Rheinmetall "Rheintochter" R-2 Anti-Aircraft Missile with Launcher

In 1942, the Allied air strikes against the German and industrial targets were increasingly fierce, which made the Germans stepped up their research and development of anti-aircraft rockets and missiles. In September 18th of the same year, the RLM and the Rhine metals company officially signed a new type of anti-aircraft missile research and development contracts. The main person in charge by Dr. Crein who developed the "Rhinebote" ground to ground tactical rocket as the project. The new missile is called the Rheintochter, and it has also become another attractive and unique work in the history of German missiles. R-1 is the first model of the "Rheintochter" series anti-aircraft missile. The body is 5.7 meters long and weighs 1748 kg. Its two stage structure is equipped with a number of solid fuel rocket motors. In order to reduce the weight, the wings are made of wood. Warhead equipped with 150 kg of high explosive ammunition. The missile is controlled by a radio command and is equipped with a 'Kugelblitz' radio remote controlled proximity fuze. The missile launcher consists of Flak41 type 88 mm anti-aircraft gun refit. In a 82 test in 1943 8-12, the projectile was found to be only 6098 meters (20 thousand feet) high, and could not reach the expected 30 thousand feet. So the improved R-2 will soon be made. It increases the tail in the R-1 on the basis of a large surface, and some are still connected between the tail rudder. The new missile intends to use the "Kranich" end of the acoustic guide head, this device can be induced to the sound of the target propeller Doppler shift change in close proximity to the enemy. This landmark design completely solved the problem of radio remote control signal failure caused by a high degree of increase. It can avoid the high cost of deploying a large number of fixed launch aircraft, "Rhinetochter" also has a number of motor vehicle loading program. Although R-2 has the advantages of convenient use, technology leadership and the cost of a large number of features, but ultimately is replaced by the updated version of the follow-up.