Description
The subject of this kit is the V-1 rocket and launch rail site. The V-1 launch site centered around the Walter WR 2.3 Schlitzrohr Schleuder catapult. The prerequisites for the site were modest - a concrete platform for attaching the catapult and supporting the gas generator trolley, and concrete pilings for the catapult support.
The catapult itself was a modular design in six-meter sections usually consisting of eight sections and a muzzle brake at the end for a total length of 49m (160ft). The gas generator trolley was fueled with a volatile mixture of T-stoff (hydrogen peroxide) and Z-stoff (sodium permanganate), which created a pulse of high-pressure gas that pushed a piston down the circular tube at the center of the catapult.
It took about 20 minutes to load and launch a V-1 missile, though some well-trained units brought the time down to 18 minutes. Generally, the launcher was placed near tree lines or within a wooded area to camouflage the launcher from aerial discovery.
