Archives: Gmedia Albums

Turbine powered propellant pumps for A4/V2 rocket engine – fuel pump on right. Full perspective assembly showing tubular ring steam inlet manifold with asbestos bandage extreme left, inlet flanges at top, frame support brackets, steam exhaust outlet square shape lower center. The overspeed trip switch can be seen just above center on fuel pump face plate. The fuel outlet flange can also been seen btm right of center. 3D model by Ray Matter

Turbine powered propellant pumps for A4/V2 rocket engine – fuel pump on right. Full assembly showing steam inlet manifold on left, inlet flanges at top, support brackets, steam exhaust outlet square shape lower center. The over-speed trip switch can be seen just above center on fuel pump face plate. The fuel outlet flange can also been seen btm right of center. 3D model by Ray Matter

Full assembly showing, from top, steam inlet ring manifold, LOX pump and portion of steam turbine assembly. View shows outlet flange facing camera. Note the three fine rings milled into flange face. The rings were designed to improve keying for the sealing ‘putty’ that was used to seal the connection between the flange face and the inlet pipe. 3D model Ray Matter

A (LOX) Pump close-up showing inlet flange, with fastener slots and holes, as well as the throat baffle. To the right and left of the flange, the steam inlets are shown – with steel cases covering the steam manifold connection flanges. Of special note in this view is the self-purge orifice seen at the top right-hand side of the inlet throat baffle. This hole allowed gas to escape from the top of the LOX volute space back to the low-pressure inlet throat and proved problematic in manufacturing and was revised in late 1944. 3D model Ray Matter

Close-up of turbine steam inlet ring manifold showing one of the entry points. The thin steel case that fits around the steam manifold mating flanges is clearly shown as is the wire restraint fastener locking system (see close-up in gallery). 3D model by Ray Matter

Turbine powered propellant pumps for A4/V2 rocket engine – close-up of turbine casing shows wire restraint fastener locking system. 3D model by Ray Matter

Close-up of turbine showing steel case with lid removed to show steam inlet ring manifold. The thin steel case that fits around the steam manifold mating flanges is clearly shown as is the wire restraint fastener locking system (see close-up in gallery). 3D model by Ray Matter

Close-up of turbine steam inlet ring manifold showing asbestos bandage wrapped around the tubular ring. Sometimes a thin wire was used to help retail the heat resistant material. This bandage is often missing from museum exhibits. 3D model by Ray Matter

B (fuel) Pump sub-assembly, single piece casting showing machined (milled) areas without fittings. View shows inlet flange fastener slots and the throat aperture – facing right, initially blanked off by square plate, but towards the end of 1944 used for fuel return from the main fuel valve situated in the center of the thrust chamber injection head. 3D model Ray Matter

B (fuel) Pump sub-assembly, single piece casting showing machined (milled) areas and without fittings. 3D model Ray Matter

B (fuel) Pump sub-assembly shown without fittings. Single piece casting showing detail of bearing and seal cavity as well as threaded fuel bleed connection. 3D model Ray Matter

B-Pump sub-assembly, showing earlier version square inlet throat blanking plate (later versions employed a fuel return connection point mounted on this plate).
Fastenings, turbine case contact furniture, splined turbine connection shaft, and shaft seal cap are also shown. 3D model Ray Matter

B-Pump sub-assembly complete with fastenings, turbine case contact furniture, splined turbine connection shaft, and shaft seal cap. 3D model Ray Matter

B-Pump Sub-assembly shown from top. View shows outlet flange facing camera – the splined drive shaft can just be seen at the top of the screen. Note the three fine rings milled into flange face.The rings were designed to improve keying for the ‘putty’ that was used to seal the connection between the flange face and the inlet pipe. Note, small self-purge orifice on the lower left of the inlet throat baffle. Unlike the upper purge hole in the LOX casing, the shallower face angle at the location of the hole in the fuel pump casing, was more accessible to drilling and was therefore not problematic. 3D model Ray Matter

B-Pump sub-assembly close-up showing fuel outlet flange. Note the three fine rings milled into the flange face. The rings were designed to improve keying for the ‘putty’ that was used to seal the connection between the flange face and the flow choke. Both faces of the choke and top face of the fuel outflow connector had similar rings. 3D model Ray Matter

B Pump housing sectioned to show baffle and volute space area expansion as flow passes from inlet (right) to outlet (left). 3D model Ray Matter

B Pump housing sectioned to show baffle with vent and volute space area expansion as flow passes from inlet (left) to outlet (right). 3D model Ray Matter

B pump housing showing sectioned area for shaft and bearing cavities with fuel pathway to left. 3D model Ray Matter

‘B’ fuel pump housing for V2 rocket engine turbopump showing cast and machined surfaces – some machined areas with obvious specular reflections. Of note are the rarely seen machined contact points on the integral support brackets and the larger areas in two locations in the ring of double ended bolt fixing holes seen at 12 and 6 o’clock. These areas allowed two ‘push’ screws to be threaded into corresponding locations in the face plate. These could then be screwed down to provide a pushing force to remove the face plate from the main housing seat. This retraction system was required owing to the very tight fit of the face plate due to the narrow ‘piston fit’ tolerances and the vacuum effect of a soft gasket that was employed between the faces. 3D model by Ray Matter

Close-up of ‘B’ fuel pump housing displaying cast and machined surfaces. Fuel inlet aperture shown with small purge orifice shown at 2 o’clock. 3D model by Ray Matter

B Pump Housing, sectioned to show close-up of fuel bleed aperture and baffle vent for fuel pressure equalization between cavities inside the B pump casing. 3D model by Ray Matter

B (fuel) pump sub-assembly elevation view showing sectioned casing to reveal centrifugal pump impeller (in light purple for visibility). Outlet to left. The centrifugal pump impeller has been sectioned to remove one impeller face and reveal the curved vanes. The hub pass holes and end view of splined shaft are also shown. The spiral volute shape is very clear in this image. 3D model Ray Matter

B (fuel) pump sub-assembly showing sectioned casing to reveal centrifugal pump impeller (in light purple for visibility). Outlet to top right. The centrifugal pump rotor has been sectioned to remove one impeller face and reveal the curved vanes.The shaft and spiral volute space shape is very clear in this image. 3D model Ray Matter

B (fuel) pump sub-assembly showing sectioned casing to reveal centrifugal pump impeller. Outlet to btm right. The centrifugal pump impeller has been sectioned to remove one rotor face and reveal the curved vanes. The shaft and spiral volute space shape are shown in this image. 3D model Ray Matter

B-Pump sub-assembly sectioned to show fuel pump impeller inlet (purple area), baffle, and other shaft details. 3D model Ray Matter

B-Pump sub-assembly casing sectioned to show shaft and fuel inlet chamber details. The throat blanking plate can be seen top left. 3D model Ray Matter

Turbine powered propellant pumps for A4/V2 rocket engine. The assembly is shown quarter sectioned and inverted with the propellant outlet flanges to the top and fuel pump on left, with inlet flanges at btm. The overspeed trip switch can be seen just below center on fuel pump face plate – the copper alloy centrifugal trip rotor is clearly visible in the trip-switch housing. 3D model by Ray Matter

A-Pump LOX sub-assembly complete with face plate and fastenings as well as outlet throat plug. Shows square inlet throat blanking plate.
3D model Ray Matter

A (LOX) Pump sub-assembly, showing the face nearest the steam turbine. Turbine side of LOX pump showing flexible shaft connection disk (back component with 12 holes). The connection cavity drain pipe is shown (running across the outflow to the btm right). 3D model Ray Matter

A (LOX) pump housing cutaway to reveal pump rotor side. The casing has been cut to show the internal rotor space detail. The outlet throat, right, and spiral volute space are displayed in this view as is the central LOX inlet. The web with the self-purge passageway can be seen on the outside center of the inlet throat, and connecting to the volute casing. The web or buttress seen to the upper right is to provide additional support between the structures whilst keeping the casting to an even density. 3D model Ray Matter

Close-up of ‘A’ LOX pump housing displaying cast and machined surfaces. LOX inlet aperture shown wand external threaded hole for manual bleed plug shown on far right. 3D model by Ray Matter

A (LOX) Pump sub-assembly, showing the face nearest the steam turbine. Single piece casting showing machined (milled) areas and detail of bearing and seal cavity. The four turbine case fitting brackets are displayed. 3D model Ray Matter

A (LOX) Pump housing sectioned to show baffle and volute space area expansion as flow passes from inlet (right) to outlet (left). Note cast and machined (milled) areas shown in this image – especially inlet aperture. 3D model Ray Matter

A (LOX) Pump housing sectioned to show baffle and volute space area expansion as flow passes from inlet (right) to outlet (left). Note the small LOX passageways on left from high-pressure volute space to bearing cavity. 3D model Ray Matter

Detail of fuel pump face plate showing over-speed switch and mounting. The switch plunger (part with disc shaped hand knob on left) is shown in the out or armed position. The RPM of the tubo-pump (TP) was not governed but this safety mechanism shut the TP down permanently when the RPM reached 5000. Although rarely changed, thin shims could be used to reduce or increase this speed. 3D model Ray Matter

Detail of fuel pump face plate showing over-speed switch and mounting. The eccentric centrifugal rotor can be seen (brass coloured part). This unbalanced part rotates against a spring load that allows the thicker (proportionally heavier) section of the rotor to move outwards from the center as the rotational speed rises and push the release rod clear of a keyed section of the plunger shaft (part with disc shaped knob on left) thus operating a relay switch that shuts down the flow of steam to the turbine. 3D model Ray Matter

V2 turbo-pump turbine and pump impeller shaft assembly showing steam turbine rotor with nozzle assembly and steam inlet manifold distributor ring. The two rows of steam buckets can seen on rotor rim. Fuel pump impeller (purple) and over-speed switch are shown to the right. LOX pump impeller (purple) with journal bearing box and four sectional bronze bearings visible. An overboard dump pipe can be seen lower left of steam rotor. 3D model Ray Matter

V2 turbo-pump turbine and pump impeller shaft assembly showing steam turbine rotor with nozzle assembly and steam inlet manifold distributor ring to left. The two rows of steam buckets can seen on rotor rim as well as three of the four sets of stationary steam return blades. Fuel pump impeller and over-speed switch are shown to the right. 3D model Ray Matter

B (fuel) Pump: Close-up of sectioned turbine and pump impellers. Pump impeller (purple) and turbine rotor, top left, showing, seals, bearings and over-speed centrifugal rotor assembly. 3D model Ray Matte

06 B Pump close-up showing shaft bearing and isolation seals at at pump to turbine mating point. 3D model Ray Matter

06 B Pump showing shaft area from fuel pump impeller, left (purple), to steam rotor. Shows seals, packer, circlip, and steam rotor hub. 3D model Ray Matter

B (fuel) Pump: Close-up of sectioned pump impeller hub (purple) showing, left to right, seals, bearing and over-speed centrifugal rotor. 3D model Ray Matter

B (fuel) pump sub-assembly showing sectioned casing to reveal centrifugal pump impeller (in light purple for visibility). Outlet to right. Note inlet throat purge aperture of left. 3D model Ray Matter

B pump casing removed to show fuel pump impeller and bearing ring. The steam rotor assembly can be seen at the top of the image and two sets of the stationary steam blades, or stators, are also visible.

B (fuel) Pump exposed to show pump impeller, large bearing surface, and parts of over-speed device. 3D model Ray Matter

B pump housing from pump rotor side – notional surface polish to show shape and detail (such a surface was not used on the actual pump parts). The casing has been cut to show the internal rotor space detail. The outlet throat, right, and spiral volute space are displayed in this view as is the central fuel inlet. 3D model Ray Matter

B pump housing with notional surface polish to show shape and detail (such a surface was not used on the actual pump casing). The casing nearest the turbine has been cutaway to reveal internal detail. The small self-purge orifice can be seen in this view, lower middle to the right of separator. 3D model Ray Matter

B pump housing with notional surface polish to show shape and detail (such a surface was not used on the actual pump casing). The casing nearest turbine has been cut to show internal detail. Inlet flange and split throat detail are clear in this view.

RAF reconnaissance photo showing the Werk Süd region with the F1 pre-production hall and to the north the IW repair and maintenance hall, centre right, and road rail links to Prüfstand XI (Test Stand 11, circular rampart centre left) heading directly left from F1. P-XI was conceived to provide engine test facilities for the nearby pre-production hall. Scroll down to see GPS map, the marker index is set to the centre of P-XI, click map and switch to satellite view and you will see that only a small section of the circular rampart remains visible. You can easily zoom out to cover the coast area where F1 and the equally large Repair & Maintenance Workshops are located. The area immediately surrounding P-XI is now contained within a commercial farming operation with sheep appearing to be the staple – or was anyway, at the time of our first visit to the vicinity in 2010 and our last in 2017 – none of the sheep seemed to recognise us though so they may have changed. (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.

This picture shows the remains of the main South entrance to the Development Works. (also known as Station 7 – Die Hauptwache).

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.

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.

Ernst Steinhoff, chief of the BSM workshop (Guidance and Control) in the development works Peenemunde.