V-1 flying bomb: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:52, 18 February 2025

V-1 Flying Bomb[edit]

The V-1 flying bomb (German: Vergeltungswaffe 1) was an early cruise missile and the first of the so-called V-weapons series deployed for terror bombing of London during World War II. It was developed by Nazi Germany and used primarily by the Luftwaffe.

Development[edit]

The V-1 was designed by the Fieseler company and was powered by a simple pulsejet engine. The development of the V-1 began in 1939, and it was first tested in 1942. The project was led by Robert Lusser and Fritz Gosslau.

Design[edit]

The V-1 was a small, pilotless aircraft with a wingspan of 5.3 meters and a length of 8.3 meters. It was powered by an Argus As 014 pulsejet engine, which gave it a top speed of 640 km/h (400 mph). The bomb carried a 850 kg (1,870 lb) warhead and had a range of approximately 250 km (160 miles).

Launch and Operation[edit]

The V-1 was launched from a simple ramp using a steam catapult. It was guided by a simple autopilot system that used a gyroscope and a magnetic compass. The V-1 was launched from sites in France and the Netherlands towards targets in England.

Impact[edit]

The first V-1 attack on London occurred on June 13, 1944. The attacks continued until October 1944, when the launch sites were overrun by Allied forces. In total, over 9,500 V-1s were launched against England, with around 2,419 reaching London.

Countermeasures[edit]

The British developed several countermeasures to combat the V-1 threat. These included anti-aircraft guns, barrage balloons, and fighter aircraft such as the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Tempest. The Royal Air Force also developed a tactic known as "tipping," where pilots would use their aircraft to tip the wings of the V-1, causing it to crash.

Legacy[edit]

The V-1 was the first operational cruise missile and paved the way for future developments in missile technology. It was succeeded by the more advanced V-2 rocket.

Related Pages[edit]

Gallery[edit]

Cutaway view of a V-1
V-1 launcher at IWM Duxford
V-1 on display in a museum
V-1 on launch ramp
V-1 engine piston
V-1 in flight

V-1 in flight
V-1 bomb damage in London
V-1 under a Heinkel 111
Fi 103R at La Coupole
Arado Ar 234 with V-1
British Army with V-1
Royal Observer Corps
Spitfire tipping a V-1
V-1 bomb damage in London
Max Wachtel with V-1
V-1 "Doodlebug"
USS Cusk with V-1
V-1 at Greencastle
V-1 at Antwerp
V-1 launch ramp at IWM Duxford
V-1 at Imperial War Museum
V-1 at Air Zoo

V-1 flying bomb
V-1 flying bomb
V-1 flying bomb
V-1 flying bomb
V-1 flying bomb
V-1 flying bomb
V-1 flying bomb
V-1 flying bomb

V-1 flying bomb
V-1 flying bomb
V-1 flying bomb
V-1 flying bomb
V-1 flying bomb

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 == V-1 Flying Bomb ==
-The V-1 flying bomb, also known as the "Buzz Bomb" or "Doodlebug," was an unmanned, guided missile developed by Nazi Germany during World War II. It was one of the first long-range weapons used in warfare and played a significant role in the conflict.
+The '''V-1 flying bomb''' (German: ''Vergeltungswaffe 1'') was an early cruise missile and the first of the so-called [[V-weapons]] series deployed for terror bombing of [[London]] during [[World War II]]. It was developed by [[Nazi Germany]] and used primarily by the [[Luftwaffe]].
-=== Development and Design ===
+=== Development ===
-The development of the V-1 flying bomb began in the early 1940s under the guidance of German engineer Robert Lusser. The aim was to create a weapon that could be launched from a distance and strike targets accurately. The V-1 was powered by a pulsejet engine, which allowed it to reach speeds of up to 400 miles per hour (640 kilometers per hour).
+The V-1 was designed by the [[Fieseler]] company and was powered by a simple [[pulsejet]] engine. The development of the V-1 began in 1939, and it was first tested in 1942. The project was led by [[Robert Lusser]] and [[Fritz Gosslau]].
-The design of the V-1 featured a distinctive shape, with a cylindrical body and short wings. It had a length of approximately 8 meters and a wingspan of around 5.3 meters. The bomb was equipped with a 850-kilogram warhead, which made it a formidable weapon capable of causing significant damage.
+=== Design ===
-=== Operation and Impact ===
+The V-1 was a small, pilotless aircraft with a wingspan of 5.3 meters and a length of 8.3 meters. It was powered by an Argus As 014 pulsejet engine, which gave it a top speed of 640 km/h (400 mph). The bomb carried a 850 kg (1,870 lb) warhead and had a range of approximately 250 km (160 miles).
-The V-1 flying bomb was primarily used against cities and strategic targets in England during the later stages of World War II. The launch sites were located in occupied France and the Netherlands, allowing the Germans to strike targets across the English Channel.
+=== Launch and Operation ===
-The V-1 was launched from ramps or catapults, and once in the air, it followed a predetermined flight path towards its target. The bomb was guided by an autopilot system, which relied on a gyroscope and a simple mechanical guidance mechanism. However, the accuracy of the V-1 was limited, and many bombs missed their intended targets.
+The V-1 was launched from a simple ramp using a steam catapult. It was guided by a simple autopilot system that used a gyroscope and a magnetic compass. The V-1 was launched from sites in [[France]] and the [[Netherlands]] towards targets in [[England]].
-Despite its limitations, the V-1 flying bomb had a significant impact on the cities it targeted. The psychological effect of the constant threat of attack caused widespread panic and disrupted daily life. The bombs caused extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure, resulting in civilian casualties and economic losses.
+=== Impact ===
-=== Countermeasures and Legacy ===
+The first V-1 attack on London occurred on June 13, 1944. The attacks continued until October 1944, when the launch sites were overrun by [[Allied forces]]. In total, over 9,500 V-1s were launched against England, with around 2,419 reaching London.
-The V-1 flying bomb posed a significant challenge for the Allied forces, who had to develop effective countermeasures to neutralize the threat. One of the most successful methods was the deployment of anti-aircraft guns, which were able to shoot down a significant number of V-1s. Additionally, fighter aircraft were used to intercept and destroy the flying bombs before they reached their targets.
+=== Countermeasures ===
-The V-1 flying bomb's impact on warfare was significant. It represented a shift towards long-range, unmanned weapons, foreshadowing the development of modern cruise missiles. The lessons learned from countering the V-1 also influenced the development of air defense systems in the post-war era.
+The [[British]] developed several countermeasures to combat the V-1 threat. These included anti-aircraft guns, barrage balloons, and fighter aircraft such as the [[Supermarine Spitfire]] and [[Hawker Tempest]]. The [[Royal Air Force]] also developed a tactic known as "tipping," where pilots would use their aircraft to tip the wings of the V-1, causing it to crash.
-=== See Also ===
+=== Legacy ===
+The V-1 was the first operational cruise missile and paved the way for future developments in missile technology. It was succeeded by the more advanced [[V-2 rocket]].
+== Related Pages ==
+* [[V-2 rocket]]
+* [[Luftwaffe]]
 * [[World War II]]
-* [[Cruise Missile]]
+* [[Nazi Germany]]
-* [[Pulsejet Engine]]
-=== References ===
+== Gallery ==
-<references />
+<gallery>
+File:V-1_cutaway.jpg|Cutaway view of a V-1
+File:V1_Launcher_IWM_Duxford.JPG|V-1 launcher at IWM Duxford
+File:V1Musee.jpg|V-1 on display in a museum
+File:V1_flying_bomb_on_ramp.jpg|V-1 on launch ramp
+File:V1_piston.jpg|V-1 engine piston
+File:V-1_(Fieseler_Fi_103)_in_flight.jpg|V-1 in flight
+File:Mile_end_grove_road_2.jpg|V-1 bomb damage in London
+File:Fieseler_Fi103_debajo_de_un_Heinkel_111.jpg|V-1 under a Heinkel 111
+File:Fi103R_at_La_Coupole.jpg|Fi 103R at La Coupole
+File:Arado_Ar_234_Blitz_mit_V1_pic1.JPG|Arado Ar 234 with V-1
+File:The_British_Army_in_the_United_Kingdom_1939-45_H39728.jpg|British Army with V-1
+File:The_Royal_Observer_Corps_in_Britain,_1943_TR1444.jpg|Royal Observer Corps
+File:Spitfire_Tipping_V-1_Flying_Bomb.jpg|Spitfire tipping a V-1
+File:Flying_Bomb-_V1_Bomb_Damage_in_London,_England,_UK,_1944_D21237.jpg|V-1 bomb damage in London
+File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1981-004-19,_Max_Wachtel.jpg|Max Wachtel with V-1
+File:DoodleBug1.JPG|V-1 "Doodlebug"
+File:USS_Cusk;0834807.jpg|USS Cusk with V-1
+File:13_Greencastle_V-1.JPG|V-1 at Greencastle
+File:V1_at_the_Stampe_&_Vertongen_Museum,_Antwerp_International_Airport,_Belgium.jpg|V-1 at Antwerp
+File:V1_launch_ramp_IWM_duxford.JPG|V-1 launch ramp at IWM Duxford
+File:Imperial_War_Museum,_London_(geograph_4108596)_(cropped).jpg|V-1 at Imperial War Museum
+File:Air_Zoo_December_2019_024_(V-1_flying_bomb).jpg|V-1 at Air Zoo
+</gallery>
-[[Category:World War II weapons]]
+[[Category:World War II weapons of Germany]]
-[[Category:Guided missiles]]
+[[Category:Cruise missiles]]
-[[Category:German inventions]]
+<gallery>
-[[Category:Unmanned aerial vehicles]]
+File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1975-117-26,_Marschflugkörper_V1_vor_Start.jpg|V-1 flying bomb
-[[Category:Aviation history]]
+File:V-1_cutaway.jpg|V-1 flying bomb
+File:V1_Launcher_IWM_Duxford.JPG|V-1 flying bomb
+File:V1Musee.jpg|V-1 flying bomb
+File:Launcher_of_V-1_rocket_in_Historisch-technisches_Informationszentrum_Peenemünde_(1).JPG|V-1 flying bomb
+File:V1_flying_bomb_on_ramp.jpg|V-1 flying bomb
+File:V1_piston.jpg|V-1 flying bomb
+File:V-1_(Fieseler_Fi_103)_in_flight.jpg|V-1 flying bomb
+File:Mile_end_grove_road_2.jpg|V-1 flying bomb
+File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1973-029A-24A,_Marschflugkörper_V1_vor_Start.jpg|V-1 flying bomb
+File:Fieseler_Fi103_debajo_de_un_Heinkel_111.jpg|V-1 flying bomb
+File:Fi103R_at_La_Coupole.jpg|V-1 flying bomb
+</gallery>