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Henschel Hs 117
The Henschel Hs 117 Schmetterling (German for Butterfly) was a TV guided German surface-to-air missile project developed during World War II. There was also an air-to-air version, the Hs 117H.}}.[1]
The operators used a telescopic sight and a joystick to guide the missile by radio control, which was detonated by acoustic and photoelectric proximity fuses, at between 10–20 m (33–66 ft).[2]
History
In 1941, Professor Herbert A. Wagner (who was previously responsible for the Henschel Hs 293 anti-ship missile) invented the Schmetterling missile and submitted it to the Reich Air Ministry (RLM), who rejected the design because there was no need for more anti-aircraft weaponry.
However, by 1943 the large-scale bombing of Germany caused the RLM to change its mind, and Henschel was given a contract to develop and manufacture it. The team was led by Dr. Herbert Wagner, and it produced a weapon somewhat resembling a bottlenose dolphin with swept wings and cruciform tail.[3] There were 59 experimental firings, of which 34 failed.Template:Cn It had a pair of Schmidding Schmidding 109-553 solid boosters and a single BMW 109-558 sustainer.[4]
In May 1944, 59 Hs 117 missiles were tested, some from beneath a Heinkel He 111; over half the trials failed.[5] Mass production was ordered in December 1944, with deployment to start in March 1945. Operational missiles were to be launched from a 37mm gun carriage.[6]
In January 1945, a prototype for mass production was completed, and production of 3,000 missiles a month was anticipated,[7] but on 6 February, SS-Obergruppenführer Hans Kammler cancelled the project.
Variants
The Hs 117H was an air-launched variant, designed to be launched from a Dornier Do 217, Junkers Ju 188, or Junkers Ju 388.[8] This version was designed to attack enemy aircraft up to Template:Convert above the launching aircraft.
Characteristics
- Primary function: surface-to-air missile
- Contractor: Henschel
- Power plant:
- Propellants: SV-Stoff (nitric acid), Tonka
- Length: 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in)
- Diameter: 350 mm (14 in)
- Wingspan: 2 m (6 ft 7 in)
- Launch weight: 450 kg (990 lb)[10] (presumably excluding boosters,Template:Cn which weighed a total of 170 kg (370 lb))
- Warhead: 25 kg (55 lb)
- Range: 32 km (20 mi; 17 nmi)
- Altitude: 20,000–30,000 ft (6,100–9,100 m)[11]
- Top speed: 900–1,000 km/h (560–620 mph; 490–540 kn)[12]
- Guidance system: MCLOS; visual guidance by telescope, radio controls; two-man crew[13]
- Date deployed: never
See also
References
- ↑ Christopher, John. The Race for Hitler's X-Planes (The Mill, Gloucestershire: History Press, 2013), p.127.
- ↑ Christopher, pp.126-7.
- ↑ Christopher, p.126.
- ↑ Christopher, p.126.
- ↑ Christopher, p.127.
- ↑ Christopher, p.126.
- ↑ Christopher, p.126.
- ↑ Christopher, pp.127-8.
- ↑ Christopher, p.126, says total Template:Convert for 65 seconds.
- ↑ Christopher, p.126.
- ↑ Christopher, p.126.
- ↑ Christopher, p.126.
- ↑ Christopher, p.126.
External links
| Related content | |
|---|---|
| Related development | |
| Similar missiles | |
| Designation series |
He 114 - He 115 - He 116 - Hs 117 - He 118 - He 119 - He 120 |
| Related lists | |
Template:Henschel aircraft Template:RLM aircraft designations
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
