Editing V-2 rocket (section)

== Launch sites ==
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 141-1880, Peenemünde, Start einer V2.jpg|thumb|upright|A V-2 launched from [[Test Stand VII]] in summer 1943.]]
{{For|a description of the V-2 launch equipment and procedure|Meillerwagen}}

After the Operation Crossbow bombing, initial plans for launching from the massive underground [[Blockhaus d'Éperlecques|Watten]], [[La Coupole|Wizernes]] and [[Sottevast V2 bunker|Sottevast]] bunkers or from fixed pads such as [[Le Molay-Littry|near the Château du Molay]]<ref name="Jones">{{cite book|title=Most Secret War: British Scientific Intelligence 1939–1945|last=Jones|first=R. V.|publisher=Hamish Hamilton|year=1978|isbn=0-241-89746-7|location=London|page=[https://archive.org/details/mostsecretwar0000jone/page/433 433]|author-link=Reginald Victor Jones|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/mostsecretwar0000jone/page/433}}</ref> were dismissed in favour of mobile launching. Eight main storage dumps were planned and four had been completed by July 1944 (the one at [[Mery-sur-Oise]] was begun during August 1943 and completed by February 1944).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allworldwars.com/V-Weapons%20Crossbow%20Campaign.html |title=V-Weapons Crossbow Campaign |publisher=Allworldwars.com |access-date=27 April 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204162612/http://www.allworldwars.com/V-Weapons%20Crossbow%20Campaign.html |archive-date=4 February 2009 }}</ref> The missile could be launched practically anywhere, roads running through forests being a particular favourite. The system was so mobile and small that only one {{Lang|de|Meillerwagen}} was ever caught in action by Allied aircraft, during the [[Operation Bodenplatte]] attack on 1 January 1945<ref>Ordway & Sharpe 1979 p. 256</ref> near [[Lochem]] by a USAAF [[4th Fighter Group]] aircraft, although [[Raymond Baxter]] described flying over a site during a launch and his wingman firing at the missile without hitting it.

It was estimated that a sustained rate of 350 V-2s could be launched per week, with 100 per day at maximum effort, given sufficient supply of the rockets.<ref>{{cite web |last=Walker |first=John |author-link=John Walker (programmer) |date=27 September 1993 |title=A Rocket a Day Keeps the High Costs Away |url=http://www.fourmilab.ch/documents/rocketaday.html |access-date=14 November 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081103045215/http://www.fourmilab.ch/documents/rocketaday.html |archive-date=3 November 2008 }}</ref>