Product Code Database
Rheintochter was a German surface-to-air missile developed by Rheinmetall during World War II. Its name comes from the mythical Rheintöchter (Rhinemaidens) of Richard Wagner's opera series Der Ring des Nibelungen.
The missile was a multi-stage rocket.Christopher, p.131. It had four small varnished plywood control surfaces, resembling paddles, in the nose, six fins at the after end of the top stage, and four at the end of the main stage. It stood tall, with a diameter of . The sustainer motor, located ahead of the warhead (rather than behind, as is more usual) exhausted through six venturis between the first stage fins.
The project was cancelled on 6 February 1945.
Examples are on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, the Deutsches Museum in Munich, Air Defense Learning Annex at Fort Sill, OK and at the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands, UK.
The proposed R2 did not offer any improvement over the R1, and was dropped in December 1944.
The R3 model was developed, which had a liquid fuel engine with solid-fuel boosters ("strap-ons"). Only six trial missiles were fired.Christopher, p.132.
|
|
