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In November 1941 Rheinmatall-Borsig
started to develop a rocket for planes. Because of camouflage this rocket
was called "Rauchzylinder" (smoke cylinder), short RZ.
The theoretical basics were
acquired since 1937. Initially this weapon was developed as an air-to-surface
rocket, later however it was planned to deploy it also against aerial targets.
The spin-stabilized rocket
carried a warhead of 190 gramm. Compared to the MG FF, which had an accuracy
of 26%, the RZ 65 flopped with only 15% accuracy.
So the operational tests
were only short and only the air-to-surface deployment was tested. A "Me
109", besides others, was used as test plane.
The "RZ 65" never saw duty
in great numbers.
When the german fighter pilots
noticed, how helpless they were against the heavy armoured allied bombers
in spite of their heavy guns, some officers investigated on own responsibility,
if the 21 cm "Nebelwerfer" was suitable with fighter planes. So at "Bf 109" and "Fw 190"
one, at "Me 110" two launch-tubes were attached under each wing. The test
results were satisfying, because this weapon enabled the pilots to attack
their targets out of a distance of 1200 meters. Nevertheless this weapon
got some disadvantages. One of these disadvantages was only one round per
tube. Another problem was the launcher itself. The launchers produced air
resistance and reduced speed and manoeuvrability.
The rockets were propelled
by 18,4 kg diglicol solid fuel, the weight of the warhead was 40,8 kg.
Like "RZ 65" the "Werfergranate 21" was stabilized by spin.
The "Wgr 21" was the first
onboard rocket in service by the Luftwaffe. I´ts even more remarkable,,
because it was invented by the troop itself.
The "Wgr. 21" was successfull.
Even at the first deployment at August, the 17´th 1943, when 376
US-Bombers attacked Schweinfurt, the day-fighter pilots scored a part of
their air victories with the "Wgr. 21"
