Did you know that the V-2 rocket, also known as Aggregat 4 (A-4), was the world’s first long-range guided ballistic missile? Developed during World War II in Nazi Germany, it stood as a pioneering creation intended for use as a retaliation weapon against Allied cities. The V-2’s impact transcended its wartime origins, leaving an enduring legacy that shaped the trajectory of military technology and space exploration.


The V-2 missile, with its supersonic speed and unstoppable nature, traveled at unprecedented velocities, impacting targets without audible warning. The Wehrmacht launched over 3,000 V-2 rockets, resulting in approximately 9,000 civilian and military casualties, while an additional 12,000 laborers and concentration camp prisoners succumbed to forced involvement in the missile’s production.


The V-2’s technical details reveal its innovative engineering. Dr. Thiel’s 25-ton rocket motor, using pump feeding and centrifugal injection, employed regenerative cooling and film cooling with a combustion pressure of 1.52 MPa (220 psi). The warhead, weighing 975 kilograms (2,150 lb), contained 910 kilograms (2,010 lb) of explosive, while the fuel tanks safeguarded by glass wool held 4,173 kilograms (9,200 lb) of ethyl alcohol and 5,553 kilograms (12,242 lb) of oxygen.


Guided by external rudders and internal graphite vanes controlled by an analog computer, the V-2 employed radio control for motor cut-off (Brennschluss) and various gyroscopic systems for velocity measurement and control. Despite early issues like in-flight breakup, the German developers addressed design flaws, ensuring the rocket’s efficacy.


The V-2’s psychological impact, traveling faster than sound without warning, left a lasting impression. Although it did not alter the war’s outcome, its symbolic significance and technological advancements endured. The V-2 laid the foundation for future liquid-fuel missiles and space launchers. Its impact extended globally, influencing the United States, the Soviet Union, France, China, and the UK in various capacities.
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