Rheintochter: German Surface-to-Air Missile

Remote-controlled anti-aircraft missile "Rheintochter 1" in flight, 1944.

Rheintochter was a German surface-to-air missile developed by Rheinmetall-Borsig 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 solid fueled rocket. 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 6.3 m (20 ft 8 in) tall, with a diameter of 54 cm (1 ft 9 in). The sustainer motor, located ahead of the 136 kg (300 lb) warhead (rather than behind, as is more usual) exhausted through six venturis between the first stage fins.

Type: Surface-to-air missile

Place of origin: Germany

Designed: 1942-1943

Manufacturer: Rheinmetall-Borsig

Propellant: multi-stage solid fuel

History

Rheintochter was ordered in November 1942 by the German army (Heer). Starting in August 1943, 82 test firings were made. An air-launched version was also designed. The operational version was intended to be fired from a ramp or converted gun mount.

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.

Variants

R1: The initial R1 variant was powered by a two-stage solid-fuel rocket.

R2: The proposed R2 did not offer any improvement over the R1, and was dropped in December 1944.

R3: The R3 model was developed, which had a liquid fuel engine with solid-fuel boosters ("strap-ons"). Only six trial missiles were fired.

Specifications

Power plant: R1 variant was two-stage solid fuel; R3 was liquid fuel with solid-fuel boosters

Length: 6.3 m (20 ft 8 in)

Diameter: 54 cm (1 ft 9 in)

Wing span: 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in)

Launch weight: 1,748 kg (3,854 lb)

Speed: 1,080 km/h (671 mph)

Warhead: 136 kg (300 lb)

Altitude: R1 8 km

Guidance system: Radio Command

Sources

Christopher, John. The Race for Hitler's X-Planes. The Mill, Gloucestershire: History Press, 2013.

Ford, Brian J., Secret Weapons, Osprey Publishing, 2011.

Rheintochter I air defense missile on its launcher.  

Rheintochter I.

Rheintochter R1 missile on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.

Three German WWII missiles: A Rheinbote (right), a Rheintochter R1 (left), and a partial Rheintochter R3 (center, horizontal).

Rheintochter I air defense missile on its launcher.

“Rheintochter” R-1 rear view.

“Rheintochter” R-1
1 – drive.
2 – servos.
3 – gyro autopilot.
4 radio.
5 – accumulator.
6 – solid-propellant sustainer.
7 – nozzle propulsion engine.
8 – wing.
9 – military.
10 – start-up accelerator.
11 – stabilizer.
12 – brace stabilizer.
13 – interchangeable nozzle.
14 – tracer.
15 – igniter.
16 – starter bracket.
17 – brace for mounting of the wings.
18 – brace for mounting stabilizers.

“Rheintochter” R-3F.

Rheintochter R-3's liquid-fuel rocket engine on display at RAF Cosford.

“Rheintochter” R-3

KEY 

1 – distance sensor with heat-resistant fairing.
2 – control surfaces (two pairs).
3 – shaft wheel bearing supports.
4 – mechanical servos.
5 – electric motor for steering the machine.
6 – “average case” with equipment.
7 – elastic frame of the gyroscope suspension.
8 – gyroscope.
9 – receiver and battery.
10 – oxidizer tank – Salibi.
11 – rotary inlets of the oxidizer.
12 – warhead with ready-striking elements.
13 – fuel tank – Visol.
14 – ball compressed air.
15 – combustion chamber with the nozzle.
16 – tail fairing tin.
17 – reducing valve for testing program changes in the thrust.
18 – rotary intake of fuel.
19 – wings of glued wood.
20 – tracer.
21 – the cable channel.
22 – a stop for the accelerator.
23 – pyrobolt accelerator.
24 – jet accelerator (axes pass through the CG).
25 – removable cover accelerator with the igniter.
26 – air brake.
27 – bracket for mounting missiles on the launcher.
28 – igniter.
29 – a charge of solid fuel.
30 – grate.
31 – start-up accelerator.

“Rheintochter” R-3.

“Rheintochter” R-3.

“Rheintochter” R-3.

“Rheintochter” R-3.