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Germany's Bachem Ba 349 Natter (Adder) Fighter1,2,
BP 202
Bachem Ba 349 Natter fighter:
Bachem Ba 349 Natter fighter:
Bachem Ba 349 Natter fighter:
Bachem Ba 349 Natter fighter:
Design
Erich Bachem proposed his rocket powered interceptor in 1939 but there was no official support.1
The German Air Ministry asked for a small point interceptor for which four companies submitted designs and Bachem's was selected.1 This was primarily due to the influence of Heinrich Himmler who was looking for more influence.1
Because of the economic situation the Natter was to be made from wood and be simply made.1,2
It was launched from a vertical rail with an autopilot and rocket boosters.1 The Schmidding boosters would provide 10 seconds of boost on takeoff.2
As the Natter got to the level of bombers the pilot would take control.1 He would make a pass using the rockets.1 The Natter then went down to 4,600' / 1,400 m and the nose would separate from the fuselage and the pilot would descend by parachute with the fuselage.1
The pilot was protected by armor on four sides.1 There was plans for an ejection seat, but there was no room.1
Prototype
An He 111 carried an unpowered prototype Natter up to 18,000' / 5,500 m and released it.1 Test launches were done with dummy pilots.1
Oberleutnant L. Siebert died during the first manned test.1
The BP 20 M3 was tested on December 14, 1944 by being towed by an aircraft.2
The BP 20 M17 was test launched without a pilot on December 22, 1944.2
The BP 20 M23 was launched with a pilot on March 1, 1945.2
Production
Thirty six were built and only 10 became operational.1 However, these were destroyed when the American forces approached their base.1
50 were ordered for the Luftwaffe and 150 for the SS.2 Only one was completed.2
Three Ba 349Bs were built.2
Variants
- Ba 349 / BP 20:
- Ba 349A Musterflugzeug (pre-series) / BP 20A:
- BP 20 M3 Musterflugzeugen: Third in the series that was test flown.2
- BP 20 M17:
- BP 20 M23:
- Ba 349B / BP 20B: Larger model.2 Called the Umbau (rebuilt).2 Had two 30 mm cannons and 24 Föhn rockets.2
- Ba 349C / BP 20C: It was to have a new wing and more fuel capacity.2
Usage
| Bachem Ba 349 Natter2 | Bachem Ba 349A Natter1 Musterflugzeug2 |
Bachem Ba 349B2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Fighter2 | Fighter1 | |
| Crew | 12 | 11 | |
| Engine (Type) | Walter HWK 509A-2 bi-fuel rocket motor2 2 or 4: Schmidding solid fuel booster rockets2 |
1: Walter HWK 509C-1 bi-fuel rocket motor1 plus 4: Schmidding solid fuel rockets1 |
|
| Thrust | Walter: 3,748 lb2 Schmidding: 2,645 lb2 |
Walter: 3,748 lb1 Schmidding: 2,640 lb1 |
|
| Dimensions | |||
| Span | 11' 10"1 3.6 m1 |
13' 1.5"2 4 m2 |
|
| Length | 20'1 6.1 m1 |
19' 9"2 6.02 m2 |
|
| Height | 7' 4.5"2 2.25 m2 |
||
| Wing area | 30 ft2 1 2.75 m2 1 |
50.59 ft2 2 4.7 m2 2 |
|
| Weight | |||
| Empty | 2,414 lb2 1,095 kg2 |
||
| Loaded | 4,850 lb1 2,200 kg1 |
5,004 lb2 2,270 kg2 |
|
| Performance | |||
| Speed @ 16,400' / 5,000 m |
619 mph1 998 kph1 |
||
| Speed @ 16,405' / 5,000 m |
621 mph2 1,000 kph2 |
||
| Climb | 36,415'/minute1 11,400 m/minute1 |
42,520'/minute2 216 m/second2 |
|
| Service ceiling | |||
| Combat radius @ 12,000' / 39,400' | 25 miles1 40 km1 |
||
| Range @ 9,840' / 3,000 m |
36 miles2 58 km2 |
||
| Range @ 32,810 ' / 10,000 m |
24 miles2 39 km2 |
||
| Armament | |||
| Nose | 24: 73 mm Hs 217 Föhn rockets1,2 | ||
| OR | 33: 55 mm R4M rockets2 | ||
| Production |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- The Great Book of Fighters, William Green, Gordon Swanborough, 1994
