PzGr40
27.05.2003, 11:44
-Text added to posting and old picture replaced by better quality pictures 30-12-06-
Cutaway model of a 'Sondergerät 500 Jägerfaust' (also often referred to as Jagdfaust, which could be correct too). It was a radical weapon, firing heavy 50 mm projectiles vertically up into the lower sides of bombers. The system was triggered by an optical system, and the pilot's only task was passing underneath the bomber. The Jägerfaust was tested on the Fw 190, destined for installation in the Me 163B and the Me 262B. The installation in the Me 262B apparently did not work successfully, and it was not used operationally. Trials with the Komet showed very promising results and it is reported that some six operational aircraft were modified.
-Start quote-
A combination of reports in books by Mano Ziegler, Jeffrey Ethell and Stephen Ransom revealed another hugely interesting aspect of "White 05". After arriving at Brandis, one of EK16's few remaining tasks was weapons development and testing. The very high speed of the Komet made conventional canon attacks difficult and ineffective, and alternative weapons were needed. R4M rockets had been tested on an Me 163A at Udetfeld successfully, but another idea had popped up. Armaments engineer Dr. Langweiler had come up with the idea of firing heavy shells verticaly into the lower sides of bombers, the system being triggered by the bomber's shadow passing over an optical sensor. The pilot only had to pass underneath a bomber and the system would do the rest. Dr. Langeweiler had come to Brandis and together with EK16's armaments test pilot Lt. August Hachtel he went to work. The system was named 'Sondergerät (Special Device) 500 Jagdfaust', also referred to as 'Jägerfaust'.
A trial installation was built into a Fw 190, with a barrel in each wing. Lt Hachtel flew the Fw 190 at low altitude under a 2 meter wide fabric banner held by balloons. The banner showed 2 holes in this first test! Two tubes were added, and the second and third test run resulted in 3 and 4 holes respectively. More tubes were added up to a total of eight, resulting in 7 holes. The only problem was the cracking of the canopy due to the blast of the firing tubes.
Installation in a Komet was next, and this happened to be 'White 05'. It was fitted with 5 vertical tubes in each wing root. The problem of the canopy cracking was solved by putting an electronic delay in the firing of the tubes. In the mean time the balloons had been forbidden, and the banner was held by two poles, at an even lower altitude then the balloon-held banner. The first 'live' firing took place on 24 December 1944, with all 10 barrels loaded. But disaster struck when "White 05" was diving for a pass underneath the banner. A dark cloud caused the system to fire prematurely, but worse, all 10 tubes fired simultaneously because the delay had not been installed. The canopy was blasted off, and the Komet pitched violently. Half blinded, Hachtel still managed a hard crash landing; he was found besides the aircraft, unconsious and with a damaged spine. "White 05" was damaged considerably, and ended up on the scrap heap. I think that a life span of almost a year still isn't bad for an aircraft as volatile as the Me 163B.
-End quote-
One bomber was shot down with it by Fritz Kelb. This happened on 10 April 1945, the last day that Komets operated from Brandis. The victim has been reported as a Lancaster in Ransom's book, and as a B-17 in others, but only recently new evidence came to light via Stephen M. Fochuk from Canada. He reports:
On the 10th of April 1945 a rather large formation of No.6 (RCAF) Group Lancasters and Halifaxes carried out a day light raid on the railway centre and marshalling yards at Leipzig. Other than moderate flak being reported the only enemy opposition was in the form of 1 to 3 Me 163s. Several air gunners fired at the rocket interceptor(s) but no hits were confirmed. According to one witness a Me 163 destroyed a Halifax, which "blew up right in front of me".
This description agrees with the destructive power of a Jägerfaust armed Komet, and it is a almost sure match. So it was a Halifax instead of a Lancaster or a B-17.
Technical description of the SG.500:
-The Jägerfaust is a recoilless weapon. It ejects its barrel downwards to compensate for the upwards firing shell. The system consists of a thin-walled slightly conical launching tube build into the wing, a riffled barrel, a projectile and a propelling charge. The barrel is lightly conical too on the outside, enabeling the barrel to be press fitted into the launching tube in the wing root. Three strips are welded on the outside of the barrel at 120 degr each which fit into three slots in the launching tube. This to prevent the barrel from rotating counterwise to the shells rifling on firing. Two dowel pins are placed below the base of the barrel in the launching tube that break when the downward force is high enough. When the charge is electrically ignited, causing the projectile to move upward, the barrel forced downward- breaks the dowel pins, is forced out of the conical lock up, moving downward. The riffling of the barrel makes the shell start to spin which results in greater stability in flight.
-The installation in the Komet consisted of 10 tubes, but exact data is lacking. The installation shown in the drawing is an approximation.
-The projectile is of The M-type, the projectile weight is 1 kilogram, consisting of 610 grams steel casing and 390 grams explosive. The powdercharge exists of is 51,3 grams of Nz Rp. (Nitro cellulose Rifle powder), resulting in a muzzle velocity of 400 m/s.
-The Jägerfaust was manufactured by 'Hasag' in Leipzig
-All Jägerfaust cartridges I saw up to now had a barrel length of 520mm and a 50 mm high propellant chamber up to where the rifling starts.
Exept for one barrel (lower one in top picture), which is 515mm long and has a 113 mm long propellant chamber before rifling of the barrel starts. I do not know if this is a production mistake, either an experiment with different barrel lengths and powdercharge sizes or powder types.
-A Jägerfaust projectile with a tracer was available.
Regards DJH
Cutaway model of a 'Sondergerät 500 Jägerfaust' (also often referred to as Jagdfaust, which could be correct too). It was a radical weapon, firing heavy 50 mm projectiles vertically up into the lower sides of bombers. The system was triggered by an optical system, and the pilot's only task was passing underneath the bomber. The Jägerfaust was tested on the Fw 190, destined for installation in the Me 163B and the Me 262B. The installation in the Me 262B apparently did not work successfully, and it was not used operationally. Trials with the Komet showed very promising results and it is reported that some six operational aircraft were modified.
-Start quote-
A combination of reports in books by Mano Ziegler, Jeffrey Ethell and Stephen Ransom revealed another hugely interesting aspect of "White 05". After arriving at Brandis, one of EK16's few remaining tasks was weapons development and testing. The very high speed of the Komet made conventional canon attacks difficult and ineffective, and alternative weapons were needed. R4M rockets had been tested on an Me 163A at Udetfeld successfully, but another idea had popped up. Armaments engineer Dr. Langweiler had come up with the idea of firing heavy shells verticaly into the lower sides of bombers, the system being triggered by the bomber's shadow passing over an optical sensor. The pilot only had to pass underneath a bomber and the system would do the rest. Dr. Langeweiler had come to Brandis and together with EK16's armaments test pilot Lt. August Hachtel he went to work. The system was named 'Sondergerät (Special Device) 500 Jagdfaust', also referred to as 'Jägerfaust'.
A trial installation was built into a Fw 190, with a barrel in each wing. Lt Hachtel flew the Fw 190 at low altitude under a 2 meter wide fabric banner held by balloons. The banner showed 2 holes in this first test! Two tubes were added, and the second and third test run resulted in 3 and 4 holes respectively. More tubes were added up to a total of eight, resulting in 7 holes. The only problem was the cracking of the canopy due to the blast of the firing tubes.
Installation in a Komet was next, and this happened to be 'White 05'. It was fitted with 5 vertical tubes in each wing root. The problem of the canopy cracking was solved by putting an electronic delay in the firing of the tubes. In the mean time the balloons had been forbidden, and the banner was held by two poles, at an even lower altitude then the balloon-held banner. The first 'live' firing took place on 24 December 1944, with all 10 barrels loaded. But disaster struck when "White 05" was diving for a pass underneath the banner. A dark cloud caused the system to fire prematurely, but worse, all 10 tubes fired simultaneously because the delay had not been installed. The canopy was blasted off, and the Komet pitched violently. Half blinded, Hachtel still managed a hard crash landing; he was found besides the aircraft, unconsious and with a damaged spine. "White 05" was damaged considerably, and ended up on the scrap heap. I think that a life span of almost a year still isn't bad for an aircraft as volatile as the Me 163B.
-End quote-
One bomber was shot down with it by Fritz Kelb. This happened on 10 April 1945, the last day that Komets operated from Brandis. The victim has been reported as a Lancaster in Ransom's book, and as a B-17 in others, but only recently new evidence came to light via Stephen M. Fochuk from Canada. He reports:
On the 10th of April 1945 a rather large formation of No.6 (RCAF) Group Lancasters and Halifaxes carried out a day light raid on the railway centre and marshalling yards at Leipzig. Other than moderate flak being reported the only enemy opposition was in the form of 1 to 3 Me 163s. Several air gunners fired at the rocket interceptor(s) but no hits were confirmed. According to one witness a Me 163 destroyed a Halifax, which "blew up right in front of me".
This description agrees with the destructive power of a Jägerfaust armed Komet, and it is a almost sure match. So it was a Halifax instead of a Lancaster or a B-17.
Technical description of the SG.500:
-The Jägerfaust is a recoilless weapon. It ejects its barrel downwards to compensate for the upwards firing shell. The system consists of a thin-walled slightly conical launching tube build into the wing, a riffled barrel, a projectile and a propelling charge. The barrel is lightly conical too on the outside, enabeling the barrel to be press fitted into the launching tube in the wing root. Three strips are welded on the outside of the barrel at 120 degr each which fit into three slots in the launching tube. This to prevent the barrel from rotating counterwise to the shells rifling on firing. Two dowel pins are placed below the base of the barrel in the launching tube that break when the downward force is high enough. When the charge is electrically ignited, causing the projectile to move upward, the barrel forced downward- breaks the dowel pins, is forced out of the conical lock up, moving downward. The riffling of the barrel makes the shell start to spin which results in greater stability in flight.
-The installation in the Komet consisted of 10 tubes, but exact data is lacking. The installation shown in the drawing is an approximation.
-The projectile is of The M-type, the projectile weight is 1 kilogram, consisting of 610 grams steel casing and 390 grams explosive. The powdercharge exists of is 51,3 grams of Nz Rp. (Nitro cellulose Rifle powder), resulting in a muzzle velocity of 400 m/s.
-The Jägerfaust was manufactured by 'Hasag' in Leipzig
-All Jägerfaust cartridges I saw up to now had a barrel length of 520mm and a 50 mm high propellant chamber up to where the rifling starts.
Exept for one barrel (lower one in top picture), which is 515mm long and has a 113 mm long propellant chamber before rifling of the barrel starts. I do not know if this is a production mistake, either an experiment with different barrel lengths and powdercharge sizes or powder types.
-A Jägerfaust projectile with a tracer was available.
Regards DJH