Fritz-X Bomb

Guided glide bomb, developed by the company Ruhrstahl from 1938 to attack armored ships. It was first used in 1943, sinking the Italian battleship Roma. Had some other successes, but because of its short range and the fact of having to be guided by radio while the plane was watching the target, it enabled measurements of electronic warfare, and especially with defense fighters, become inefficient. Even so it was used on land, against bridges in the final months of the war.

Technical structure
The Fritz X was based on a Bomb type SD 1400 (Splitterbombe, dickwandig, 1400 kg) developed. It got one now aerodynamic conveniently designed tip, four stubby wings with a wingspan of 1.40 m and a box Tail. A Centrifugal control served to stabilize the longitudinal axis and a Fernlenkempfänger to control the Height and Aileron. Was controlled by the missile carrier aircraft from more than one Radio remote control in the VHF frequency range. It was the bombardier, the Weapon a so-called "command encoder with a flexibly mounted Lenkstab (Joystick) Always keep the goal in coverage. This had the disadvantage that - in contrast to how the glide bomb Henschel Hs 293 - The goal had to be flown over. The dropping height was 4000-7000 meters. At the rear, inside the four tail light sentences were appropriate, were used as an aid in the target control. The color of the light sentences was chosen to differentiate the bombardier in the air, the Fritz X was. When the bombing attempt Fritz X met in a target range of 5 × 5 meters.

History of development and deployment
Dipl.-Ing. Max Kramer of the DVL experimented since the late 1930 Remote-controlled free-falling bombs of years with 250 kg mass. In 1940, the Ruhr Steel AG in the development included, as they already had experience in the development and production of unguided bombs.

The Fritz X came on 29 August 1943 to the troops. On 9 September 1943 was the Air force their greatest success with this weapon won: After Truce the Allies with Italy ran the Italian Fleet from La Spezia out and took on course Malta In order to surrender to the Allies. Twelve fighters Dornier Do 217 III. Group of 100 Fighter Wing under Major Bernhard Jope, Started with one Fritz X on board to attack the Federation. The Italian Battleship the Littorio class RN Roma (1942) that Flagship the Italian fleet, received two hits and sank after an explosion of the ammunition chamber. Ten man died in 1455, including the Admiral Carlo Bergamini. The sister ship RN Italia was damaged.

The final entries with the Fritz X were made in April 1945 against the Oder bridge.[1]

Other vessels in the course of the war of Fritz X were damaged or sunk, were: A total of about 2,500 cases bombs were built.
 * the British Battleship HMS Warspite
 * the American Cruiser USS Philadelphia
 * the American cruiser USS Savannah
 * British cruiser HMS Uganda
 * British cruiser HMS Spartan (Recessed)
 * The British destroyer HMS Janus (Recessed)
 * hospital ship Newfoundland (Recessed)

Specifications

 * Model: SD-1400 X
 * Length: 3.32 m
 * Diameter: 0.853 m
 * Wingspan: 1.49 m
 * Guidance system: Remote control by radio, using a Kehl-Strassburg FuG 203/230
 * Engine: Rocket HWK 109-507B
 * Speed: 343 m / s
 * Range: 5 km
 * Weight ratio explosive charge: 23.5%
 * Total weight: 1362 kg
 * Bursting charge: 320 kg Amatol