Bachem Ba 349 Natter
Erich Bachem · Germany · first flew 1945 · fighter
The Bachem Ba 349 Natter (Viper) was a German last-ditch rocket-powered interceptor of 1945, designed to be launched vertically on a rail and attack Allied bomber formations with an unguided rocket salvo before the pilot bailed out and the nose section was recovered by parachute. Constructed largely of wood, it was conceived as a disposable weapon.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × rocket, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Cruciform |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tiny wooden vertical-launch rocket interceptor — essentially a manned missile
- Cruciform tail surfaces and straight mid-mounted stub wings
- Walter HWK 509 rocket motor; four solid-fuel strap-on boosters for launch
Unmistakable: a very short, stubby wooden fuselage with tiny straight wings and pronounced cruciform tail. The rail-launch configuration and absence of undercarriage make it unlike any conventional fighter.
Specifications
- The Bachem Ba 349 Natter has a length of 6 m (20 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 4 m (13 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1000 km/h (621 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Erich Bachem's design was approved under an emergency programme in 1944, and the first unmanned test flights took place late that year. The sole manned vertical launch on 1 March 1945 killed test pilot Lothar Sieber when the canopy detached seconds after lift-off. A small number of operational aircraft were prepared but never used in combat before the German surrender.
Variants
The Ba 349A was the primary version; the Ba 349B with improved rocket motor was planned but not completed.
Where you'll see it
Never used operationally; the handful of completed aircraft were destroyed or captured by Allied forces in April 1945.
Related aircraft
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