Editing Fieseler Fi 103R Reichenberg (section)

== History ==

=== Background ===
[[File:Fi 103 (V1).jpg|thumb|''Fieseler Fi 103R'' (with cockpit, in camouflage paint), to the right of a standard [[V-1 flying bomb]] (''Fieseler Fi 103''), at the [[Swiss Military Museum]]]]
During the latter part of the [[Second World War]], it was becoming increasingly clear that [[Nazi Germany|Germany]] was on the defensive and that increasingly drastic measures would be needed just to maintain the status quo against the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]].<ref name = "renneberg walker113">Renneberg and Walker 1999, p. 113.</ref> In February 1944, [[Adolf Hitler]] was initially dismissive of the need to resort to tactics such as suicide attacks, as was advocated by figures such as [[Otto Skorzeny]], [[Hanna Reitsch]], and [[Hajo Herrmann]], but he did authorise the formation of a squadron to prepare for such missions.<ref name = "chris 2101">Christopher 2012, pp. 210-211.</ref><ref name = "renneberg walker114">Renneberg and Walker 1999, p. 114.</ref> Accordingly, the [[Leonidas Squadron|''Leonidas'' Squadron]], a part of [[Kampfgeschwader 200]], was established to be this suicide squadron. Volunteers for this squadron were required to sign a declaration which said, "I hereby voluntarily apply to be enrolled in the suicide group as part of a human glider-bomb. I fully understand that employment in this capacity will entail my own death."<ref name=gilbert>{{cite book |last = Gilbert |first = Sir Martin |author-link = Martin Gilbert |title = The Second World War |publisher = Henry Holt and Co. |year = 2004 |pages = [https://archive.org/details/secondworldwarco00gilb/page/504 504] |url = https://archive.org/details/secondworldwarco00gilb/page/504 |isbn = 0-8050-7623-9 |url-access = registration }}</ref><ref name = "renneberg walker1145">Renneberg and Walker 1999, pp. 114-115.</ref>

The concept called for an aircraft that would be armed with a single {{convert|900|kg|lb}} explosive device that would detonate upon impact with the target, which was typically envisioned to be Allied shipping.<ref name = "chris 211"/> Two different aircraft were quickly considered to be the most suitable options available, the [[Messerschmitt Me 328]] and the [[V-1 flying bomb|Fieseler Fi 103]] (better known as the V-1 flying bomb), although both required development work.<ref name = "Mantelli 45">Mantelli, Brown, Kittel and Graf 2017, p. 45.</ref> Officials opted to pass over the Fi 103 in favour of the Me 328.<ref name=hyland219>Hyland 1999, p. 219.</ref> Being largely composed of wood and conceived of as potentially suitable for using multiple means of propulsion, the Me 328 had been worked on since 1941.<ref name = "chris 211"/>

However, difficulties were encountered in the Me 328 during prototype testing, the vibration caused by its [[pulsejet]] engines having been a particular source of issues, leading to work being suspended.<ref name = "chris 211"/> The project had also encountered political opposition from figures such as the head of the [[SS]], [[Heinrich Himmler]], who sought the programme's termination. The programme was placed under the supervision of the SS, but was not terminated at this point; instead, Skorzeny, who had been investigating the possibility of using crewed torpedoes against Allied shipping, was personally briefed by Hitler to revive the project.<ref name = "renneberg walker115"/><ref name = "Mantelli 456">Mantelli, Brown, Kittel and Graf 2017, pp. 45-46.</ref>

Skorzeny played a key role in the programme's reappraisal, which included its reorientation towards the Fi 103.<ref name = "renneberg walker1156">Renneberg and Walker 1999, pp. 115-116.</ref> The project was given the codename "Reichenberg" after the capital of the former Czechoslovakian territory "[[Sudetenland#Sudetenland as part of Nazi Germany|Reichsgau Sudetenland]]" (present-day [[Liberec]]), while the aircraft themselves were referred to as "Reichenberg-Geräte" (Reichenberg apparatus). It has been claimed that one reason for the switch towards the Fi 103R was its ability to offer the pilot a slim chance of survival.<ref name = "renneberg walker115"/><ref name = "Mantelli 46">Mantelli, Brown, Kittel and Graf 2017, p. 46.</ref>

=== DFS development ===
[[File:Fieseler Fi 103 Reichenberg 01 11.jpg|thumb|right|The forward support pylon for the ''Reichenberg'' crewed V-1 resembles a broad-chord version of the [[Republic-Ford JB-2|American ''Loon'']]'s similar component]]
In the summer of 1944, the [[Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug]] (German Research Institute for Sailplane Flight) at [[Ainring]] took on the task of developing a crewed version of the Fi 103, an example was made ready for testing within days and a production line was established at [[Dannenberg (Elbe)|Dannenberg]].<ref name=hyland220>Hyland 1999, p. 220.</ref><ref name = "Mantelli 46"/>

The V-1 was transformed into the ''Reichenberg'' via the addition of a compact cockpit at the point of the fuselage that was immediately ahead of the pulsejet's intake, where the compressed-air cylinders were fitted on a standard V-1.<ref name = "chris 211"/><ref name = "Mantelli 46"/> This cramped cockpit was outfitted with only basic flight instrumentation, along with a bucket seat composed of [[plywood]]. The single-piece canopy incorporated an armoured front panel and opened to the side to allow entry. The two displaced compressed-air cylinders were replaced by a single one, fitted in the rear in the space which normally accommodated the V-1's autopilot.<ref name = "chris 211"/><ref name = "Mantelli 46"/> At no point was any [[landing gear]] fitted to the aircraft.<ref name = "renneberg walker115">Renneberg and Walker 1999, p. 115.</ref> The wings were fitted with hardened edges that would cut the cables of [[barrage balloon]]s.<ref name=hyland220 />

It was proposed that a [[Heinkel He 111|He 111]] bomber would carry either one or two Reichenbergs beneath its wings, releasing them close to the target. The pilots would then steer their aircraft towards the target, jettisoning the cockpit canopy shortly before impact and [[Parachute|bailing out]].<ref name = "Mantelli 467">Mantelli, Brown, Kittel and Graf 2017, pp. 46-47.</ref> It was estimated that the chances of a pilot surviving such a bailout were less than 1% due to the proximity of the pulsejet's intake to the cockpit.<ref name=hyland221>Hyland 1999, p. 221.</ref><ref name = "chris 211">Christopher 2012, p. 211.</ref>