Bachem Ba 349 Natter

Designed in 1944 to protect German industries and communication routes against US bomber raids, the Natter (a viper) was a high-performance, low-cost interceptor, Produced in series by small workshops. Indeed the Natter, whose construction required only 500 hours of work, was devoid of wheels, built of wood and assembled with glue.  

Weapon of the last chance in the same way as the Japanese Ohka, the Bachem nevertheless never served in operation. Once launched from a vertical ramp, the pilot rejoined his target with the autopilot at 11,000 m / min, powered by four boosters for 10 seconds. Then for 70 seconds at full power by a rocket engine, he made an approach to place himself in the back of the enemy, was running on him at 800 km / h. Then he attacked the bombers with his rockets carried in his nose. Finally, his mission carried out, the cockpit separated from the fuselage. The latter and the engine were recovered separately for reuse.

The first tests began in October 1944, and unmanned launches on board were conducted from December of the same year. As the only pilot flight was completed dramatically, the program was stopped when 20 Ba 349A series aircraft had already been produced.

Only 36 Ba 349 Natter were produced on the order of 200 and 10 were put in battery in the last days of the War on the base of Kirchheim but the approach of the American tanks caused their destruction by the Germans themselves without any of These piloted missiles can not be used operationally.

The next version, the Ba 349B, renamed Umbau (rebuilt) had a larger size with increased fuel capacity and higher armament. Only three copies were completed. Finally, an even larger C series was planned ...

Specification : 

Crew: 1
Wingspan: 3.39 m
Length: 6.02 m
Height: 2.24 m
Motorization: 4 Schmidding rocket engines 109-553 for take-off and 1 Walter HWK 109-509C1 rocket engine of 2000 kgp for the approach
Total power: 4 x 1200 kgp.
Weight: 2230 kg
Max Speed : 997 km / h
Service ceiling: 14000 m

Range : 58 Km
Armament: 4 rockets Hs 217 Föhn of 73 mm
Or 33 R4 / M rockets
Or 2 guns of 30 mm

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