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Video: How were the ramming fighters of the Second World War tested?
2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55
During World War II, absolutely insane machines were created to destroy enemy equipment, fortifications and manpower. One of the strangest, but at the same time very interesting directions can be considered an attempt to create ramming fighters. The design of these small machines involved direct ramming of enemy aircraft in the sky. Most often, the pilot had to strike at the tail unit of the enemy vehicle.
1. United States of America - XP-79
The development of the XP-79 ramming fighter was started in the design bureau under the leadership of D. K. Northrop. From the very beginning, it was assumed that the novelty would ram aircraft into the tail section. For this, thick skin and steel were widely used in the design of the aircraft to increase the strength of the aircraft. Needless to say, the XP-79 should have had excellent maneuvering and speed performance. Development began in 1942. At the time of 1943, the design bureau presented 3 working prototypes. At first, the aircraft was equipped with an Aerojet-General rocket engine with a thrust of 850 kgf, but then it was replaced with two Westinghouse units.
The first tests took place in 1945. They ended in disaster. As a result, the project was closed.
Specifications
Crew: 1 person
Engine: 2x J30 700 kgf each
Maximum speed: 880 km / h
Flight range: 1,590 km
Service ceiling: 12 200 m
Dimensions (length, height, wingspan): 4.27x2.13x11.58 m
Empty weight: 2 649 kg
Maximum takeoff weight: 3 932 kg
Armament: x4 12.7 mm machine gun
2. Germany - Zeppelin Rammer
The German project of a ramming fighter "Zeppelin Rammer" ("Hammer") was launched in the design bureau of the firm "Zeppelin" in 1944. It was assumed that this vehicle will be delivered to the combat zone using a towing aircraft, which was to be used by the Bf-109. Before the attack, the fighter clung to the back and turned on the marching unit.
Before the attack, the German fighter dropped a new fairing and "poured" the enemy plane with a hail of unguided rockets. If the attack was unsuccessful, the pilot had to ram the enemy with a blow to the tail. The Hammer was to be attacked by enemy bombers. The project was never fully implemented.
Specifications
Crew: 1 person
Engine: 1x jet engine "Schmidling" with thrust of 500 kgf
Maximum speed: 970 km / h
Flight range: no data
Practical ceiling: no data
Dimensions (length, height, wingspan): 5.1x1.2x4.9
Empty weight: no data
Maximum takeoff weight: 860 kg
Armament: 14 unguided 55 mm R4M missiles
3. Germany - Ba-349
From the very beginning, the Ba-349 Nutter was conceived as a very simple and cheap fighter to support air defense systems. The project started in 1944. Unlike the previously developed "Hammer", they wanted to launch this fighter using a special catapult and a rail 24 meters long with the help of powder boosters, which were to be triggered after 10 seconds of flight at an altitude of 200 meters. The aircraft's autopilot operated until the aircraft moved 1.3-3 kilometers from the ground.
Attack the target Ba-349 "Nutter" was all the same pack of missiles. If the attack was unsuccessful, the pilot was obliged to go to the ram. True, now, the pilot had to eject immediately after aiming the car on the collision course. The plane was tested in October 1944 and ended in failure.
Specifications
Crew: 1 person
Engine: 1x HWK-509C-1 2000 kgf thrust + 4x 500 kgf thrust RDTG
Maximum speed: 990 km / h
Flight range: 57-40 km
Service ceiling: 11500 m
Dimensions (length, height, wingspan): 6.5x2.24x3.95 m
Empty weight: 880 kg
Maximum takeoff weight: 1769 kg
Armament: 24x unguided 73 mm Henschel He.217 missiles or 33x 55 mm R4M missiles
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