BLUF
The WW2 German V2 rocket was one of the wonder weapons meant to save Germany—it had little strategic effect and did not affect the outcome of WW2.Summary
This article by Richard Hollingham in BBC Future makes the following points:
- In autumn 1944, the first V2 ('retaliatory weapon') rocket was launched by Germany from German-occupied Holland against the UK.
- Germany launched V2s from mobile units, and each V2 rocket was 14 metres high with 900 kg of explosives.
- A V2 reached 80km above the Earth and had a 190 km range.
- Five minutes from launch to landing.
- A last-ditch German effort to prevent defeat.
- One of the so-called 'Wonder Weapons' that was supposed to save Germany—but didn't.
- 1,300+ V2s fired at England and more at Belgium and France.
- 2,724 British killed
- Twenty thousand prisoners were used in the making of the V2.
- Design engineer Wernher von Braun later worked for the US Army on the Redstone Missile, used to put the first American in space in 1961.
- WW2 technological innovations accelerated rocket development and the space age.
References
Recent Runway Posts related to this topic:
- 75 Years Ago, A Nazi Rocket took the first photo of earth from space. | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
References from the Web:
- MAR 2022 V2 rocket: Origin, history and spaceflight legacy –Space.com
- V-2 Missile- Smithsonian
- The terrifying German ‘revenge weapons ‘of WW2 – Imperial War Museum
Source Information: BBC Future
- Article Source: BBC Future
- Media Check: BBC Media Bias/Fact Check (mediabiasfactcheck.com)
- RAAF RUNWAY: RATIONALE, GUIDELINES, LEARNING OUTCOMES, ETC |
