Zeppelin Rammer
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==Description== |
==Description== |
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In terms of its general configuration, the Zeppelin Rammer was a compact [[rocket propulsion|rocket-powered]] aircraft furnished with [[straight wing]]s that had a constant-[[Chord (aircraft)|chord]]. It was intended to be flown by a single pilot and powered by a single [[Schmidding]] 533 rocket motor, which would run on solid propellant; this was viewed as being simpler than a liquid-fuelled counterpart.LePage 2009, pp. 252-253. The Rammer was to be equipped with a jettisonable [[Tricycle landing gear|tricycle undercarriage]]. A retractable ski was also to be provided for landing.Van Pelt 2012, p. 100. |
In terms of its general configuration, the Zeppelin Rammer was a compact [[rocket propulsion|rocket-powered]] aircraft furnished with [[straight wing]]s that had a constant-[[Chord (aircraft)|chord]]. It was intended to be flown by a single pilot and powered by a single [[Schmidding]] 533 rocket motor, which would run on solid propellant; this was viewed as being simpler than a liquid-fuelled counterpart.LePage 2009, pp. 252-253. The Rammer was to be equipped with a jettisonable [[Tricycle landing gear|tricycle undercarriage]]. A retractable ski mounted underneath the forward fuselage was also to be provided for landing upon open ground.Van Pelt 2012, p. 100.>> |
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Operationally, the aircraft was to be towed or carried aloft by a conventional [[fighter aircraft]] and released when in the vicinity of enemy bombers.Ford 2013, p. 224. Shortly after being released, the pilot would ignite the Rammer's rocket engine, permitting it to rapidly accelerate to up to {{convert|600|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} before conducting a high speed pass of the target aircraft, initially firing the Rammer's 14 nose-mounted [[R4M]] 55 mm rockets.LePage 2009, p. 253. Once these have been expended, the pilot was expected to perform a second pass, during which they would attempt to ram the enemy bomber, specifically in vulnerable areas such as the wings or tail section.Wood and Ford 2000, p. 144. The aircraft was expected to survive the ramming of the bomber without any major loss of speed nor stability; the Rammer featured not only an armoured cockpit, but the wings and fuselage were reinforced for considerable sturdiness.Van Pelt 2012, p. 100. On account of the high risk that the pilot would be inherently exposed to in its aircraft's intended attack profile, the Rammer has been sometimes been categorised as a [[suicide weapon]],[http://discaircraft.greyfalcon.us/German%20Suicidal%20Aircraft.htm German Suicidal Aircraft] however, this aspect was not an expressed intention of the aircraft. Following a successful ramming, the aircraft was expected to perform an unpowered glide back to base. |
Operationally, the aircraft was to be towed or carried aloft by a conventional [[fighter aircraft]] and released when in the vicinity of enemy bombers.Ford 2013, p. 224. Shortly after being released, the pilot would ignite the Rammer's rocket engine, permitting it to rapidly accelerate to up to {{convert|600|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} before conducting a high speed pass of the target aircraft, initially firing the Rammer's 14 nose-mounted [[R4M]] 55 mm rockets.LePage 2009, p. 253. Once these have been expended, the pilot was expected to perform a second pass, during which they would attempt to ram the enemy bomber, specifically in vulnerable areas such as the wings or tail section.Wood and Ford 2000, p. 144. The aircraft was expected to survive the ramming of the bomber without any major loss of speed nor stability; the Rammer featured not only an armoured cockpit, but the wings and fuselage were reinforced for considerable sturdiness.Van Pelt 2012, p. 100.>> On account of the high risk that the pilot would be inherently exposed to in its aircraft's intended attack profile, the Rammer has been sometimes been categorised as a [[suicide weapon]],[http://discaircraft.greyfalcon.us/German%20Suicidal%20Aircraft.htm German Suicidal Aircraft] however, this aspect was not an expressed intention of the aircraft. Following a successful ramming, the aircraft was expected to perform an unpowered glide back to base, after which it could be recovered and reused. |
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During November 1944, the [[Germany|German]] aircraft manufacturer [[Luftschiffbau Zeppelin]], issued its proposal.LePage 2009, p. 252. Two months later, the company received an initial order for sixteen prototypes and work commenced accordingly. |
During November 1944, the [[Germany|German]] aircraft manufacturer [[Luftschiffbau Zeppelin]], issued its proposal.LePage 2009, p. 252. Two months later, the company received an initial order for sixteen prototypes and work commenced accordingly. Despite this, no known designation was ever assigned to the aircraft by the ''[[Ministry of Aviation (Nazi Germany)|Reichsluftfahrtministerium]]'' (RLM, Ministry of Aviation). Ultimately, all work on the project was effectively terminated when the Zeppelin factory was destroyed by [[United States Army Air Force|USAAF]] [[Strategic_bombing_during_World_War_II#The_British_later_in_the_war|air raid]]. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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