In Service: 1943 to 1945
First Flight:
Manufacturer: Rheinmetall
Borsig
Number built:
Type: Surface-to-Surface Missile
Guidance system: unguided
Length: 11.4 m
Wingspan: m
Diameter: m
Weight: 1,709 kg
Engine: 1 × diglycol solid propellant rocket
Maximum speed: km/h
Range: 220 km
Warhead: 40 kg
Fuze:
Launch Platform: Mobile
Operators: Luftwaffe
Variants:
Other: Missiles
Articles:
The Rheinmetall Borsig Rheinbote (Rhine Messenger) was surface
to surface missile Designed and developed by
Rheinmetall
Borsig AG in 1943.
The Rheinmetall Borsig Rheinbote (Rhine Messenger) was a four
stage ballistic missile designed to be launched from a mobile
trailer, modified from the
V-2
rocket transporter also known as the Meilerwagen, or from
the modified
8.8
cm flak carriage, capable of carrying 40 kg of high explosive
over a range well in excess of 160 km. Remote control was
not used with the Rheinbote missile, it was simply aimed in
the same way as an artillery gun. After launching the first
stage, fell away at 3.5 km, second stage, fell away at 12
km, and the third stage, fell away at 25 km but the fourth
stage remained attached to the rocket for the duration of
its flight detonation was achieved by a percussion fuse the
maximum speed of the missile was an extremely fast. Mac 5.55,
which was most definitely the fastest speed of all German
missiles of the time,
The Rheinbote was used operationally against Antwerp in November
1944, where over 200 were launched in an all-out offensive
against the city.
The Warplanes of the Third Reich.
ISBN-10: 0385057822
German Aircraft of the Second World War.
ISBN-10: 0370000242
Hitler's Luftwaffe.
ISBN-10: 051718771X
For a complete list of
sources
