Jagdfaust
Encyclopedia
The SG 500 Jagdfaust was an experimental airborne anti-bomber
recoilless rifle
designed for use in the Me 163 Komet
rocket plane
by the German
Luftwaffe during World War II
. The weapon featured a simple form of automated trigger in which an optical photocell
detected the dark silhouette of an Allied
bomber
replacing bright blue sky and triggered the firing of the armed Jagdfaust guns.
The Komet was so fast that pilots found it difficult to fire enough cannon rounds to destroy a bomber in a single pass. The Jagdfaust was developed to address this problem. A 5 cm shell was mounted in a launch tube held in place by a pair of thin pins. Five such tubes were mounted vertically (to fire upward) in each wing root. The design was based on the Schräge Musik
, the manually triggered upward-firing air-to-air cannon
extensively deployed with the Luftwaffe night fighter
squadrons.
The launch tubes were rifled
for greater stability of the projectile in flight
. The greater resistance of rifling also served to eliminate recoil
forces of the weapon affecting the aircraft
. When the weapon fired, the force of the launch would break the pins holding the tube in place and the heavy tube was accelerated in the direction opposite to that of the shell. The moving tube corrected for the effect of the launch forces on the airframe. Hence the name, "Fighter plane fist"; like the "Armour fist" or "Panzerfaust," it was a recoilless weapon based on the same Newtonian 'action equals reaction' principle.
The Jagdfaust used a 5 cm "Minengranate" shell
, whose thin walls traded fragmentation for additional explosive
s; when detonated within an aircraft with sheet metal
skin, the skin would be blown off to devastating effect.
The entire weapon was designed for economy. Because it was intended for short range use, the shell
had an aerodynamically inefficient shape that could be easily forged or stamped. Its tolerances were loose, as its long-range accuracy was not an issue. Instead of a driving band, the shell flared at its base and was machined to engage the rifling
. The launch tube was made of soft unalloyed steel
since it would not need to keep its rifling over multiple firings. The shell used a simple type of fuse
instead of the more complex and expensive AZ 39 Safety Fuse. It was probably shipped pre-assembled and ready to install.
The weapon system is credited with one kill, that of an Allied
B-17 Flying Fortress. Though initials results were promising, the war ended before it could see extensive deployment.
Bomber destroyer
Historically, several aircraft were designated bomber destroyers prior and during the Second World War. They were interceptor aircraft dedicated to destroy enemy bomber aircraft with exceptionally powerful armament...
recoilless rifle
Recoilless rifle
A recoilless rifle or recoilless gun is a lightweight weapon that fires a heavier projectile than would be practical to fire from a recoiling weapon of comparable size. Technically, only devices that use a rifled barrel are recoilless rifles. Smoothbore variants are recoilless guns...
designed for use in the Me 163 Komet
Messerschmitt Me 163
The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet, designed by Alexander Lippisch, was a German rocket-powered fighter aircraft. It is the only rocket-powered fighter aircraft ever to have been operational. Its design was revolutionary, and the Me 163 was capable of performance unrivaled at the time. Messerschmitt...
rocket plane
Rocket-powered aircraft
A rocket-powered aircraft or rocket plane is an aircraft that uses a rocket for propulsion, sometimes in addition to airbreathing jet engines. Rocket planes can achieve much higher speeds than similarly sized jet aircraft, but typically for at most a few minutes of powered operation, followed by a...
by the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Luftwaffe during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The weapon featured a simple form of automated trigger in which an optical photocell
Sensor
A sensor is a device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an instrument. For example, a mercury-in-glass thermometer converts the measured temperature into expansion and contraction of a liquid which can be read on a calibrated...
detected the dark silhouette of an Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
replacing bright blue sky and triggered the firing of the armed Jagdfaust guns.
The Komet was so fast that pilots found it difficult to fire enough cannon rounds to destroy a bomber in a single pass. The Jagdfaust was developed to address this problem. A 5 cm shell was mounted in a launch tube held in place by a pair of thin pins. Five such tubes were mounted vertically (to fire upward) in each wing root. The design was based on the Schräge Musik
Schräge Musik
Schräge Musik, derived from the German colloquialism for "Jazz Music" was the name given to installations of upward-firing autocannon mounted in night fighters by the Luftwaffe and Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during World War II, with the first victories for each occurring in May 1943...
, the manually triggered upward-firing air-to-air cannon
Autocannon
An autocannon or automatic cannon is a rapid-fire projectile weapon firing a shell as opposed to the bullet fired by a machine gun. Autocannons often have a larger caliber than a machine gun . Usually, autocannons are smaller than a field gun or other artillery, and are mechanically loaded for a...
extensively deployed with the Luftwaffe night fighter
Night fighter
A night fighter is a fighter aircraft adapted for use at night or in other times of bad visibility...
squadrons.
The launch tubes were rifled
Rifling
Rifling is the process of making helical grooves in the barrel of a gun or firearm, which imparts a spin to a projectile around its long axis...
for greater stability of the projectile in flight
Flight
Flight is the process by which an object moves either through an atmosphere or beyond it by generating lift or propulsive thrust, or aerostatically using buoyancy, or by simple ballistic movement....
. The greater resistance of rifling also served to eliminate recoil
Recoil
Recoil is the backward momentum of a gun when it is discharged. In technical terms, the recoil caused by the gun exactly balances the forward momentum of the projectile and exhaust gasses, according to Newton's third law...
forces of the weapon affecting the aircraft
Fixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
. When the weapon fired, the force of the launch would break the pins holding the tube in place and the heavy tube was accelerated in the direction opposite to that of the shell. The moving tube corrected for the effect of the launch forces on the airframe. Hence the name, "Fighter plane fist"; like the "Armour fist" or "Panzerfaust," it was a recoilless weapon based on the same Newtonian 'action equals reaction' principle.
The Jagdfaust used a 5 cm "Minengranate" shell
Shell (projectile)
A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to shot, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage sometimes includes large solid projectiles properly termed shot . Solid shot may contain a pyrotechnic compound if a tracer or spotting charge is used...
, whose thin walls traded fragmentation for additional explosive
Explosive material
An explosive material, also called an explosive, is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure...
s; when detonated within an aircraft with sheet metal
Sheet metal
Sheet metal is simply metal formed into thin and flat pieces. It is one of the fundamental forms used in metalworking, and can be cut and bent into a variety of different shapes. Countless everyday objects are constructed of the material...
skin, the skin would be blown off to devastating effect.
The entire weapon was designed for economy. Because it was intended for short range use, the shell
Shell (projectile)
A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to shot, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage sometimes includes large solid projectiles properly termed shot . Solid shot may contain a pyrotechnic compound if a tracer or spotting charge is used...
had an aerodynamically inefficient shape that could be easily forged or stamped. Its tolerances were loose, as its long-range accuracy was not an issue. Instead of a driving band, the shell flared at its base and was machined to engage the rifling
Rifling
Rifling is the process of making helical grooves in the barrel of a gun or firearm, which imparts a spin to a projectile around its long axis...
. The launch tube was made of soft unalloyed steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
since it would not need to keep its rifling over multiple firings. The shell used a simple type of fuse
Fuze
Fuze Beverage, commercially referred to as just Fuze , is a manufacturer of teas and non-carbonated fruit drinks enriched with vitamins. Currently the brand consists of five vitamin-infused lines: Slenderize, Refresh, Tea, Defensify, and Vitalize...
instead of the more complex and expensive AZ 39 Safety Fuse. It was probably shipped pre-assembled and ready to install.
The weapon system is credited with one kill, that of an Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
B-17 Flying Fortress. Though initials results were promising, the war ended before it could see extensive deployment.