Meillerwagen - Operation

Operation

The Meillerwagen A-4/V-2 transport-launcher device as conformed by next vehicles:

• Feuerleitzugmaschine Sd.Kfz. 7/3 (command vehicle)
• Feuerleitpanzer Sd.Kfz.251 (command vehicle)
• Hanomag SS-100 (tractor vehicle)
• Meiler-Wagen (V-2 mobile wagon-launcher)
• Opel-Blitz T-Stoffwagen (fuel car-tanker)
• Kesselanhänger für Fl-Sauerstoff (liquid oxygen wagon-tanker)

Transport

After completing the process of fitting the warhead to the V-2 rocket, the Technical Troop used a strabo crane at the transloading point to transfer the missile from the Vidalwagen to the Meillerwagen for transport to the launching point. Typically a Hanomag SS-100 tractor pulled the Meillerwagen up to 45 km/h (28 mph) forward with the rocket travelling tail-first – the maximum speed in reverse was 15 km/h since the Meillerwagen's pneumatic brakes could not be coupled to the tractor when being pulled backward.

Setup

After the Meillerwagen was close to the launch point, the Firing Platoon Truck Section took charge and removed the rocket's camouflage cover and rudder protection. The control compartment batteries, alcohol-filling connection, tools, and other equipment were loaded into a box on a strut at the top of the Meillerwagen's lift frame. The Meillerwagen was moved via hand winches to the firing stand and then levelled via the two extendable outriggers with end-jacks.

Lift

The rocket was raised via the Meillerwagen lift frame and hydraulics. When vertical, the rocket was suspended above the firing stand, which was raised to touch the rocket fins. Clamping collars were used to connect the rocket to the firing stand, and the Meillerwagen was withdrawn less than a meter and the rocket was turned a quarter turn for the fuel connections to face the Meillerwagen platforms, which were lowered into position for standing. A separate three-section extendable ladder, the Magirus ladder, was used for areas of an erected rocket not accessible via the Meillerwagen.

Fueling

The hydrogen peroxide tank on the Meillerwagen (126 litres) was filled from a 2120-litre tank truck with its own pump, then the rocket was filled from the Meillerwagen tank. Additionally Meillerwagen piping included the following:

Fuel Pipes

The elevated lifting frame was fitted with piping to fuel the rocket with A, B, P, and T-stoff.

• A-stoff: Liquid oxygen equipment consists of a pipe, which follows a circuitous route along the centreline of the lifting frame’s lower half. The pipe is fixed on the lifting frame by brackets, and closed at each end by cast ramp-and-claw seals.

• B-stoff: Ethyl alcohol equipment consists of a pipe which runs along the full length of the starboard beam of the lifting frame. The pipe is slung from the underside on straps, and closed at each end by threaded seals.

• P-stoff: Compressed nitrogen (or compressed air) equipment to service the rocket consists of several batteries of compressed air tanks carried on the chassis frame, and a pipe fixed to the full length of the starboard beam of the lifting frame. The P-stoff batteries consist of one bank of six fixed tanks, and two banks of two removable tanks. (compressed air for the Meillerwagen pneumatic brakes was sourced from a separate set of two tanks across the front of the chassis frame)

• T-stoff: Hydrogen peroxide equipment consists of a pipe which runs along the starboard beam of the lifting frame from the trunnion end to the halfway point. The pipe is fitted at the upper end to the triple valve assembly, consisting of two flow valves and a three-way valve. The triple valve assembly connects to two tanks, a large measuring tank and a smaller overflow tank. The measuring tank can be filled to the rocket's required amount of T-stoff, after which any excess flows down a stand pipe to the overflow tank. The measuring tank is fitted with a ventilation stud, which vents displaced air as the tank is filled. The ventilation stud includes a ball cock fixed to a frustum stopper, which blocks the vent stud in case of accidental overfilling so that T-stoff does not spray from the air vent. Both T-stoff tanks are fitted with an inspection window.

Timeline

According to an official document of the time (5240/44GKdos) which describes a 110 minute launch, the Meillerwagen participates thus:

Meillerwagen arrival at launch site and dismount rocket; duration 20 minutes from X minus 110 to minus 90 minutes.

Fuelling of B-stoff and T-stoff; duration 20 minutes at X minus 55 minutes.

Fuelling of A-stoff and Z-stoff; duration 10 minutes at X minus 30 minutes.

Finalise rocket position, couple Meillerwagen to tractor, depart site; duration 5 minutes at X minus 13 minutes.