German Henschel Hs- 293 Radio Guided Missile

By Crusader1307

The German ‘’Shock Weapon’’ known as The Henschel 293, was a late World War II Guided Missile, developed to be deployed against Enemy Shipping. Deployed via a Bomber (under carriage launched), The HS-293 was capable of being radio controlled (via signals to it’s gyroscopic mechanism) – to it’s target. Further, The HS-293 was ‘’rocket propelled’’, by virtue of a large, liquid fueled rocket (mounted underneath The Rocket). Germany had been experimenting with Guided Missiles since the late 1930s, with moderate success. The Most famous of which, which was the previously discussed ‘’Fritz-X’’. Somewhat problematic, The HS-293 was seen as a more practical alternative which could be constructed and deployed with greater ease than The ‘’Fritz’’.

 
Over 1,000 HS-293 Bombs were produced (beginning in 1942). The Rocket was 13-feet long with stabilization wings measuring 10-feet. The HS-293 weighed over 2,000-lbs. (650-lbs of which was it’s warhead).  The Rocket was capable of generating 1,300-lbs of thrust and could achieve a guided altitude of 13,000-feet. The rated airspeed was over 800-mph.
The Rocket’s ‘’Operator’’ was stationed inside the primary towing or launching Bomber Aircraft. He controlled the guidance system (radio) from this position. However, to maintain a proper and accurate visual of The Rocket, a series of flares would activate near final deployment – to serve as a form of visual guidance. The Rocket was very successful with a history of sinking or severely damaging over 45 Allied Warships. This lead to increased developments to Allied electronic counter-measures designed to interfere or ‘’jam’’ The HS-293. Several HS-293 have survived, with many more reproductions built for Air Museums throughout The World.