The Henschel Hs 117 Schmetterling (German for Butterfly) was a radio-guided German surface-to-air missile project developed during World War II. There was also an air-to-air version, the Hs 117H.[2]
| Hs 117 Schmetterling | |
|---|---|
 A Schmetterling missile on display at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM), Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. | |
| Type | Surface-to-air (SAM) / Air-to-air (AAM) missile |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Herbert A. Wagner |
| Designed | 1942-1943 |
| Manufacturer | Henschel Flugzeugwerke |
| Variants | Hs 117M (air-to-air missile variant) |
| Specifications (Hs 117) | |
| Mass | 450 kg (990 lb),[1] 620 kg (1,370 lb) with launch boosters[citation needed] |
| Length | 4,200 mm (170 in) |
| Diameter | 350 mm (14 in) |
| Wingspan | 2,000 mm (79 in) |
| Warhead | High explosive |
| Engine | 1x BMW 109-558 liquid-fuelled rocket engine 3.7 kN (830 lbf) for 33 sec, followed by 0.588 kN (132 lbf) for 24 sec[1] |
| Propellant | Tonka-250 (50% triethylamine and 50% xylidine) fuel, with SV-Stoff (nitric acid) oxidiser[1] |
Operational range | 32 km (20 mi; 17 nmi) |
| Flight altitude | 6,000–9,000 m (20,000–30,000 ft)[1] |
| Boost time | 2x Schmidding 109-553 Ethylene glycol solid fuel boosters, giving total 17.1 kN (3,800 lbf) thrust for 4 sec. |
| Maximum speed | 900–1,000 km/h (560–620 mph; 490–540 kn)[1] |
Guidance system | MCLOS; visual guidance by telescope, radio controls; two-man crew[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 10–20 m (33–66 ft).[3]
Development
editIn 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 Professor Wagner, and it produced a weapon somewhat resembling a bottlenose dolphin with swept wings and cruciform tail.[1]
In May 1944, 59 Hs 117 missiles were tested, some from beneath a Heinkel He 111; over half the trials failed.[2] 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.[1]
In January 1945, a prototype for mass production was completed, and production of 3,000 missiles a month was anticipated,[1] but on 6 February, SS-Obergruppenführer Hans Kammler cancelled the project.
Variants
editThe Hs 117H was an air-launched variant, designed to be launched from a Dornier Do 217, Junkers Ju 188, or Junkers Ju 388.[4] This version was designed to attack enemy aircraft up to 5 km (16,000 ft) above the launching aircraft.[5]
See also
editRelated lists
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i Christopher (2013), p. 126.
- ^ a b Christopher (2013), p. 127.
- ^ Christopher (2013), pp. 126–127.
- ^ Christopher (2013), pp. 127–128.
- ^ Ford (2013), p. 224.
- Christopher, John (2013). The Race for Hitler's X-Planes. The Mill, Gloucestershire: History Press.
- Ford, Roger (2013). Germany's Secret Weapons of World War II. London, UK: Amber Books. ISBN 9781909160569.
External links
edit
- Henschel Hs117 Schmettering (Butterfly) - Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford (UK)
- German language page on the Hs 117 Schmetterling SAM missile