V-2 Missile

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	Weapon: V-2 Missile Type: Rocket Artillery Country of Origin: Germany Year Adopted: 1944 Caliber: Action: Cruise Missile Overall Length (mm): 14000.0 Weight (kg): 12500.00 Effective Range (m): 200

The V-2 missile, officially designated the A-4, was the world's first long-range guided ballistic missile and a groundbreaking achievement in rocket technology. Developed by Nazi Germany under the leadership of Wernher von Braun, it was powered by a liquid-fueled engine and carried a one-ton warhead. Capable of supersonic speeds, the V-2 had a range of approximately 320 kilometers and was equipped with a rudimentary inertial guidance system, making it difficult to intercept once launched.

Production of the V-2 began in 1943, with over 3,000 units manufactured before the end of World War II. It was primarily assembled at the Mittelwerk facility, where forced labor was used under inhumane conditions. The missile saw its first combat use in September 1944, targeting Allied cities such as London, Antwerp, and Paris. The V-2 was responsible for significant destruction and civilian casualties, but its impact on the outcome of the war was limited due to logistical challenges and late deployment.

The V-2 missile is infamous for its role as a terror weapon and for the atrocities associated with its production, yet it also marked the beginning of the modern era of rocketry. After the war, both the United States and the Soviet Union captured V-2 technology and personnel, using them as the foundation for their space and missile programs. The missile's legacy is twofold: a reminder of wartime devastation and a catalyst for advances in space exploration and ballistic missile technology.