notably in the guidance and control areas.
• Von Braun often exhibited anti-Nazi attitudes.
• Wasserfall engine testing finally led to success with the injector plate and a single combustion-chamber motor. The equivalent A4 engine redesign was sidetracked by the urgency to get the missile into mass production.
• The 1.5 tonne thrust engines for the A3 and A5 were designed at Kummersdorf. At Peenemuende separate work was done in developing 1.4 and 4.2 tonne thrust motors to test the A4 injection system.
• Von Braun arrest was personally ordered by Himmler as revenge for Von Braun's resistance to the V-2 team being taken over by the SS
• Modification of the A4 engine was constant due to changes in available steel and other materials.
• Oberth was interrogated by Dr. Theodore von Karman as part of Project Dustbin after the war.
• The method used to transfer the Wasserfall missile from development to production - assignment of Henschel as prime contractor from the beginning of the process - was superior to the V-2 mess.
• The Allied bombing of Peenemuende of August 17, 1943 was disruptive and resulted in the loss of a few months of development and production work due to dispersion and reorganization. However other raids and the daily air raid warnings were taken in stride and were not disruptive of the work.
• The V-2 was not equipped with a range-safety destruct system. The military did not consider the danger sufficient to warrant the extra expense and complexity.
• The A9-A10 transoceanic missile idea was in fact found to be unworkable due to heat transfer issues.
• War shortages of material forced incorporation of new changes to the V-2 during production. Aluminum had to be used for the liquid oxygen tank. A paperboard tank was considered for the alcohol fuel but never put into production.
• Von Braun accepted an "honorary" rank and subsequent promotions in the SS. He purportedly consulted with others in the rocket development group, deciding that his SS membership would be valuable in protecting the project.
• Von Braun's management style stressed the responsibility of individuals, not committees. He was able to talk to everybody at every level. But often his practice of going around intervening management levels and giving orders to someone else's subordinates caused friction
• The working environment at Peenemuende was contrary to normal rules of military life. Although enlisted men were often supervising officers, it worked.
• The Peenemuende engineers had very little direct contact with the regular Army officers, even socially.
• More V-2 missiles were fired at Allied dock facilities at Antwerp than at London
• Oberth was inspired to study how man could reach space during the apparition of Halley's Comet in 1910.
• Von Braun was heard to say that it would have been preferable to develop rocketry for space travel rather than war. But if it was necessary to develop a war rocket to reach space, he was willing to do so. Dornberger ordered von Braun not to mention space in Hitler's presence.
• Discussion of spaceflight at Peenemuende was only done privately. Such discussions were risky and could only take place within a small, selected group of people.
• A key issue in obtaining missile accuracy was monitoring lateral dispersion of the missile due to wind during ascent. Technical approaches included a radio guide beam or accelerometers to measure lateral motion. Both the accelerometer and radio cut-off systems were used in the field, but the radio system was superior in accuracy. It was found that a three-axis platform was needed to make the lateral accelerometer work, and there were big delays in getting a platform system developed.
• The thrust and planned dimensions of the A10 transatlantic rocket first stage were used to determine the size of the research and production shops and test stands at Peenemuende.
• The V-2 engineers often held "parties with rocket fuel" using the ethyl alcohol delivered as propellant for the rocket. In common with later rocketry projects, the engineers were under tremendous strain and worked very hard but remained enthusiastic.
• As opposed to the rocket diehards, for most people at Peenemuende the working environment was "nothing special".
• The development of the V-2 guidance system evolved as follows:
  • The A3 system
  • The Sg 52 platform and control system developed for the A5 in 1938-39 This was a stable control system based on rate gyros, but was found not to be an ideal solution
  • The Sg 64 improved system developed for the A5 and tested in launches
  • The Sg 66 developed by Kreiselgeraete in 1940-42 for the A4. This electromechanical control system used unbalanced gyro accelerometers and a 'Mischgeraet' (mixing device) to combine inputs, thereby eliminating the need for rate gyros. However Kreiselgeraete was only experienced in naval equipment, and applying the principle to rocket guidance was completely foreign to them. Nevertheless, since Kreiselgeraete was a small company, they could respond with flexibility and speed to the rocket team's requests.

    Siemens developed an alternate system based on two gyros to determine attitude and follow a fixed-plane pitch program. The Siemens system was favored up to mid-1942 due to its production simplicity. Siemens also had a greater manufacturing and technical capacity. But its large size made it unresponsive to the rapid pace of development. A surplus Siemens guidance system, or an American copy, was used for the Explorer I launch in 1958.

    A third system by Askania-Moeller was briefly put into development, but quickly abandoned.

  • The Kreiselgeraete Sg 70 platform was designed as a replacement for the Sg 66 to eliminate aluminum gimbals in 1944-1945. Kreiselgeraete's development labs were evacuated to Sudetenland in 1943 after air raids in Berlin, impacting development after that date.
• The basic A4-A5 aerodynamic configuration was based on the shape of the Wehrmacht "S" model bullet. Refinements were made by trial and error tests in Hermann and Wieselsberger's wind tunnel at Aachen.
• One of von Braun's unique contributions was emphasizing horizontal communication between groups to solve problems. He was the primary initiator of this management concept.
• Von Braun was a late-riser.
• The Peenemuende engineers were poorly prepared for the conversion from laboratory development to production of the A4. Over 65,000 changes were made to the missile.
• Klaus Riedel was not effective as head of test stand work. Thereafter Von Braun assigned him to development of the mobile launch system for A4, where he was very successful.
• Regener was interested in use of the V-2 for scientific research in the ultraviolet and cosmic ray portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Meetings were held in Friedrichshafen in 1943 to discuss the "Regener Tonne" (Regener one-ton scientific payload). Groettrup was highly involved in this project.
• Kammler wanted to launch test V-2's from Heidelager and Heidekraut against Polish towns behind the Russian lines, but the Army blocked the move.
• The in-house research-and-development philosophy of the Von Braun team resulted in problems in getting manufacturers for production. Materials problems made it difficult to get good production quality from contractors.

V-2 Statistics

Oberth sounding rocket German sounding rocket. Rocket pioneer Hermann Oberth agreed to build and fly a liquid propellant rocket to publicize the Fritz Lang film Frau im Mond. Oberth's design was too ambitious and the rocket was never completed in time for the film's premiere. But the engine developed for it would be further refined and used in the Mirak rocket, flown in 1931-1933.

Mirak Mirak - a 'Minimum Rocket' - was conceived by Rudolf Nebel to demonstrate the practicality of the liquid rocket, using the thrust chamber developed for the abandoned Oberth rocket. Mirak was realized not by Nebel, but talented engineer Riedel. It flew over 100 times in 1931-1932 and convinced the German Army of the practicality of the rocket as a weapon of war.

A1 German test vehicle. First in series of rockets leading to V-2. Exploded at Kummersdorf during a test run. Considered aerodynamically unstable (a stabilizing flywheel was mounted forward) and no launch attempts were made.

A2 German test vehicle. First flight test rocket in the series that led to the V-2. Two were built, dubbed Max and Moritz. Both were successfully flown.

A3 German test vehicle. The A3 was the first large rocket attempted by Wernher von Braun's rocket team. It was equipped with an ambitious guidance package consisting of three gyroscopes and two integrating accelerometers. The rocket was intended as a subscale prototype for the propulsion and control system technology planned for the much larger A4. All of the launches were failures, and a total redesign, the A5, was developed.

A5 German test vehicle. Subscale test model of A4 (V-2). Replaced the A3 in this role after its unsuccessful test series. The A5 used the same powerplant as the A3, but had the aerodynamic form of the A4 and a new control system. 25 all-up versions were flown, some several times.

A7 German test vehicle. Subscale test model of the A9 rocket. Considered for use as a weapon as well.

A8 German ballistic missile. Planned stretched version of the V-2 with storable propellants. Never reached the hardware stage, but design continued after the war in France as the 'Super V-2'.

A6 German intermediate range cruise missile. The A6 designation was applied to a version of the A5 subscale V-2 using alternate propellants. It also seems to have been applied to a manned, ramjet-powered version of the A9 winged V-2.

A-4b German intermediate range boost-glide missile. Winged version of the V-2 missile with over double the range. Two flown at the end of the war, but there was no time to complete development, let alone start production.

A9/A10 German intercontinental boost-glide missile. The A9/A10 was the world's first practical design for a transatlantic ballistic missile. Design of the two stage missile began in 1940 and first flight would have been in 1946. Work on the A9/A10 was prohibited after 1943 when all efforts were to be spent on perfection and production of the A4 as a weapon-in-being. Von Braun managed to continue some development and flight tests of the A9 under the cover name of A4b (i.e. a modification of the A4, and therefore a production-related project). In late 1944 work on the A9/A10 resumed under the code name Projekt Amerika, but no significant hardware development was possible after the last test of the A4b in January 1945.

A9/A10/A11 German winged orbital launch vehicle. The A11 was planned at Peenemuende to use the A9/A10 transoceanic missile atop the tubby A11 stage to form the basis for launching the first earth satellite - or as an ICBM....

A9/A10/A11/A12 German orbital launch vehicle. The A12 has been named as the designation for a true orbital launch vehicle, as sketched out at Peenemuende. It would have been a four-stage vehicle consisting of the A9+A10+A11+A12 stages. Calculations suggest it could have placed 10 metric tons into low earth orbit.

Tikhonravov Suborbital Soviet space pioneer Tikhonravov proposed a V-2-launched manned capsule to Stalin in June 1946. Had his plan been approved, the Soviet Union may have put the first man in space in 1948. Instead, Stalin decided to stop the V-2 production in Germany and move everything to Russia.

Megaroc In December 1946 R A Smith proposed launch of a British pilot into space atop a heavily modified V-2. The proposal was rejected, and the first British citizen would not fly into space until 45 years later, when Helen Sharman visited the Mir space station.

Super V-2 French intermediate range ballistic missile. Developed version of German A9 studied by the German team in France in 1946-1948. Cancelled as too ambitious, but led to the Veronique of the 1950's, the Diamant of the 1960's, and the Ariane space booster of 1979-2003.

Bumper-WAC German short range ballistic test vehicle. Pioneering US demonstration of a two stage launch vehicle, coupling a V-2 with a WAC Corporal. The first ballistic missile fired from Cape Canaveral.

R-2 Russian intermediate range ballistic missile. The Soviet R-2 ballistic missile was developed in 1947-1953, nearly in parallel with the R-1 from which it derived. It incorporated many detailed improvements, had double the range of the R-1 and V-2, and was equipped with a deadly radiological warhead. The ethyl alcohol used in the V-2 and R-1 was replaced by methyl alcohol in the R-2, eliminating the problem of the launch troops drinking up the rocket fuel. Versions of the R-2 for suborbital manned flight were studied by Korolev in 1956-1958, but it was decided instead to move directly to orbital flights of the Vostok. However some equipment tested on the R-2 found its way onto canine flights of Sputnik and Vostok. The R-2 design was transferred to China in 1957 to 1961, providing the technical basis of the Chinese rocket industry.

R-1 Russian short range ballistic missile. Stalin did not decide to proceed with Soviet production of this copy of the German V-2 until 1948. Despite the threatening supervision of the program by Stalin's secret police chief, Beria, and the assistance of German rocket engineers, it took eight years for the German technology to be absorbed and the missile to be put into service. It was almost immediately superseded by later designs, but the effort laid the groundwork for the Soviet rocket industry. Surplus R-1's were converted to use as a sounding rockets for military and scientific research missions.

DF-1 Chinese version of Soviet R-2.

Photo Gallery

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Comparison of A9/A10 Comparison of A9/A10 Versions Credit: © Mark Wade

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Nordhausen V-2 Plant A Rocket a Day Keeps the High Costs Away Credit: RKK Energia

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• Treaty loophole permits German rocket development. - . Nation: Germany. Signing of Treaty of Versailles disarmed Germany of a military air force but did not include rockets as potential weapons, thus leaving Germany free under international law to develop them..

• Die Rakete zu den Planetenräume published. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Oberth, von Braun.

  Die Rakete zu den Planetenräume (The Rocket Into Interpanetary Space) by Hermann Oberth was published in Germany, and was the genesis for considerable discussion of rocket propulsion. The book would have a huge and life-changing impact on ten year old Wernher Von Braun.

• VfR established. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Esnault-Pelterie, Hohmann, Oberth, Winkler.

  Johannes Winkler forms the first society for space travel in Breslau. The Society for Space Travel (Verein fuer Raumschiffahrt), is better known by its abbreviation 'VfR'. From the three people that attended the first meeting, it would grow to 500 members within the year, including most of the European space pioneers - Oberth, Hohmann, von Hoefft, von Pirquet, Rynin, and Esnault-Petrie.

• Frau im Mond (The Girl in the Moon) premieres in Berlin. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Nebel, Oberth.

  The film, directed by Fritz Lang, with Hermann Oberth as technical consultant, provided a realistic portrayal of the rollout and launch of a liquid-propellant booster sending a manned expedition to the moon. Lang provided Oberth with funds to build and launch a liquid-propellant rocket to publicise the film. Oberth's rocket, using a conical combustion chamber to mix liquid oxygen and gasoline, was 1.8 m tall and was to have been launched to an altitude of 64 km over the Baltic Sea from Greifswalder Oie. One of the assistants hired by Oberth to fabricate the rocket was Rudolph Nebel, a World War I fighter pilot with (unfortunately) little actual engineering experience. Oberth also had no practical engineering or organizational ability, and was unable to produce the liquid rocket in the four months allotted. He then turned to an 11-m tall hybrid rocket that was to burn a to-be-determined carbon compound with liquid oxygen. This also proved impossible, and Oberth simply gave up and left town - returning, however, for the film's premiere. Ufa studios took ownership of the unfinished rockets.

• VfR regroups - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Ley, Nebel, Oberth, Riedel, Klaus, Winkler.

  Winkler had resigned as president. Oberth is back in Berlin, and a meeting is held, with Nebel, Wurm, Oberth, Klaus Riedel, Winkler, and Willy Ley in attendance. It was decided to try and get the Oberth rocket materials back from Ufa and press on to demonstrate flight of a liquid propellant rocket. For this purpose the Oberth rocket was much too ambitious and probably wouldn't work anyway. Nebel proposes building a new 'Minimum Rakete' or 'Mirak' to demonstrate that it could be done. Work begins to obtain funds to ground test and perfect Oberth's 'Kegelduese' conical rocket motor.

• VfR evening in Berlin - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Oberth, Winkler. The VfR presents itself to the scientific community in Berlin. Winkler gives a lecture at the auditorium of the Central Post Office, and the Oberth rocket, Kegelduese, and other articles are displayed..

• VfR demonstrates rocket motor to German government officials - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Ley, Nebel, Oberth, Riedel, Klaus, von Braun.

  The VfR fires its 'Kegelduese' liquid oxygen and gasoline-fueled rocket motor in a demonstration for the Director of the Chemisch-Technische Reichsanstalt in an attempt to secure financial support. Nebel had arranged the demonstration and runs the Kegelduese for 90 seconds. It generates 7 kgf and consumes 6 kg of liquid oxygen and 1 kg of gasoline in that time (specific impulse 90 seconds). Participating are Oberth, Nebel, Riedel, Ley, and Von Braun. Nebel's Mirak is not yet ready to test.

• Mirak experiments - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Nebel, Riedel, Klaus.

  Nebel and Riedel conduct a series of tests of the Mirak rocket at the farm of Riedel's grandparents near Bernstadt, Saxony. They slowly perfect the motor, finally achieving significant net thrust by September, when the motor explodes, ending the test series.

• Raketenflugplatz Berlin - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Nebel. Nebel signs the $4/year lease for the worlds first 'Rocket Port', an abandoned German army munitions storage area on 10 square kilometres on Tegeler Weg in the Berlin northern suburb of Reinickendorf. The numerous bunkers are ideal for rocket motor tests..

• Kummersdorf selected for missile development. - . Nation: Germany.

  German Army Ordnance Office, after reviewing work of Goddard and others, decided to establish rocket program and to equip artillery proving ground at Kummersdorf to develop military missiles. The German Army issues the first budget for rocket development - 5,000 Reichsmarks.

• First liquid rocket hardware developed for the Germany Army. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Riedel, Walter. Walter Riedel, and Arthur Riedel, at the Heylandt Company, built the first 20 kgf liquid propellant engine for the Heereswaffenamt. It featured a double-walled cylindrical combustion chamber, and was used to test different propellant combinations..

• Second Mirak explodes - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Nebel.

  Nebel and the other designers realise that using liquid oxygen to cool the combustion chamber simply would not work - it turned to gas, and the excessive pressure eventually burst the oxygen tank. They turn to a water-cooled combustion chamber. The end result was an aluminium pressure-fed engine that weighed 85 g but produced 32 kgf while burning 160 g of liquid oxygen and gasoline per second - a specific impulse of 200 seconds. The new design proves reliable and is demonstrated to visitors from the American Rocket Society in April 1931.

• VfR/AIS meeting. - . Nation: Germany. Raktenflugplatz in Germany was visited by Mr. and Mrs. G. Edward Pendray as official representatives of the American Interplanetary Society, who upon their return organized the experimental program of the society..

• Mirak II / Repulsor - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Riedel, Klaus. Apogee: 0.0020 km (0.0012 mi).

  Riedel improvises a rocket, using the thrust chamber developed for the Mirak, fed by two long tanks containing liquid oxygen and gasoline, which would form guiding sticks for the forward-mounted engine. The lashed-together rocket rises to 20 m on its first 'static' test.

• Mirak II / Repulsor I rocket reaches 60 m. - . Nation: Germany. Apogee: 0.0060 km (0.0037 mi).

  First official test flight of the Mirak (Minimum Rakete) II. A flight-weight version of Riedel's 'flying test stand' takes off into a looping trajectory, sending the VfR experimenters running for cover, but reaching 60 m altitude in the process. Attending were Wernher Von Braun, Klaus Riedel und Kurt Heinisch (Rudolf Nebel, the chief engineer, was in Kiel at the time).

• Mirak II / Repulsor 2 - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Riedel, Klaus. Apogee: 0.0060 km (0.0037 mi). Range: 0.60 km (0.37 mi). The rocket reaches 60 m before heading off horizontally over the Raketenflugplatz, ending up in a tree outside the perimeter, 600 m from the launch point..

• Mirak II / Repulsor 3 - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Riedel, Klaus. Apogee: 0.18 km (0.11 mi). Range: 0.60 km (0.37 mi). This is the first Repulsor equipped with a recovery parachute. It reaches 180 m, but then the parachute deploys early, and it falls into the same clump of trees as Repulsor 2, 600 m from the launch point..

• Mirak II rocket reaches height of 500 m - . Nation: Germany. Apogee: 0.50 km (0.31 mi). VfR successfully fired an improved Mirak (Minimum Rakete) II rocket to height of 500 m..

• Mirak II / Repulsor 4 - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Riedel, Klaus. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi).

  The perfected Repulsor has the propellant tanks close together at the centreline, to form a guide stick in the manner of Congreve's war rockets. It reaches an altitude of 1000 m, and the parachute recovery system functioned perfectly at apogee. Subsequent such 'one stick' Repulsors' will reach 1500 m altitude and 3000 m range - in fact, they are normally launched only partially-fuelled to prevent them landing outside the perimeter of the Raketenflugplatz.

• Raketenflugplatz featured in newsreel - . Nation: Germany. Apogee: 1.50 km (0.90 mi). Range: 3.00 km (1.80 mi).

  After one year of operation of the worlds first 'rocket port', the Ufa weekly newsreel carries an extensive film report on the VfR's experiments. By then 270 engine test runs had been completed, as well as 87 test flights of Repulsors. However the filmmakers also capture an errant rocket leaking gasoline onto a shack owned by the police, which burns down. This leads to further restrictions on VfR activities at the site.

• Mirak III rocket completed. - . Nation: Germany. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi). It would reach an altitude of 4000 m in subsequent tests..

• Dornberger put in charge of Kummersdorf. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Dornberger. The German Army Ordnance Office formalized its rocket develoment program by placing Captain-Doctor Walter Dornberger in charge of Research Station West at Kummersdorf..

• Nebel demonstrates VfR liquid rocket to the German Army. - . Nation: Germany. Apogee: 0.0700 km (0.0435 mi).

  Nebel contacted the German Army and proposed the use of liquid fuel rockets as war missiles. He arranged for Army representatives to observe a demonstration launch at Kummersdorf. Riedel and Von Braun prepare the rocket, which was 3.5 m long and 10 cm in diameter, had a gross lift-off mass of 20 kg, an empty mass of 10 kg, and a thrust of 60 kgf. The new design featured the engine forward of the stack, followed by the liquid oxygen tank, then the alcohol tank, then the manometers and other elements of propellant pressurisation. The new-design engine was developed by Walter Riedel and Arthur Rudolph at the Heylandt Company. The rocket reached an altitude of 20 to 70 m before veering horizontally into a forest. An exhaust velocity of 2000 m/s was expected, but only 1700 m/s was demonstrated.. The Army is seemingly unimpressed. However a month later they hire Von Braun, who drops out of sight.

• Von Braun joins German Army missile program. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: von Braun.

  Wernher von Braun joined the German Army Ordnance Office rocket program at Kummersdorf. He is working on a 300 kgf thrust liquid propellant engine, which has been tested with an exhaust velocity of 1700 m/s, but it is believed can be tuned up to as much as 1900 m/s. This is to power the A1 rocket, which is to have the same tractor configuration as the 20 kg test rocket launched in August 1932. The main issue is how to solve the problem of keeping the rocket stabilised in flight, as the August test demonstrated. The A1 is to be 1.4 m long x 30 cm in diameter, a 150 kg gross takeoff weight, and 40 kg of propellant., allowing a 16.5 second burn time.

• Private rocket development in Germany winds down - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Riedel, Klaus.

  As the influence of Nazism in German Society increases, the VfR disintegrates in political disputes and withdrawal of funding by its wealthiest backers. In this period it occurs to Riedel that alcohol may prove a better fuel than gasoline - primarily because as a fuel it needs much less of the expensive and difficult-to-handle cryogenic liquid oxygen. Experiments determine that 60% alcohol to water is the best fuel mixture, and for the first time use the fuel to cool the combustion chamber before leading it into the chamber - regenerative cooling.

• Rocket test stand explosion at Kummersdorf. - . Nation: Germany. No one was injured and more stringent safety precautions were taken in the future..

• Liquid rocket explosion kills three. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Wahmke. Dr Kurt Wahmke and two technicians were testing a 90% H2O2/Alcohol combination at Kummersdorf when the chamber exploded, killing them. These were the first and only deaths of technicians in the history of German rocket development..

• A2 rocket 'Max' successfully launched. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: von Braun. Apogee: 2.20 km (1.37 mi).

  Von Braun's German Ordnance group launches A-2 'Max' from the Island of Borkum in the North Sea before the Commander-in-Chief of the German Army. The rocket is at an altitude of 1.7 km at burn-out, and reaches 2.2 km before falling back to impact 800 m from the launch point.

• A2 rocket 'Moritz' successfully launched. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: von Braun. Apogee: 3.50 km (2.10 mi).

  Von Braun's German Ordnance group launches the second of two A-2 rockets ('Moritz') successfully to a height of 3.5 km on the Island of Borkum in the North Sea. Burnout is at 1.8 km, and the rocket ascends more vertically than the test the previous day, reaching a greater altitude and impacting 500 m from the launch point.

• A3 rocket tested. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: von Braun. Germans tested A-3 rocket with 1,500 kgf thrust which served as basis for military weapon specifications..

• Go-ahead to build Peenemuende - . Nation: Germany.

  The missile test range is to be a combined Army / Air Force test ground. Von Braun had found the location in December 1935, after his first choice - Briz on the island of Ruegen - was taken over by the Deutsch Arbeitsfront as a 'Kraft durch Freude' recreation camp. During his Christmas holiday, Von Braun toured the cost, and found Peenemuende. It seemed perfect - 400 km of ocean to the east for use as a missile shooting range, room along the path on the coast for tracking radars.

• A4 wind tunnel tests - . Nation: Germany.

  The tests showed that the A3 configuration was unstable in flight and that it was going to take a lot of trial and error to identify the correct aerodynamic shape for the supersonic missile. Therefore the decision was taken to go slow on development of the A4 until tests with the A3 were complete. The 25 tonne thrust engine would also have to be built and proven in ground tests to determine its actual characteristics before a lot of effort was put into final design and construction of the rest of the rocket. So a series of test launches of the A3 to test the A4 control and guidance systems were undertaken, while Test Stand I at Peenemuende was prepared for tests of the 25 tonne engine.

• First supersonic wind tunnel. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Hermann, Rudolf.

  Following problems with testing of the A3 (a subscale version of the planned V-2) by Dr Hermann, Von Braun proposes to the Germany army that a supersonic wind tunnel be constructed at a cost he estimates as 300,000 Marks. Other parts of the Army are not supportive of the facility, but it is finally built, costing millions more than Von Braun estimated.

• Peenemünde opened. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Dornberger, Thiel, Walter, von Braun.

  Joint German Army-Air Force rocket research station opened at Peenemünde on the Baltic Sea. The Army Ordnance rocket program under Capt. Walter Dornberger moved 90 of its staff from Kummersdorf. Thiel and five staff working on V-2 rocket engine development remained at Kummersdorf until the summer of 1940, when the test stands at Peenemuende were finally completed..

• First A3 launch - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: von Braun. Apogee: 0.10 km (0.06 mi). Range: 0.30 km (0.19 mi).

  First launch of an A3 rocket. New facilites being built at Peenemuende were not ready, so the A3 launches were made from the offshore island of Greifswalder Oie. The A3 launched on this day was 6.5 m long and 70 cm in diameter. The engine occupied the first 2 m of the fuselage. The missile had a 750 kg lift-off mass, including 450 kg of propellant, which was pressurised to 20 atmospheres. The 1.5 tonne thrust engine had a 1900 m/s exhaust velocity and a 45 second burn time. The parachute deployed 3 seconds after launch, and the engine cutoff at 6.5 seconds. The rocket impacted and exploded 300 m from the launch point.

• A3 launch - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: von Braun. Apogee: 0.10 km (0.06 mi). Range: 0.30 km (0.19 mi). Second launch of an A3. Same result as the first - the rocket made a quarter turn after launch, then reached only 100 m before the parachute jettisoned and the missile crashed into the sea a short distance from the launch stand..

• A3 launch - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: von Braun. Apogee: 0.10 km (0.06 mi). Range: 0.30 km (0.19 mi). Third launch of an A3. No parachute deployment and the engine cut-off early. The rocket impacted into the Baltic Sea and sank..

• A3 launch - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: von Braun. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi).

  Final launch of the A3. The rocket is fired without the parachute that ruined the first two attempts, but in heavy fog. It is more successful than earlier shots, but at 800 to 1000 m altitude it also veers over and thrusts its way downward into the ocean. Analysis showed that the fins steering the rocket could not overcome the 8 m/s wind blowing at the time of the launch. Further study shows that at the low speed of initial rocket acceleration, a wind as little as 4 m/s would be enough to topple the rocket. A rudder area ten times greater than is needed to control the rocket at low speeds. This result leads to the decision to abandon the A3 configuration and build the A5 to support development of the A4 missile.

• A4 engine tests begin - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Poehlmann, Thiel, Walter.

  The engine delivered 18 months after design started was so compact, that the length of the A4 could be cut in half. Walter Thiel, a gifted and systematic researcher, was responsible for the engine design. He had great difficulties in obtaining stable combustion, and preventing burn-through of the chamber walls. Various injector patterns were studied in a 1.5 tonne thrust chamber. His research finally reduced the combustion chamber length from 2 m to 30 cm, while the exhaust velocity was increased from 2000 m/s to 2100 m/s, and eventually reached 2280 m/s. However the reduction in the cooling area of the chamber also increased problems in preventing hot spots and burn through. This was finally solved by using a conical throat exit and a mixing chamber ahead of the burning chamber. The 1.5 tonne thrust engine was initially run at 15 bar pressure, versus the 50 bar desired. But whenever the combustion chamber pressure was increased, burn-throughs occurred, as well as forcing increases in the mass of the pumps and tanks. Therefore finally the decision was taken to leave the chamber pressure at 15 bar.

  The next step was to make a 4.5 tonne thrust by clustering three of the 1.5 tonne engines as preburners. However Thiel still had burn-throughs in test runs. Poehlmann suggested the use of film cooling, which finally solved the problem. For the 25 tonne thrust engine, Thiel simply used 18 x 1.5 tonne thrust chambers, feeding a common mixing chamber. This was on the test stand in early 1939.

• A5 delivered to Peenemuende. - . Nation: Germany.

  The first A5 drop test model is delivered to Peenemuende just weeks after the third A3 test. Production is planned at a rate of 10 per month to define the A4 aerodynamic configuration. Objective of the first tests is to break the sound barrier - in the wind tunnel no configuration of fins had managed to go through the barrier without disintegrating. The only test possibility was to drop the model from a great height, and let gravity accelerate it to supersonic speeds. The model weighs 250 kg and is 1.6 m long and 20 cm in diameter.

• Rocket fighters - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Dornberger. Spacecraft: He-122, He-176, Me-163.

  The first rocket fighter, the He-176, powered by a Walther engine, was tested at Peenemuende. In competition, Dornberger's team developed a 120-second duration engine to power the He-122. However loss of control in unpowered flights of the latter resulted in it crashing and being eliminated from further consideration. Dornberger's team left further rocket fighter engine development to Walther, and concentrated on the A4 and follow-on ballistic missiles.

• A5 launches from Greifswalder Oie - . Nation: Germany. Apogee: 12 km (7 mi).

  In the summer of 1938 the decision is made to go ahead with four A5 tests from Greifswalder Oie without the stabilising system or a parachute. The first missile ascended into a low wind, and reached 8 km altitude, nearing but not exceeding the sound barrier. Maximum altitude reached in the test series is 12 km.

• A5 stabilisation system tests - . Nation: Germany.

  In order to test the A4's stabilisation system, Walter, Kiel, is subcontracted to build a large number of model A5's. Like the drop test models, these are 20 cm and 1.6 m long. However they weigh only 47 kg gross lift-off mass, with a 27 kg empty mass. The rocket engine burns 85% hydrogen peroxide monopropellant using a calcium permanganate catalyst. The engine produces 120 kgf for 15 seconds, and has an exhaust velocity of 1000 m/s. The design objective is a low cost, reliable, and simple rocket, which will allow a large number of trail-and-error test launches to be made within a tight budget. The fins developed for the A4 as a result of these tests were shorter and wider than those of the A3. They owed nothing to aircraft wing designs of the times, which couldn't withstand supersonic speeds. But they were still too affected by the wind, tending to set the rocket on a rotation around its long axis during ascent.

• First A5 drop test. - . Nation: Germany.

  The model is dropped from a He-111 bomber from 7000 m. It breaks through the sound barrier at 1000 m altitude at a speed of 360 m/s. The stabilising fins keep the maximum oscillation of the model to within 5 degrees from vertical. The drogue ring parachute then deployed to decelerate the model to 100 m/s, followed by the main parachute which slows it to 5 m/s when it impacts in the ocean.

• Hitler visits Kummersdorf-West - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Dornberger, Hitler, Valier.

  This was the first time he became acquainted with liquid rocket engine technology. 300 kgf and 1000 kgf engines were fired in his presence. A colour-coded cutaway model of the A3 rocket was presented and its systems explained. Hitler was quiet throughout the exhibits and asked no questions. Afterwards, while taking lunch at the mess hall, he asked only about the development schedule (clucking when told), the range of the missile, and the impact on the schedule if synthetic 'Eisenbled' was substituted for light metal alloys in the rocket frame. Hitler spoke of deceased rocket pioneer Max Valier - he had known him in Munich, but dismissed him as a dreamer. Dornberger countered by comparing the state of rocket development to the early days of the zeppelin, when Lillienthal made the first primitive experiments. Hitler in turn dismissed airships as dangerous, filled with explosive gas . The Fuehrer finally departed with handshakes and few words. His summary of the day: 'Es war doch gewaltig' (it was impressive, nevertheless). The rocket team was dismayed - it was the first time a visitor had exhibited no reaction to the power the rocket engines when fired for their benefit. But on the plus side, Von Brauchtisch said he was astounded at the progress made by the team in only a few years. Dornberger believed Hitler was enthralled with artillery and tanks, and was unimpressed with rocket technology. He thought Hitler didn't understand the possibilities and didn't believe the time had come yet for development of the rocket as a weapon.

• A4 in crisis - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Dornberger, Hitler.

  After Hitler's visit, it finally it became clear to Dornberger that either support for the project would have to come from the highest level, or that Peenemuende should abandon rocket research and be devoted to more pressing war needs.

  Meanwhile the results of the air war over London showed that the A4 could be an economic weapon. Bombers were averaging only 5 to 6 missions, dropping only 6 to 8 tonnes of bombs before being shot down. Once the loss of trained flying crews was considered, the bomber cost 30 times more than the A4 to deliver a tonne of explosives on London compared to the expendable A4 at its production price of 38,000 Marks. But time was being lost in convincing others in the German leadership that the missile should be put into production.

• A4 full scale development authorised - . Nation: Germany. Von Brauchtisch gave the go-ahead for the A4 to enter full development as a weapon system for the German Army..

• Goering tours Kummersdorf-West - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Hitler. Unlike Hitler, he was enthusiastic about the potential of rocket technology..

• Rocket development given highest priority - . Nation: Germany.

  Von Brauchtisch obtained the highest priority for development of the A4. This was used in early 1940 to get 4,000 soldiers with the necessary engineering and technical backgrounds released from the Army and sent to Peenemuende's 'Versuchskommando-Nord'. Nevertheless there was a constant fight for priority in obtaining materials.

• A-5 development rockets with gyroscopic controls and parachutes - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: von Braun. Apogee: 7.00 km (4.30 mi).

  New test series at Greifswalder Oie. The island had changed a lot, with massive new concrete installations. Three A3's were flown with a new Siemens control system. The first was launched vertically, reaching 7 km at 45 seconds into the flight at the time of engine cut-off. Both the drogue and main parachutes functioned correctly, and the rocket splashed down in the harbour and was recovered a half hour later by a motor boat (the rocket could float for up to two hours before water entering the empty propellant tanks would sink it).

• Second functional A5 launch. - . Nation: Germany. Apogee: 7.00 km (4.30 mi). This was a vertical launch, replicating the first launch of the series, and was again recovered successfully..

• Third functional A5 launch. - . Nation: Germany. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi). Range: 6.00 km (3.70 mi).

  This was the first test of the pitch-over manoeuvre required for the operational A4. The test went perfectly - the rocket pitched over 4 seconds after lift-off, reaching 4 km altitude, and was 6 km downrange from the launch point when the drogue parachute deployed. The rocket was recovered from the ocean successfully. This was finally a complete success after seven years of developmental effort. But the rocket had not broken the sound barrier.

• Further A5 test launches. - . Nation: Germany. Apogee: 18 km (11 mi). The German rocket team successfully fired and recovered further A5 development rockets with gyroscopic controls and parachutes, attaining altitude of 12 km and a range of 18 km..

• Peenemuende wind tunnel goes into operation. - . Nation: Germany.

  The tunnel was used an average of 500 hours per month. 1000 cubic metres of vacuum vessels were pumped to a 98% vacuum in three to five minutes by three banks of double vacuum pumps. When vented, they provided the tunnel with 20 seconds of run time at velocities from Mach 1.2 to Mach 4.0, or 1500 m/s. Models 4 to 5 cm in diameter x 30-40 cm long could be accommodated in the tunnel, instrumented at 110 data points. These tests showed that drag increased 70% at the sound barrier and that the centre of pressure on the missile moved back one-half calibre. The wind tunnel runs showed that the basic A4 shape was all right, but that it needed load-carrying wings and a new rudder for the higher-speed A9 glider version. Huge trial and error was required to develop an A9 configuration that was stable, but not so stable that the control surfaces were too large. An arrow wing was the best performing, but the control surfaces were then in the turbulent flow of the wing and inadequate. Swept wings provided 12% less glide ratio than the arrow wing, resulting in a 60 km loss of range. Trapezoidal wings were the final solution, the end of a long iterative process.

  Peenemuende-developed delta wings were adapted to Army artillery rounds of the 105 mm flak gun and K5 280 mm cannon, decreasing drag by 35%. The result was an increase of 6 kg in the explosive load, a 6 kg increase in the iron mass of the round, but with a range increase from 59 to 90 km. Equipped with a new, lighter warhead, and a sabot boosting a slimmer round, the gun could shoot projectiles to a range of 135 to 150 km, with an accuracy of 2 per mill.

• A9 basic research and design - . Nation: Germany.

  By adding wings to the A4, the 800 m/s of kinetic energy the rocket had at cut-off could be exploited in a glide attack, extending the range of the missile from 250 km to 550 km. Such a supersonic aircraft had never been flown and presented many aerodynamic and engineering problems in 1943. Various tests of the A4's with wings began in early 1940. These were successful, and the configuration was dubbed the A9. The trajectory for such a missile involved a boost to an apogee of 29 km, then a stable glide at 20 km altitude at a speed of 1250 m/s. At the end of the glide, the missile would have descended to 5 km altitude, then make a vertical dive on the target in the fashion of the Fi-103/V-1. The A9 would be equipped with wings with a total area of 13.5 sq m. A manned version of this boost-glide rocketplane was also designed. This could reach a conventional airfield 600 km from the launch point in only 17 minutes, landing at a speed of 160 kph. Another possibility to further extend range would be a catapult-launched A9, using the technology developed for the V-1. This would provide an extra velocity of 350 m/s, further extending the missile's potential range.

• Design A9/A10 of the two stage transatlantic ballistic missile began in 1940. - . Nation: Germany.

  First flight would have been in 1946. Work on the A9/A10 was prohibited after 1943 when all efforts were to be spent on perfection and production of the A4 as a weapon-in-being. Von Braun managed to continue some development and flight tests of the A9 under the cover name of A4b (i.e. a modification of the A4, and therefore a production-related project). In late 1944 work on the A9/A10 resumed under the code name Projekt Amerika, but no significant hardware development was possible after the last test of the A4b in January 1945.

• A4 radio guidance tests - . Nation: Germany.

  In early 1940 a Do-17M aircraft was equipped with a Siemens fully automatic autopilot. This was designed to keep the aircraft within a 50 mhz guidance beam, which was produced at a 3 kW transmitter installed at Bornholm Island in Denmark, northeast of Peenemuende. The aircraft would capture the beam b flying within 1 degree of the its centre at a distance of 2 km from the transmitter. After a 140 km flight the aircraft would still be within 20 m of the correct position. The beam had a total effective range of 200 km. The Peenemuende team remembered its accuracy by the fact that on each test they would always fly over the same small red house in Bornholm on the coast.

  Use of the system on the A4 was complicated by the problem of the electrical charge that formed on the rocket body during flight through the atmosphere, and the electrical ions in the rocket exhaust, both of which made good reception of radio signals difficult. 90% of a 50 mhz signal was attenuated at the critical moment of engine cut-off. Another accuracy issue was oscillation of the rocket once it was out of the atmosphere - the rudders in the exhaust did not act smoothly, producing the equivalent of pilot-induced oscillations. The solution was to develop a missile that rode the beam during the entire boost phase, not just converging with it at the point of engine cut-off.

  Many partial system test stands were used to solve these control and guidance problems, most notably a full-up 'iron bird' that could be used to test the effect of new systems on existing components.

• A4 rocket development removed from priority list. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Hitler.

  After the military success in Poland, Hitler believes development of expensive 'wonder weapons' are unnecessary to win the war. The A4 and other rocket projects are removed from the priority list, making acquisition of necessary materials and engineers difficult.

• First full-duration test of A4 engine. - . Nation: Germany. The engine is run at 25 tonnes thrust for 60 seconds on Test Stand I at Peenemuende..

• Peenemuende test stands completed. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Thiel, Walter. Thiel and the remaining staff of the rocket team at Kummersdorf moved to Peenemuende..

• A4 facilities - . Nation: Germany.

  The A4 assembly hall at Area 7 at Peenemuende was 30 m high and 50 m long. After assembly, the missile was moved to the cold flow test stand. There each rocket was tested and calibration documents were generated, necessary for the launch troops to take into account when preparing the rocket and programming its guidance system. The launch pad itself was ringed by a 7 m wide concrete embankment, and sunk 6 m into the ground. The viewpoint was 150 m from the pad, at the southern, smaller end of the complex.

  The pad was surrounded by instrumentation rooms. Water was delivered at 500 litres/second through a 1.20 m diameter pipe to a molybdenum steel cooling section, consisting of many pipes running around the exhaust blast diverter. Other test stands included number 10, where the effects of the rocket exhaust on different material surfaces was tested; and number 8, where newly delivered engines were fired and calibrated. These certification tests ran as long as 650 seconds on the water-cooled stand. Area 9 was used for launches of the Wasserfall surface-to-air missile, and Area 2 for tests of the A4 using nitric acid and Visol as propellants. Area 4 was devoted to firing tests of engines installed in aircraft fuselages, and Area 3 contained the 1000 kgf engine test stand. This stand included pump and steam test stands, and a hydrogen peroxide plant. Area 6 was built to the same design as the largest test stands at Kummersdorf, and used for A5 tests. Hundreds of A5's were shot from Greifswalder Oie.

• A4 engine improvements - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Beck, Thiel, Walter.

  Throughout the early 1940's Thiel and his team sought to produce a single chamber 25 tonne thrust engine in place of the kludged prototype engine that used 18 separate 1.5 tf chambers. They managed to demonstrate a 60 second burn time in the 18-chamber design, but the engine itself was considered too complicated to fabricate in production, requiring thousands of hand-assembled tubes to introduce fuel and oxidiser into the chamber. Thiel sought to replace these thousands of tubes with a simpler injection system - rows of simple bored holes on a flat injector plate at the head of the chamber. Beck at the Technische Hochschule in Dresden developed a ring-pattern injector that worked well in subscale engines. But the design proved unstable in the 25 tf engine. Therefore, it was decided to stick with the 18-head chamber for V-2 production.

• Full-scale development of A4 authorised. - . Nation: Germany. Following the loss of the air war with Britain, the German military leadership realises that missiles offer the only possibility of attacking London. Development of the A4 to the point of production-readiness is authorised..

• Mach 10 wind tunnel designed. - . Nation: Germany.

  In preparation for the A9/A10 transatlantic missile, the Peenemuende team completed design of a Mach 10 wind tunnel. However construction would not begin for another two years due to priority on devoting all available engineering time to getting the A4 into production.

• Peenemuende team's ambitions - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Dornberger.

  Von Braun was obsessed by grandiose futuristic fantasies, and Dornberger felt he constantly had to throw cold water on the engineer to keep them in check. But this tendency was easily overshadowed by Von Braun's fantastic ability to solve a technical problem, to throw all the extraneous ballast overboard and concentrate on the solution. In the moment the solution was technically realised, Von Braun no longer had any interest in the issue and dropped it.

  There was never any doubt that manned space travel was Von Braun's life goal. The technology needed for manned flight presented many such technical challenges. He realised early on that only multi-staged liquid propelled rockets could achieve his dream. Rockets certainly needed lighter propellant tanks, but there was a practical technical limit to this, and in any case, there still had to be a payload. Von Braun knew that liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen was the ultimate propellant combination, but also that learning how to handle liquid hydrogen would be a long-term affair. A one-year study at the Technische Hochschule in Dresden and Peenemuende showed that other propellant combinations could produce no more than a 20% improvement in specific impulse compared to the existing V-2 technology. Therefore a multistage rocket was the only way to achieve orbital spaceflight.

• A4 series production - . Nation: Germany. An initial series of prototypes were built at the factories of Dip-Ing Stahlknecht, then a second line was opened up at Dr Eckener's Zeppelinwerke..

• V-2 s/n 1 moved to Test Stand VII at Peenemuende. - . Nation: Germany. The missile was used for facility checks and checking of launch procedures..

• V-2 s/n 1 explodes during engine test run. - . Nation: Germany.

  The missile was being tested on Test Stand VII; no launch had been planned. G Harry Stine noticed that the German rocket scientists at White Sands were very reluctant to talk about the details of the failure, but finally managed to get the real story from Konrad Dannenberg:

  The first A.4 missile was a hand-made job. Motor tests preceding the first flight were to be carried out in a huge, mobile test stand, which held the entire missile. However, this first A.4 never flew; it found its end in the test stand. In order to clamp the missile into the stand without attaching the thrust mounts to the missile structure, a large steel corset was built. Unfortunately, the builders of this corset did not take into account the shrinkage of the missile components when the frigid liquid oxygen was pumped aboard. The first A4 shrank, dropped out of the corset, and was a total wash-out.

  The test was to have examined the behavior of the guidance system and the graphite steering vanes in the exhaust flow. The corset had pivot mountings on it to allow the missile to be deflected while its motor was being fired, to see how fast the steering vanes responded, and what amount of corrective force they developed. After the failure, the Peenemuende team was embarrassed by the fact that they had overlooked something as obvious as the fact that cold things shrink.

• V-2 4001 - . Nation: Germany. First full-scale static testing .

• V-2 4002 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. First V-2 launch..

• Submarine launch of powder rockets - . Nation: Germany.

  Solid propellant rockets were fired from a submerged platform off Greifswalder Oie to test the concept of a submarine-launched missile. The idea came from Steihoff, an engineer on the rocket team whose brother was a submarine captain. 20 to 30 Wurfgeraete of the Army's smoke corps, equipped with flammable oil or explosive warheads, were shot at the coast from up to 3 km away. The concept was to put enemy coastal oil storage tanks into flames. At Swinemuende a launcher was installed aboard a Submarine and salvoes of 20 rockets successfully fired from 10 to 15 m under water. The launcher was unnoticeable on the submarine, and the dispersion of the rockets was only a bit worse than a shot from land. But the German Navy wouldn't accept simply using an existing Army launcher. They insisted on developing a different one themselves, which would take a year, putting deployment of the system beyond the end of the war.

• V-2 4003 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 4004 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Steep climb. Range 190 km .

• V-2 4005 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Steam generator fault. Range 147 km..

• V-2 4006 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Vetical test to 67 km. Range 14 km..

• V-2 4007 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• A4 priority - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Dornberger, Speer. Dornberger clashes with Speer over priority for the A4..

• Train-launched A4. - . Nation: Germany.

  A rail-launched A4 was considered from the beginning of the project. At the end of 1942 the first train launcher wagon was completed and trials began from Test Stand VII at Peenemuende. In service the trains would have hidden in double-tracked train tunnels. Development was interrupted to get the vehicle-towed standard version of the weapon into service.

• Peenemuende team's spaceflight plans - . Nation: Germany.

  Using catapults and wings an A9 might nearly achieve 1000 km range, but the only solution for transatlantic missions was the two-stage A9/A10. The A10 boost stage was to have a total mass of 87 tonnes, of which 62 tonnes would be propellant. The stage's 200 tonne thrust motor would burn for 50 to 60 seconds, taking the A9 upper stage to 1200 m/s. Then the A9 would separate and burn its engine, reaching an apogee of 55 km, followed by a long hypersonic glide in the atmosphere. The second stage would be equipped with air brakes for deceleration over the target, followed by a parachute for recovery in the water. The A9/A10 would reach a maximum velocity of 2800 m/s, and have a range of 4100 km, and a total flight time of 35 minutes. Full-scale development was underway, when further significant work on the project was stopped at the end of 1942. Only the Advanced Projects Group, under the direction of Dip-Ing Roth and Ing Palt, continued design of the missile. It was also planned to develop, after the war, a stratospheric rocket that could travel in 40 minutes from Europe to America. After that, the target was orbital spaceships that could reach 8 km/sec and 500 km orbital altitude. Beyond that, space stations and the burial in space of the embalmed bodies of the rocket developers and men of the rocket service. Manned expeditions to the moon were also a popular theme for research. Finally, the use of nuclear energy to achieve interstellar travel was studied by the Advanced Projects Group.

• V-2 4009 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• A4 guidance development - . Nation: Germany.

  Using its original gyroscopic guidance package, the A4 demonstrated a 4.5 km CEP up to 1943, with 100% of the shots falling within 18 km of the target. Many factors contributed to this inaccuracy - out of tolerance guidance system components, and poor alignment of the gyro platform prior to firing. One solution developed was a radio correction system similar to that used by aircraft for landings in poor visibility. A moving radio beam would follow the correct course, and the rocket would manoeuvre to stay within the beam. But there was no support within the Army for full development of such a system - their priority was in developing and deploying distance-measuring radio navigation systems for the aviation forces. A radio guidance unit was not used aboard an A4 until near the war's end, and that used an adaptation of a system designed for a beam-riding air-launched missile. But even using the radio correction technique, the engineers were unable to get the rocket's CEP under 2 km.

• Further work on the A9/A10 ICBM was prohibited - . Nation: Germany.

  All efforts were to be spent on perfection and production of the A4 (V-2) as a weapon-in-being. Von Braun managed to continue some development and flight tests of the A9 under the cover name of A4b (i.e. a modification of the A4, and therefore a production-related project).

• V-2 4010 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Showdown meeting on A4 - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Degenkolb, Dornberger, Hitler, Speer, Todt.

  Speer meets with Von Braun and Dornberger. A 1:100 model of the planned bunker construction-launch facility for the rocket to be built by Organisation Todt on the British channel was exhibited. Speer reveals that Hitler could not decide about the rocket as a weapon. He did not believe the rocket team's plans could be made to work. But Speer did authorise them to proceed with construction on his own authority - he hoped Hitler could be brought around eventually. But he emphasised that Dornberger would have to use his personal connections to get industry moving on the project. But Dornberger was thwarted when the Army put Degenkolb in charge of organising production of the missile. Degenkolb was a sworn enemy of Dornberger's, and had been implicated in the 'suicide' of General Becker in early 1940. Degenkolb set up a Nazi-supported bureaucracy in parallel to that of Dornberger's, requiring the approval of the Army weapons bureau on any decisions. Degenkolb had the sponsorship of Todt and Saur, who in turn followed the party line - 'like the Fuehrer, we are not yet won over to the concept of a long range missile'.

  In order to productionise the A4 design, Degenkolb began authorising many detailed changes. He didn't understand that every change had to be proven in test first, and only incremental steps could be taken. Stahlknecht had planned to produce 300 A4 missiles per month by January 1944, and 600 per month by July 1944. Degenkolb unrealistically decreed that 300 per month be achieved by October 1943, and 900 per month by December 1943.

• V-2 4011 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Steep roll; Burnout at T+64.5 seconds. Range 105 km.

• Peenemuende privatisation - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Degenkolb, Dornberger, Siemens.

  In a meeting with Professor Hettlage, of the Financial and Organisational Ministry of the German Defence Industry, it was proposed that Peenemuende be made a private country, with the Nazi Party and selected corporations (AEG, Siemens, Lorenz, Rheinmetall) being its shareholders. Dornberger saw Degenkolb behind this plan, and was determined to keep Peenemuende an Army proving ground. He felt that an asset, on which several hundred million Marks had been invested by the government, was being handed over to private hands for 1 to 2 million Marks. The investors intended to recover their entire investment back on a fee paid for each missile built. In the end Dornberger managed to keep Peenemuende an Army proving ground, but then he had to fight off an attempt by AEG to take over the electronics side of the development team. The rocket team's electronic engineers were years ahead of the rest of the industry, and a tempting target.

• V-2 4012 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Flat trajectory; Burnout at T+61 seconds. Range 196 km.

• V-2 4013 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• A4 production plans - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Degenkolb.

  A4 missiles were to be produced at Peenemuende, Friedrichshafen, and the Raxwerken at Wiener Neustadt. But problems began immediately - the Army expected the rockets to be as easy to build as locomotives; there was no engineering staff or time available to productionise the prototype design; there were no staff available to properly train production engineers and technicians. Degenkolb threatened to imprison the rocket team's engineers if they didn't get the missile into production on schedule. He was oblivious to the difficulties of achieving this.

• V-2 4016 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 4018 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Vertical; Burnout at T+60 seconds. Range 133 km.

• V-2 4019 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Himmler visits Peenemuende - . Nation: Germany.

  This was the first review of the facilities by the SS commander. He pledged support, but instead the SS set up its own rocket research centre at Grossendorf, near Danzig. This marked yet another struggle for control of the programme. Himmler was defeated in this effort, but he would take his revenge later.

• V-2 4017 - . Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+64.5s Flight duration 310 seconds..

• V-2 4020 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Burnout at T+64s; 287 km; nav err. Range 287 km.

• V-2 development detected by British Intelligence. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: von Braun. Prime Minister Winston Churchill of England was informed of reports on German experiments with long-range rockets..

• V-2 4021 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Burnout at T+60s; 252 km; nav err. Range 252 km.

• V-2 4022 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Switch failure. Burnout at T+62 seconds. Range 250 km..

• V-2 4025 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 4026 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Burnout at T+66s; Flight duration 349 seconds. Range 265 km.

• V-2 4024 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Burnout at T+56s; Flight duration 248 seconds. Range 138 km.

• Dornberger promoted - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Degenkolb, Dornberger.

  Dornberger was promoted to Major General. But Degenkolb was still in charge of A4 production, and had sent four engineers to spy at Peenemuende, asking them to provide recommendations on reorganisation of the place, promising the four that they would be made directors of the new enterprise.

• V-2 firing range to be established in Poland. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: von Braun.

  It is decided to move testing of production V-2s and training of combat launch crews from the Baltic Sea to the middle of Poland, at Heidelager, near Blizna. German units here operationally test fired over 100 V-2's, launching 10 on one day, only a small number of which were fully successful.

• A4 development - . Nation: Germany.

  Area 7 was used for tests of the A4's pyrotechnic igniters. The missile could be ordered to cut off its engine by radio if it veered inland. Delays in development were inevitable - a 'Peenemuende Minute' corresponded to 11 minutes or more on the watch. On one memorable occasion, the missile ignited, but its fuel pump did not reach full speed. The rocket reached only 4.5 m altitude before hovering, its abnormally low thrust exactly counterbalancing the mass of the missile. The film operator kept his post, only 100 m from the fantastic sight. As the rocket consumed propellant, its weight was reduced, and it slowly moved skyward, reaching 10 m, then 22 m, and slowly drifting out of the launch pad area. It finally crashed only 40 m beyond the blast wall. The cameraman stayed at his post through all of this.

• V-2 4023 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Burnout at T+62s; Flight duration 287 seconds. Range 62 km.

• V-2 4029 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Burnout at T+63s; Flight duration 291 seconds. Range 238 km.

• V-2 4031 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Burnout at T+61 seconds. Range 238 km.

• V-2 4028 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Burnout at T+63s; Exploded at 70 seconds. Range 75 km.

• V-2 4030 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Burnout at T+65s; Flight duration 318 seconds. Range 287 km .

• V-2 4036 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Burnout at T+65 seconds. Range 235 km.

• Himmler's second visit to Peenemuende - . Nation: Germany.

  The rocket team and SS entourage discussed politics until 4 am. The next morning, the first demonstration launch of a V-2 failed - the missile turned west at an altitude of 200 m, and crashed in the woods outside of Peenmuende-West, destroying three aircraft on the nearby runway. Fortunately no one was killed. The second launch in the afternoon was successful. But the bureaucratic efforts by the SS and other organisations to take over the rocket program from the Army continued.

• V-2 4038 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 4040 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Burnout at T+64 seconds. Range 236 km.

• V-2 4033 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 given top priority. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Hitler, von Braun. Adolf Hitler gave the German V-2 program highest military priority..

• Peenemuende given highest priority - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Dornberger, Hitler, Speer, Steinhoff, Ernst.

  Dornberger, Von Braun, and Steinhoff (at the controls) fly aboard a He-111 to the Fuehrer bunker in East Prussia. There they give Hitler a review of the V-2 program, the first since his visit to Kummersdorf in March 1939. The appointment was for 11:30, but then delayed to 17:00.

  When they were finally ushered into his presence, Dornberger was shocked at the terrible and changed appearance of the Fuehrer. The team begins their briefing, in the presence of Hitler, Keitel, Jodl, Butale, and Speer. The presentation began with a film of preparations and launch of an A4 on the 3 October 1942. Von Braun narrated the film, which had proven a real crowd-pleaser in the past. It showed the A4 in production at the vast assembly hall at Peenemuende, the vertical roll-out, the huge launch complex, and finally launch. Von Braun then presented a model and plans for the hardened production/launch bunker that was being built on the English Channel.

  Hitler loved the bunker model, and declared he wanted to build not one, but three such facilities. Dornberger argued that mobile launchers would be militarily less vulnerable and less costly, but Hitler was unconvinced. The 7 m thick bunker walls, he declared, would 'draw every allied bomber like flies to honey. Every bomb they drop there will be one that does not fall on Germany'. Hitler asks if the payload can be increased to 10 tonnes (in order to accommodate a nuclear warhead) or if a 2,000 per month production rate was possible (in order to make mass attacks on Britain with conventional explosive or chemical payloads). Dornberger replies that it would take four to five years to develop a missile with greater payload, and that production was limited by the German industrial capacity for alcohol (used as fuel in the missile).

  Dornberger noted that they did not dream of the possibility of short-term availability of nuclear energy in 1936, when the specifications for the missile were set. In any case, after the loss of the heavy water plant in Norway, it would take years to develop nuclear weapons. Hitler was visibly upset that the V-2 would not turn out to be a war-deciding weapon. But Dornberger pointed out it was a great psychological weapon - unstoppable, something against their which there was no defence.

  Hitler stated that 'I have only had to excuse myself to two men in my life - and one of them was von Brauchtisch, who always championed the importance of your work, and the other is you. If we had this weapon in 1939, Britain would have conceded, and there would have been no war.

  Hitler finally ordered that the V-1 and V-2 missile programs be given the highest priority in the defence ministry. Immediately needed staff and material began flowing into the program. Saur immediately ordered a production goal of 2,000 missiles per month, despite the fact that there was no prospect of producing enough alcohol fuel or training enough launch crews to actual fire the missiles at such a rate. However, there was no disagreement, since any industry leader who did not commit to meeting this production goal was threatened with immediate replacement. German alcohol production would mean the maximum number that could ever be fired was 900 per month.

• V-2 4041 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 4034 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 program in crisis - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Degenkolb, Dornberger, Thiel, Walter.

  With only four months to go before Degenkolb's mandated production of 900 missiles per month, the engineers declare the missile is not ready for production. A workable engine has been developed, but it is complex, suitable for prototypes only, and the engineers involved do not have the experience to turn it into something designed for mass production. Continuous changes on the engine also affect other parts of the rocket, resulting in drawing changes simultaneous with the effort to mass-produce detailed parts. Thiel and his team declare that in fact development of the A4 can never be finished before the war's end. They recommend that plans to put it into production should be stopped. Thiel, at the verge of a nervous breakdown, led this engineering 'revolt', although Rees was the spokesman. They declare they would stop work at Peenemuende and retire to the university. Von Braun argued against this position, demanding that production continue. Dornberger suffered a crisis of confidence in the rocket team as a result of this fight, but decided to continue trying to get the missile in production and fielded with the Germany Army.

• V-2 4054 - . Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+68 seconds. Flight duration 270 seconds..

• Peenemünde attacked by RAF. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Reitsch, Thiel, Walter, von Braun.

  The Royal Air Force attacked Germany's Peenemünde Rocket Research Center, causing heavy damage and delaying V-weapon program by months.

  With the V-2 development program already in crisis, the Allies launch a massive bombing raid against Peenemuende. On that evening test pilot Hanna Reitsch was visiting the launch site. At 23:30 the air raid siren sounded. 600 British bombers drop 1500 tonnes of ordnance on the launch centre. However many bombs fell in the ocean around the peninsula, or buried themselves harmlessly in sand dunes. The resident area was hardest hit, while the Luftwaffe station at Peenemuende West was not touched. 47 British bombers were shot down - they were told before the raid that this was the most important mission of the war, and that their commanders would accept a 50% loss rate. 735 people were killed in the raid on the ground, including 178 of the 4000 inhabitants of the residential area. A large number of the foreign slave workers in the Trassenheide concentration camp barracks were also killed.

  After the tremendous raid the rocket team wander around the devastated facility, half-clothed, the buildings bathed in a weird light and everything covered in fine sand, as if flour was dropped over everything. Thiel and Walther - the two leading rocket engineers in Germany - were killed in the raid, and virtually all major facilities were damaged. The saving grace was that the soft sand of Peenemuende attenuated the blast of many bombs. Nine bombs hit the main assembly hall, but while there was splinter damage to some of the machine tools, there was no decisive hit that would prevent production from continuing. It was estimated that operations could resume in 4 to 6 weeks.

  The raid was not unexpected. The high altitude contrails of the V-2 test launches were called 'frozen lightning' and could be seen from Sweden on clear days. The location and purpose of Peenemuende appeared in a crossword puzzle in a illustrated magazine published in central Germany in early 1943. British reconnaissance flights to locate the launch facilities had been recognised for what they were.

  This raid, together with the bombing of V-2 production lines at the Zeppelinwerke in Friedrichshafen and the Raxwerke in Wiener Neustadt convinced Saur to reduce the V-2 production rate goal to 900 per month.

• V-2 production facilities bombed - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Hitler, Todt.

  Ten days after the raid on Peenemuende, the British bomb the V-2 production/launch bunker under construction at Watten. Seven further bunkers (four in Pas-de-Calais, three at Cherbourg) continued to be built. Soon thereafter, V-2 production plants at Wiener Neustadt and Friedrichshafen are also bombed. Clearly the Allies had detected and targeted the infrastructure of the V-2 production program. In response to the raids, the decision was made that Organisation Todt would build an underground V-2 factory at a chalk mine in Witzen. The bunker at Watten would be used only as a liquid oxygen production plant. Hitler had mandated a 7 m thick protective roof there, which cannot be penetrated by Allied bombs. It was decided that the roof would be jacked up, the sides filled with concrete, and construction work would continue underground despite the perpetual bombing.

• Submarine-launched V-2 - . Nation: Germany.

  Director Lafferenz of the German Worker's Front proposed towing of a 3 m diameter x 30 m long capsule containing a single V-2 by submarine. This was later refined to a single submarine towing three 500 tonne capsules, each with a V-2, its propellants, and launch equipment. At the launch point water tanks would be flooded in the capsule to bring it upright, with the top above the surface. The top would be opened, then launch troops would enter to prepare and fuel the rocket, followed by launch. But the pressing problem of solving the A4's reliability problems and getting it into production delayed any further work on the concept until the end of 1944.

• Dornberger meets with Hitler - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Dornberger, Hitler. Hitler decides to continue work on the bunkers. In Dornberger's opinion, this wastes resources that could have resulted in an earlier, full deployment of the V-2 using motorised, mobile batteries..

• V-2 4049 - . Nation: Germany. First Field Battery launch. Burnout at T+64 seconds. Flight duration 272 seconds..

• V-2 4071 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4067 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4069 - . Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+63 seconds. Flight duration 286 seconds..

• Heidelager Test - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 4043 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Nation: Germany. First Heidelager test launch. Successful..

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. success.

• Mach 10 wind tunnel construction begins. - . Nation: Germany. A4 development is completed, so Peenemuende engineers can turn to full-scale development of the A9/A10. Construction of a Mach 10 wind tunnel to test hypersonic aerodynamic configurations for the missile begins..

• V-2 4073 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Burnout at T+63 seconds. Flight duration 286 seconds..

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 4060 - . Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+69 seconds. Flight duration 247 seconds..

• V-2 4059 - . Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+33 seconds. Flight duration 104 seconds..

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4091 - . Nation: Germany.

• First V-2 deliveries from Mittelwerk - . Nation: Germany. 4 or 5 missiles are 'delivered' in order to meet the end-of-the-year date set by the German leadership. They are immediately returned to the tunnel for rework..

• Production V-2's exploding in flight. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Dornberger, Riedel, Walther.

  The production series of V-2's are exploding in flight, and the engineers cannot determine the reason. Peenemuende engineers sought to recover 30% of the missiles for detailed examination. This showed that re-entry heating did not weaken the missile's structure. There was no scorching of the 0.6 mm thick paint applied to the interior of the missile. Only the outer paint showed signs of scorching. The missile still suffered in-flight explosions - attributed to the re-entry heating of 480 deg C and residual propellant vapours that still escaped despite the better sealing. Dornberger thought the liquid oxygen tank was the problem, while Von Braun suspected the alcohol tank. To try to determine the cause, five V-2's were shot with the engine running until all of the alcohol was depleted. These were followed by six shots with improved glass wool insulation of the liquid oxygen tank, over the objections of Riedel III, head of manufacturing at Peenemuende. Three of these shots were made in one morning, and all went off course. These were in turn followed by a series of highly instrumented launches from Peenemuende. The improvements developed as a result of these tests improved the missile reliability from 30% to 70% immediately, and then the reliability slowly increased to 80% as additional changes were made. Only in the last months of the war was it found that the forward part of the outer hull was failing in flight. Once this was strengthened with a belt of sheet metal, the V-2 achieved essentially 100% reliability.

  This entire process was going on while production was ramping up at the underground facility at Mittelwerk. There was pressure from the highest quarters to get the missile fielded and attacks on England underway. Every change resulting from these tests and research meant that the production line at Mittelwerk had to be stopped, and retrofits made to undelivered missiles.

• V-2 sounding rockets - . Nation: Germany. Apogee: 189 km (117 mi).

  The Peenemuende team developed scientific payloads for a sounding rocket version of the V-2, to measure cosmic rays, meteoroid flux, and so on. However due to the pressure to solve the missile's reliability problems, these were never flown from Germany. Only after the war could these plans be implemented in New Mexico. However during the war there were some vertical shots of the missile to test its stability and behaviour in a vacuum. On one such shot the missile reached 189 km altitude. On another occasion four launch troops were killed when the missile ascended, then veered 90 degrees, turned again, and impacted in the launch pit at the point of launch.

• V-2 guidance development - . Nation: Germany.

  Early A4's were equipped with a radio-controlled cut-off system. These were replaced in service versions by self-contained integrating accelerometers. Professors Bucholz and Wagner at Darmstadt had developed the system, which was shown to have the same accuracy as the radio-controled system. This system had been tested as early as the fall of 1939, but no production quantities were available until mid-1944. Gyroscopic guidance systems from Kresselgeraete GmbH were tested, but found to have inferior accuracy to the acceleromter-based system. For better precision a double integrator system was needed, but this could not be developed before the war's end. Virtually all A4 systems were developed by the engineers at Peenemuende rather than by industry. Some said that it would have been better handled by industry, but in fact there was no such thing as rocket technology when Von Braun's team began their work - it all had to be created.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4032 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4082 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4077 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4074 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. success.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. success.

• Mittelwerk Eval - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. success.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. success.

• V-2 4106 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. success.

• V-2 4098 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 4085 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 4112 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4084 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 4151 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. success.

• V-2 4126 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4116 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4088 - . Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+59 seconds. Flight duration 282 seconds..

• V-2 4128 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 problems begin to be understood - but Peenemuende Rocket Team leaders arrested by SS - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Dornberger, Hitler, Riedel, Walter, Steinhoff, Ernst.

  The cause of early detonation of the warhead during the engine burn time is understood, but the crashes at the end of the trajectory are still a mystery. Dornberger is ordered to report to Hitler at Berchtesgaden. The call is received at 7 pm in the evening, following a bomb raid and ice storm. Dornberger is told that on the following morning Von Braun, Riedel II, and Groettrup are to be arrested for sabotage of the A4 program. Groettrup selects Dr Steinhoff as his representative. The men are accused of not putting all their energy in development of the A4 as a weapon - instead only using the financing of the Reich to support their private plans for manned spaceflight. Dornberger know he cannot complete the program without these men - Von Braun and Riedel were the key leaders, and Groettrup was head of the electrical systems section. Dornberger finally achieves their release by demonstrating to the SS that the biggest impediment to the program was Hitler's dream that the A4 would never reach London. After a few days in detention, Von Braun was moved to Schwedt, and then freed. The others were allowed out a bit later.

• Nation: Germany. success.

• Nation: Germany. success.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. success.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 4145 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 4121 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4132 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4086 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 A01 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Attempt abandoned; launched on 22 April (Test # A06).

• V-2 A02 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 6.5 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 A03 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Failed - accuracy was 8 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 A05 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 48.5 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 A04 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 7 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 A06 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 6.5 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 A07 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 5.8 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 A08 G1 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 A09 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 6.5 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 A10 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 5.5 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 A11 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 13.8 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 A12 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Impact 8.6 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 A13 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Impact 12.5 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 A14 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 40 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• V-2 A16 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Failed - accuracy was 1 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 A15 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 13.7 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 A17 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst but within 100 m of aim point..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• V-2 A19 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Failed - accuracy was 0.2 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 A18 G1 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 A20 G1 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 D01 G1 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 A21 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 4.5 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 A22 G1 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 D02 G1 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 A23 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 10.3 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 A25 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 3.1 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 A24 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 0.6 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 D03 G1 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 A26 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Failed - accuracy was 0.5 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 D05 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 8.6 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 D04 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 3 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 A28 G1 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 A27 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 3.5 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 A30 G1 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 D07 G1 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 A31 G1 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 D08 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Failed - accuracy was 3.1 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 B01 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Impact 1.35 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 E02 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Impact 4.6 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 E01 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Impact 6.4 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 4152 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 B03 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 5.5 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 B04 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst but within 100 m of aim point..

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 E04 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Impact 12 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• V-2 B06 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 3.95 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• V-2 B05 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 5.2 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• V-2 4136 - . Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+65 seconds. Flight duration 263 seconds..

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 E05 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 2.4 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 E06 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Guidance failure; accuracy 32 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 B07 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Failed - accuracy was 0.3 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 E07 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• V-2 B10 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 7.4 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 E08 G1 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 E09 G1 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 B11 G1 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 B09 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Impact 2.3 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 B08 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 24 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 B14 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 0.5 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 4144 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• V-2 B15 G1 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 B13 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 8 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 E10 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 0.5 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 B18 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 8.45 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 B16 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Failed - accuracy was 0.2 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 B20 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 0.15 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 E12 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 4.1 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 E14 G1 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 B19 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 10.5 km to the right of the planned trajectory; re-launch from 21 May (B12). .

• V-2 E13 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 3 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 E11 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 1.8 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 B17 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 26 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 E15 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Impact 6 km to the right of the planned trajectory. Launched after failed attempt on 22 May..

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 B21 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 3.9 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• V-2 E16 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 5.75 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 E18 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 2.1 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 E17 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 9.55 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 E20 G1 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 E19 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 14 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 C01 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 13.5 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 4170 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 C02 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 0.9 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 E22 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Failed - accuracy was 0.1 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 C03 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 26 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 C04 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Impact 7.1 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 C06 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 9 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 C05 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 16.9 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 E23 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Impact 31.4 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 E21 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 2 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 C08 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 16.4 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 C07 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Impact 13.1 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 4146 - . Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+58 seconds. Flight duration 260 seconds..

• Renewed effort by the SS to take over Peenemuende - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Dornberger.

  The plan this time was for the launch centre to be privatised, made part of Siemens, with the SS running day-to-day operations. Dornberger was unsuccessful in fighting this effort off, and in July-August 1944 a series of government decrees gave the SS full control.

• V-2 C11 G1 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 C10 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Impact 3 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 C12 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Impact 3 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• V-2 C09 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Guidance failure; accuracy 45.5 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 4140 - . Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+60seconds. Flight duration 259 seconds..

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 C13 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Failed - accuracy was 7.5 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 C14 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 1.6 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 B22 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Impact 2.1 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4171 - . Nation: Germany. Burnout at 69 seconds. Flight duration 315 seconds..

• V-2 4159 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4158 - . Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+68seconds. Flight duration 264 seconds..

• Nation: Germany. First Oie launch..

• V-2 4209 - . Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+61seconds. Flight duration 296 seconds..

• V-2 4089 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 4172 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Launched by Battery 1./485.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M12 G2a - . Nation: Germany. Unserviceable..

• V-2 M16 G2a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 6.7 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M14 G2a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 2.7 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M19 G2a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 1.6 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M11 G2a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 7.2 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M13 G2a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 11.3 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M18 G2a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 21.5 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M40 G3a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 8 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M38 G3a - . Nation: Germany. Impact 35.1 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M17 G2a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 0.2 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M37 G3a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 5.8 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M41 G3a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 2.8 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M42 G3a - . Nation: Germany. Returned to Mittelwerk..

• V-2 M15 G2a - . Nation: Germany. Unserviceable..

• V-2 M39 G3a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 8.2 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M20 G2a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 2.75 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M45 G3a - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M29 G2b - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M 5 - . Nation: Germany. Launched by Battery 1./485.

• V-2 M43 G3a - . Nation: Germany. Impact 8.2 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M52 G3b - . Nation: Germany. Impact 4.6 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M44 G3a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 0.2 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M28 G2b - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 3.9 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 Ma36 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M30 G2b - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 2.65 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M27 G2b - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 0.5 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M26 G2b - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 11.25 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M53 G3b - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M54 G3b - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 6.1 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M51 G3b - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 3 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M48 G3b - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 8.5 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• V-2 M49 G3b - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M46 G3b - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 1.2 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M62 G4a - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• V-2 M64 G4a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 7.4 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M47 G3b - . Nation: Germany. Failed - accuracy was 0.5 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M55 G3b - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• V-2 M67 G4a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 2.5 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4177 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• V-2 M65 G4a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 15.4 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M68 G4a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 4.5 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M71 G4b - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 55.3 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M70 G4a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 16.9 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M69 G4a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 0.9 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M76 G4b - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 2 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M66 G4b - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M63 G4a - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 2.4 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M33 G2c - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M25 G2b - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M21 G2b - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 2.25 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• V-2 M32 G2c - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M35 G2c - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 2.2 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M34 G2c - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 2.7 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M22 G2b - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 0.4 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 4157 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M23 G2b - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 6.9 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M31 G2c - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 20.8 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M 3 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M93 G5b - . Nation: Germany. Impact 3.9 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• Nation: Germany. Delivered to Heidelager. Firing status unknown..

• V-2 M75 G4b - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M58 G3c - . Nation: Germany. Impact 1.5 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M95 G5b - . Nation: Germany. Impact 5.2 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M91 G5b - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 5.2 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M92 G5b - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 17.9 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M57 G3c - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 4.7 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M105 G6 - . Nation: Germany. Impact 0.8 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M103 G6 - . Nation: Germany. Impact 1.9 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M59 G3c - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 7.5 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M 7 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M102 G6 - . Nation: Germany. Impact 8 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 4208 - . Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+59seconds. Flight duration 296 seconds..

• V-2 M104 G6 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M111 G6 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 7 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M110 G6 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M114 G6 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M115 G6 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 1 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M109 G6 - . Nation: Germany. Impact 14.9 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M113 G6 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 9.3 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M101 G6 - . Nation: Germany. Impact 28 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M106 G6 - . Nation: Germany. Impact 6.4 km to the left of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 M112 G6 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 9.1 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 4167 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M107 G6 - . Nation: Germany. Failed - accuracy was 3 km to the right of the planned trajectory..

• V-2 4173 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4211 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Final Heidelager test launch..

• Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4212 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M 136 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M 137 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4214 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M 6 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4210 - . Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+60seconds. Flight duration 187 seconds..

• V-2 4160 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 M 9 - . Nation: Germany.

• Last Blizna launch - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• V-2 4178 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4205 - . Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+67 seconds.Range 237 km.

• V-2 Ma28 - . Nation: Germany. By the end of July there were a total of 125 Peenemuende shots. Presumably the difference 141-125=16 were Oie shots..

• V-2 Ma24 - . Nation: Germany. Launched by Battery 1./485.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4202 - . Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+21 seconds. Range 2 km.

• V-2 4179 - . Nation: Germany.

• Obergruppenfuehrer Kammler of the SS put in charge of the V-2 program. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Dornberger, Hitler.

  Dornberger was relegated to command of the training batteries for the rocket troops. Von Braun spoke to Dornberger, telling him that he must accept the situation and assist Kammler. Following the July 1944 assassination and coup attempt against Hitler, Dornberger had no backing in the leadership for keeping the program in Army hands. Dornberger finally agreed to cooperate - rockets had been his life's work, and he could not bear not to be involved. Dornberger hoped to 'put my words in Kammler's mouth and make them appear to be his'. All Army commanders in the rocket program were dismissed and replaced by SS officers - Kammler was in complete control.

• Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4181 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4182 - . Nation: Germany.

• Ma100 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma106 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma115 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi).

• Ma125 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 40 km (24 mi).

• Ma119 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi).

• Ma108 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma118 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma120 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma123 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). First Heidekraut test launch..

• Ma126 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi).

• Ma127 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• V-2 Ma84 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany.

• Ma113 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma114 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma128 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma131 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma143 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma132 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma140 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+61seconds. Flight duration 302 seconds. Range 227 km (First 11/18000).

• Ma138 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma136 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma111 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma129 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma133 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+66seconds. Flight duration 327 seconds. Range 284 km.

• V-2 4224 - . Nation: Germany.

• Ma142 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma116 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

• Ma134 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma109 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma147 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma144 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma124 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma107 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma146 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma150 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma156 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 40 km (24 mi).

• Ma121 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma157 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma135 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma112 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+66seconds. Flight duration 290 seconds. Range 239 km.

• Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+64seconds. Flight duration 282 seconds. Range 235 km.

• V-2 4216 - . Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+57seconds. Flight duration 282 seconds. Range 196 km .

• Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+67seconds. Flight duration 291 seconds. Range 224 km.

• Ma141 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• V-2 4226 - . Nation: Germany.

• Ma30 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+64seconds. Flight duration 254 seconds. Range 189 km.

• Ma29 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Nation: Germany. Burnout at T+61seconds. Flight duration 252 seconds. Range 226 km.

• Ma155 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

• Ma148 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• Ma153 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• V-2 Ma117 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Ma154 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• V-2 4225 - . Nation: Germany.

• Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

• V-2 Battery 444 deploys to Euskirchen, with orders to attack Paris. - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• Ma93 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 Batteries 1./485 and 2./485 deploys to Wassenaar, with orders to attack London. - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• First production V-2 delivered. - . Nation: Germany.

  350 missiles were delivered in September, 500 in October, and 600 to 900 per month thereafter. There were many early failures of these production missiles - they had not been built for long-term storage. The solution was to use express trains to take the missiles from the factory to the launch areas and fire them within three days of leaving the production line.

• V-2 4206 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 4230 - . Nation: Germany.

• V-2 in operation. - . Nation: Germany.

  Despite the first production deliveries, development of the missile was still not complete. The accuracy was still too poor, and the fusing was still not optimum to maximise damage at the target. Furthermore there was no method of actually determining the performance and effectiveness of missiles fired in combat, since air reconnaissance of Britain was now impossible. The only source of information was reports from agents on the ground. The availability of alcohol fuel was a limiting factor in the firing rate. Underground facilities for alcohol production had been built at Luettich and Wittringen an der Saar. Liquid oxygen was delivered to the firing areas in 48 tonne railroad wagons, then distributed to the firing units in 5 to 8 tonne capacity trucks. Due to boil off and transfer losses, 9 tonnes had to be generated at the factory in order for the 4.96 tonnes required for each rocket to be available at launch. The railroad wagons lost 350 l/day, but a V-2 on hold, awaiting launch, boiled off liquid oxygen at 2 kg/minute. Average daily launch rate from the field in the fall of 1944 was 28-30 missiles against enemy targets, together with 5 to 7 shots for research and engine tests. Kammler was only interested in maximising the number of combat launches per day - he showed no interest in the effectiveness or results of the missile as a weapon. During production, some small modifications were introduced - an increase in propellant feed rate and combustion chamber pressure, elimination of electrical equipment made unnecessary by the use of the integrating accelerometer guidance system, and an increase in propellant capacity. These changes increased the range of the production missiles to 320 km. A few research rockets with larger propellant tanks reached 480 km. The external paint used on the V-2 was protected from burning through use of a graphite coating.

• First attempted V-2 combat launch from St. Vith - . Nation: Germany.

  St. Vith, 18 km southeast of Malmedy (Belgium), misfire. The rocket came up to full power, lifted a few feet and then set back down on firing table, still vertical, when the engine cut off. The intended target was Paris. Battery 444 also suffered its first combat losses this same day when the unit was attacked by partisans.

• Second attempted V-2 combat launch from St. Vith - . Nation: Germany. St. Vith, 18 km southeast of Malmedy (Belgium), misfire. Rocket came up to full power, lifted a few feet and then set back down on firing table, still vertical, when engine cut off. The intended target for was Paris..

• V-2 Battery 444 moves to a point near Houffalize, Belgium. - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 4222 - . Nation: Germany. Possibly correct serial number is 18278..

• V-2 combat launch from Houffalize to Paris. - . Nation: Germany. Launched near Houffalize, Belgium, rocket fired, (impact unknown), target Paris, indications are that the rocket exploded at high altitude..

• First successful V-2 combat launch - from Houffalize to Paris - . Nation: Germany. Launched near Houffalize, Belgium, rocket fired, impacted in "Charentonneau" à Maisons-Alfort in south-east of Paris, France. Six people were killed and 36 injured..

• V-2 combat launch from Wassenaar to Epping - . Nation: Germany. Wassenaar, crossroads of Lijsterlaan / Schouwweg, A-4 rocket fired hits Epping - (27 km N of London)..

• V-2 combat launch from Wassenaar to London - . Nation: Germany. Wassenaar, crossroads of Lijsterlaan / Konijnenlaan / Koekoekslaan, A-4 rocket fired impacted Stavely Road, Chiswick - London, England..

• RAF located the V-2 launch sites in the Hague and makes the first attacks. - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 combat launch from Wassenaar to London - . Nation: Germany. Wassenaar, Beukenhorst, rocket fired, (Time Unknown) target London..

• V-2 Battery 2./485 deploys to Wassenaar. - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 Battery 1./485 becomes operational at The Hague. - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 Battery 444 leaves Houffalize, moves to Walcheren. - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 Ma172 127 B1 - . Nation: Germany. Abandoned. Planned range 225 km. .

• V-2 combat launch from Wassenaar to Fambridge - . Nation: Germany. Wassenaar, Beukenhorst, rocket fired, impacted Fambridge, Southend..

• V-2 combat launch from Wassenaar to Lullingstone - . Nation: Germany. Wassenaar, Beukenhorst, rocket fired, impacted Lullingstone..

• V-2 combat launch from Wassenaar to Magdalen Laver - . Nation: Germany. Wassenaar, Beukenhorst, rocket fired, impacted Magdalen Laver..

• V-2 Ma184 128 A1 - . Nation: Germany. Planned range 225 km. Air-burst of rocket but explosion of warhead at ground level 26.5 km to the right of the planned trajectory. Circular error 26.8 km from aim point..

• V-2 Ma173 130 A3 - . Nation: Germany. Planned range 225 km. Air-burst of rocket but explosion of warhead at ground level 17.2 km to the left of the planned trajectory. Circular error 50.0 km from aim point..

• V-2 Ma181 129 A2 - . Nation: Germany. Planned range 225 km. .

• V-2 Ma40 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: Wehrmacht.

• V-2 Ma178 131 A4 - . Nation: Germany. Planned range 225 km. Rocket impacted and warhead exploded at impact 8.4 km to the left of the planned trajectory. Circular error 9.8 km from aim point..

• V-2 Ma167 134 A7 - . Nation: Germany. Planned range 225 km. .

• V-2 Ma174 133 A6 - . Nation: Germany. Planned range 225 km. Air-burst of rocket but explosion of warhead at ground level 14.8 km to the left of the planned trajectory. Circular error 21.1 km from aim point..

• V-2 4223 - . Nation: Germany.