Description

A fascinating look at Nazi Germany's radical development of a manned missile to shoot down Allied bombers.

The Bachem Ba 349 Natter was a secretive, vertical take-off, single-seat rocket interceptor intended to offer high-speed defence of key targets. This radical aircraft offered Luftwaffe an inexpensive means with which to intercept and attack Allied heavy bombers using a vertically-launched, semi-expendable machine built of wood and armed with a nose-mounted 'honeycomb' battery of spin-stabilised air-to-air rockets as well as cannon armament. Launched vertically at 36,000ft per minute, the pilot was expected to fly within range of the enemy bombers, fire his rockets at them, ram another bomber, eject and parachute to the ground.

Illustrated with contemporary photographs and stunning commissioned artwork, this study examines this inventive yet ultimately unsuccessful attempt by the Luftwaffe to defend against the tide of Allied aircraft that was bombing German cities into the ground.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Origins
Prototype Design
Test and Development
Influence on Frontline Types
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index

Product details

Published Jun 28 2018
Format Ebook (Epub)
Edition 1st
Extent 80
ISBN 9781472820112
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations Illustrated throughout with around 50 photos and at least 5pp of colour artwork
Series X-Planes
Short code XPL 8
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Robert Forsyth

Robert Forsyth is an author, editor and publisher,…

Illustrator

Adam Tooby

Adam Tooby is an internationally renowned digital…

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