Archives: Gmedia Albums

We think this relic, welded to a heavy gauge H beam, may be a points switch for a railway line. But do you know what it is, and what it did? If you do, please tell us.

Photo showing Werk Süd with IW on the left and F1 on the right taken on 19th August 1943. The photo shows only light damage to the main halls, although F1 was actually hit at least 11 times, and hits to the separate single storey workshops to the right of the IW hall. The long storage (oil and paint?) shed above IW and the woodworking shop at the top of the picture appear undamaged. Anti-aircraft platforms (at least 3) can be seen on the roof of IW but that seem to be empty of guns. F1 shows two AAA platforms (there was at least 3 at this stage and maybe more) and they may have guns installed. General W. Dornberger mentions defensive AA artillery fire from the from the roof of F1 in his 1952 book V2 (1954 in English).

RAF Recce photo taken 21st August 1944 of region around F1. The GPS marker for this photo is pegged on the lowest of the three fire fighting cisterns clearly visible in the image (in the center about a third the way up from the bottom of the image). Scroll down below this text for map and switch to ‘Satellite view’ where the fire fighting cistern can still be clearly seen today.(for access to restricted areas click here)

Picture shows parts of V2 missile fin structure laying on open ground near area between admin offices and F1 (near Admin. block railway platform, see map).

Picture shows metal debris within the F1 factory boundary walls. The purpose of the part buried liquid storage vessel in the foreground is unknown but it is not a vessel capable of being pressurised. Other assorted metal debris include pipe and cable wall cleats, as well as steel armature rods from reinforced concrete castings (powerful demolition explosions have freed the steel rods from the concrete). These reinforcement rods are a common sight in the environs of Fertigungshalle Eins (F1) and the nearby Repair & Maintenance Hall (R&MH).

This picture shows a small debris field of steel fragments from the V2 missile 130m South-East of F1, and just 20m to the North East of the foundations of a small heat distribution building. Various body and frame parts can be seen and in the middle foreground a 350mm segment of curved missile body ring is visible. These parts have almost certainly been dug up and exposed by the action of metal detectorists. The metal fragments have been abandoned by their finders as they are perceived to have no financial value and hence are not worth removing from the site.

This picture shows a close up detail of parts in a small debris field of steel fragments from the V2 missile 130m South-East of F1, and just 20m to the North East of the foundations of a small heat distribution building. Various body and frame parts can be seen and in the upper left and two segments of curved missile body ring are visible. See previous.

Wooden carboy frame from WW2 (possibly used for transporting small quantities of corrosive and dangerous liquids employed in the V2 steam plant, (such as T-Stoff) laying among trees 190m East of F1 in a location used as an emergency rail freight loading area to F1 due to damage caused by US air raids in August 1944.

Wooden carboy frame from WW2 (possibly used for transporting small quantities of corrosive and dangerous liquids employed in the V2 steam plant (such a T-Stoff) laying among trees 190m East of F1 in a location used as an emergency rail freight loading area for F1 due to damage caused to rail track by US air raids in August 1944.

This picture shows Robert Dalby collecting GPS data with a mapping camera just North of the East end of the Admin office rail platform (near the ruins of the small admin/F1 heat distribution hub building). In all of our explorations we routinely collect GPS track and data points to be able to accurately locate finds and establish a precise correlation between areas of interest identified on historical reconnaissance photography and the modern ground terrain. In the picture Robert is pointing a Contour video camera at details of the terrain that automatically captures the camera’s GPS location information. This data can then be combined with satellite imagery, via Google maps, and provide a detailed graphic mapping track alongside the video footage.

This video still shows Robert in front of a bomb crater on the West or opposite side of the rail lines and road that pass the Repair & Maintenance Hall (R&MH). The crater like so many others, created in a fraction of a second, in August 1944 during a US air raid, has developed in to a thriving eco-system that now teems with all kinds of life. After the passage of more than 70 years the crater is still deep and well defined. There are hundreds of craters like this in the area.

This video still shows the same bomb crater from a slightly different angle. The crater like so many others, created in a fraction of a second in August 1944 during a US air raid, has developed in to a thriving eco-system that now teems with all kinds of life. After the passage of more than 70 years the crater is still deep and well defined. There are hundreds of craters like this in the area.

This video screen grab shows Robert about to climb the steps up onto the rail and road loading station 9 (also called Die Verladerampen or in English, The loading ramps). This storage and loading facility was never finished during the war and was intended to be a more elaborate with large storage buildings – but the pressure of war and constant use of the area prevented further development. The area is still surprisingly intact today with a strong correspondence between modern ground detail and historical reconnaissance photography.

V2 missile parts in F1 prisoner turn-out or ‘free movement’ area. The location referred to is a large triangular shaped area situated on the South-East side of the pre-propuction hall Fertigungshalle Eins (F1). The area was fenced off with a high barbed wire fence (a portion of which was electrified) with guard towers every 60 metres.

This image shows part of a pile of concrete castings that form the below ground foundations for part of the electrified fence that was built around F1 in the summer of 1943. The fence was built on the instructions of Arthur Rudolf, who was responsible for F1, by the first 200 forced labourers to arrive at the F1 labour camp in June 1943. These crude castings are the result of digging a narrow hole in the ground for the concrete fence post and filling the area around the post with the concrete mix. The sizable variation in the depths of the concrete castings, and the fact that in a number of casting blocks the post has plunged through the concrete mix and penetrated from 100 to 300mm into the ground below, strongly suggests this work was carried in hast and/or by men inexperienced in the normal procedures of this type of basic ground-work.

This image shows part of a pile of concrete castings that form the below ground foundations for part of the electrified fence that was built around F1 (see previous photo for details). You can see the area that these posts once secured in the second black and white recce image in this gallery. The fenced off area is the large triangular shape you can see joining the North-East South-East corners of F1 (ie the long wall of F1 facing the shore). Quite why and exactly when someone mustered men or machines to pluck these lumps of concrete out of the ground and move them 100 to 200m is beyond me – why not just bulldoze them under like everything else on this site?

Photo shows the remains of a shooting range built by the East German Army. In 1944 the area about 200m in front of the camera and to the left of this picture is the emergency rail-loading area used after US air raids in August damaged rail lines and other regular freight loading infrastructure. Today, it is a peaceful thoroughfare used mostly by deer and rabbits.

Photo shows the cut stump of an heavy upright support girder. The ragged profile of the cut shows that it has been cut down with an oxygen and gas torch or possibly a larger fuel and oxygen device like a thermal lance. The steel support still has the bottom support pin for a large door. Note that although the girders have been gas-cut there is a great deal of mechanical damage to the steel work that was not caused by the cutting work. Considerable force would be required to bend the middle girder in the way shown, even if it was much longer at the time the bend was created. The upper superstructure of the storage shed may have been part demolished using a bulldozer. Or perhaps the East German Army may have used the site for explosives training – signs of demolition explosive use are in evidence nearby. The map under the album presentation of this picture shows the exact location of the girders.

Bomb damaged F1 factory 1945. The huge V2 rocket factory shown badly damaged by air attack at the end of the war in May 1945

Peenemünde: Werk Sud attacked by US bombers August 1944 in a daring daylight raid. The two large halls F1 and IW in the lower middle of the photo are under direct attack and smoke can be seen originating from both buildings. Although the August 1944 raids did little to interrupt the volume manufacture of the V2, as virtually all manufacturing and assembly of the missile had moved to central Germany, the raids did bring to an almost complete halt the last small amount of manufacturing work still competed in the giant halls of Werk Sud.

Brass liquid oxygen (LOX) spray nozzle.Note: the thread is shown in simplified graphic form. 3D model by Alexander Savochkin

Brass liquid oxygen (LOX) spray nozzle. Note: the thread is shown in simplified form. 3D model by Alexander Savochkin

One of the 18 liquid propellant (LOX and fuel) diffuser cups, showing three rows or echelons (A,D,& E) of brass injector inserts as well as two rows of drilled fuel feed holes. The LOX spray head is shown in the centre. 3D model by Alexander Savochkin

Cutaway showing echelon A with 2-part 2131E fuel injector inserts at the top of a propellant diffuser cup. Note the close proximity of the injector inserts to the simple ‘watering can’ type LOX spray head. One row of drilled fuel feed holes can be seen below the inserts. 3D model by Alexander Savochkin

This images shows a cutaway of a burner cup from outer Ring I of the injector head and shows injector insert eschelon D, & E as well as one row of drilled feed holes. Three fuel injector insert types can be seen: Top D, = 3303D (white), lower E, = 3304D (red), and E, = 3305D (blue). 3D model by Alexander Savochkin

This images shows a burner cup from outer Ring I of the injector head and the cutaway shows injector insert eschelon A,D, & E as well as two rows of drilled feed holes. Four fuel injector insert types can be seen: Top, A = 2131E, lower D, = 3303D (white), lowest E, = 3304D (red), and E, = 3305D (blue). 3D model by Alexander Savochkin

General view of the propellant diffuser cup inner core. The swirl caps of fuel injector inserts in positions A,D,& E can be seen clearly on the outside of the core as well as the central holes in the 3304D (red) inserts.The two rows of drilled fuel feed holes are also well shown. 3D model by Alexander Savochkin

Close-up detail showing independent pathway for fuel passing into injector head and fuel passed down from the head to be used for veil cooling system. Fig. A shows vertical passages for overall fuel feed to the head and Fig.B shows horizontal pathway for veil coolant fed from the head via the veil coolant distributor ring or manifold. 3D model by Alexander Savochkin

Underside view of injector head showing liquid propellant (LOX and fuel) diffuser cups, (see other images for insert and position nomenclature). Of note in this image are the pointing angles of the cups, positioned on a parabolic section to focus the propellant nebular stream into the central axis of the combustion space. Also of note are the large areas between each cup NOT employed in the injection process – initiating ‘clumpy’ and uneven propellant mixing initially below the injector face but also carried forward into the combustion space. The LOX spray head is shown in the centre of each cup. 3D model by Alexander Savochkin

Inverted view of injector head showing liquid propellant (LOX and fuel) diffuser cups, (see other images for insert and position nomenclature). Of note in this image are the pointing angles of the cups, positioned on a parabolic section to focus the propellant nebular stream into the central axis of the combustion space. Also of note are the large areas between each cup NOT employed in the injection process leading to structured propellant mixing as opposed to even homogeneous mixing. The four veil cooling inlet connectors are well shown. 3D model by Alexander Savochkin

View of injector head showing 18 liquid propellant (LOX and fuel) diffuser cups and head fuel valve seating ring at centre, (see other images for insert and position nomenclature). Visible immediately below the valve seat are the large connecting holes that allow fuel to flow from the inlet manifold and cooling jacket to the injector space (some brass injector inserts can be seen through the holes) after the head fuel valve is released to be opened by the turbo-pump supply pressure. The four veil cooling inlet connectors are well shown as are two of the outlet connection holes immediately above them. 3D model by Alexander Savochkin

View of the top of the injector head, with outer cups and pressed steel capping piece removed, showing, propellant diffuser inner cores with injector inserts and LOX supply pipe connection thread. The LOX spray head can be seen inside the LOX pipe connector. The swirl caps of fuel injector inserts in positions A,D,& E can be seen clearly on the outside of the cores and the two rows of drilled fuel feed holes are also well shown. 3D model by Alexander Savochkin

Another view of injector head showing liquid propellant (LOX and fuel) diffuser cups and head fuel valve seating ring at centre, (see other images for insert and position nomenclature). Visible immediately below the valve seat are the large connecting holes that allow fuel to flow from the inlet manifold and cooling jacket to the injector space (some brass injector inserts can be seen through the holes) after the head fuel valve is released to be opened by the turbo-pump supply pressure. The four veil cooling inlet connectors are well shown as are two of the outlet connection holes immediately above them. 3D model by Alexander Savochkin

A close-up view of the head fuel valve mounting flange (showing 12 fastener holes). Visible immediately below the top flange are the large connecting holes that allow fuel to flow from the inlet manifold and cooling jacket to the injector space (some brass injector inserts can be seen through the holes) after the head fuel valve is released to be opened by the turbo-pump supply pressure.

Exploded view showing some of the 1100 parts required for the complicated 18-pot injector head of the V2 25-ton thrust rocket engine. 3D model by Alexander Savochkin

Here the 18-pot head model has been cutaway to show the fuel cooling and fuel delivery spaces. the cooling jacket layer can be seen in the lowermost area of the head – below the centrally positioned fuel valve seat, between each cup at the lowest point, and ruining down toward the first set of veil cooling pores and the topmost coolant distributor ring. Note that the veil cooling system does not communicate with the regenerative cooling jacket and has its own feed pipes drawing fuel from the head injector space and not the cooling space. Visible immediately above the valve seat are the large connecting holes that allow fuel to flow from the inlet manifold and cooling jacket to the injector space after the head fuel valve is released to be opened by the turbo-pump supply pressure. 3D model by Alexander Savochkin

Liquid propellent (LOX and fuel) diffuser cup, showing three rings or echelons (A,D,& E) of brass injector inserts as well as two rows of drilled fuel feed holes. The LOX spray head is shown in the centre. Note the simple ‘shower head or watering can’ design of the LOX diffuser. A sealing washer can be seen fitted between the LOX diffuser and the steel cup. 3D model by Alexander Savochkin