Siemens torpedo glider

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The Siemens torpedo glider (often referred to as an aerial torpedo) was an early precursor of the modern glide bomb developed in World War I but never used in action. It consisted of a naval torpedo with an attached airframe which was to be remotely wire-guided.

During October 1914, Dr. Wilhelm von Siemens suggested what became was to become known as the Siemens torpedo glider, a wire-guided flying missile which would essentially have comprised a naval torpedo with attached airframe. It was not intended that it be flown into a target; rather, at a suitable altitude and position a signal would have been transmitted which would cause the airframe components to detach from the torpedo which would then enter the water and continue towards its target. Guidance signals were to be transmitted through a thin copper wire, and guide flares were to be carried to help control.

Siemens-Schuckertwerke was already occupied with remote controlled boats (the FL-boats or Fernlenkboote), and had some experience in this area. Flight testing was performed under the supervision of Dipl. Ing. Dorner from January 1915 onwards, using airships as carriers and different types of biplane and monoplane gliders airframes to which a torpedo was fitted. The last test flight was performed on 1918-08-02.

It was planned to use the R VIII bomber as a carrier craft, but the Armistice stopped the project.^[1]

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Robinson, Anthony (1979). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aviation. Marshall Cavendish, p. 2043. 

[edit] External links

• Photograph of Siemens torpedo glider beneath the hull of Zeppelin L35