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Country: Germany
Type: SRBM
Introduction: 1944 |
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The V-2 rocket (known as the A-4 during development) was the first ballistic missile and first man-made object to achieve sub-orbital spaceflight. Over 3,000 V-2 short range ballistic missiles were launched by the German armed forces against Allied targets in World War II, resulting in the death of 7,250 military personnel and civilians. The V-2 was first deployed operationally on 8 September 1944.
Werner von Braun specified the A-4 performance in 1937 and A-4 design and construction was approved sometime in 1938-39. By late 1941, the Army Research Center at Peenemunde possessed the technologies essential to the success of the A-4. The three key technologies for the A-4 were large liquid-fuel rocket engines, supersonic aerodynamics, and guidance and control. In early September 1943, von Braun claimed that A-4 development was nearly completed but even by the middle of 1944, there were technical obstacles. Hitler was impressed by the enthusiasm of its developers and authorized its deployment in large numbers.
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| General Information |
| Developed by |
Germany |
| Deployed by |
Germany |
| Development Year |
1938 |
| Deployment Year |
1944 |
| Retirement Year |
1945 |
| Number manufactured |
Over 5,000 |
| Manufacturer |
Peenemunde |
| Dimensions and Performance |
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Length |
14.036m |
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Body Diameter |
1.64m |
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Wing/Fin span |
3.564m |
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Launch Weight |
12,417kg |
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Range |
314km |
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Speed |
5,400km/h |
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Altitude |
93.3km |
| Components |
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Propulsion |
liquid |
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Warhead |
975kg blast warhead |
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Guidance |
inertial with gyros |
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