Schmetterling
This German anti-aircraft missile was developed in 1941 by Professor Wagner and
was refused by the Luftwaffe on the grounds that it was a defensive weapon.
Wagner received no official backing until 1943.
Then the Henschel company was given a development contract with production to
begin in February 1945. Due to bomb damage interrupting the work, the
development was incomplete when the war ended; of 59 experimental launchings, 34
had failed for various reasons.
Schmetterling was a bomb-shaped missile with fins, with two take off booster
rockets attached to the outside.
The boost rockets were solid-fuel types. while the internal sustainer motor was
a liquid-fuel rocket fueled by a by a ground controller.
It had an effective range of about 10 miles with a ceiling of 35,000 feet.
The warhead carried 55lb of high explosive and was fitted with a "Fox" proximity
fuze.
