81 years ago today, on June 12, 1944 (April 22, 1944, the world's first missile, the V-1, was officially put into actual combat. On June 12, 1944, the V-1 missile, the world's first missile successfully developed by Germany, was officially put into actual combat. Research on intermittent jet engines pioneered by Paul Schmidt in 1928 ultimately led to the introduction of the AS109 -014 engine. This engine is used as a propeller for the Fi103 (also known as V-1 or FZG76). This is the first cruise missile put into practical use. The Fi103 is a small aircraft with a wingspan of 5.3 meters or 4.87 meters depending on the model and is propelled by an intermittent jet engine. In order to achieve the operating speed of the engine, the Fi103 must be launched from a long-angled launcher or carried by an aircraft, its course is controlled by a compass, and its flight distance is adjusted by a small propeller. When flying over the target, the V-1 flew in a rapid dive mode. This acceleration process will cause the propeller to shut down. This had a great impact on the effectiveness of the attack, so subsequent V-1s were modified to prevent this from happening. The V-1 flies at a relatively low altitude and is not fast enough for the fastest allied fighter jets to intercept it, so effective defense against it. London was hit by 2418 V-1s, and 2448 fell in Antwerp. This weapon with a simple design and low cost is the predecessor of all cruise missiles. It must be launched from a long angled launcher to get its speed up to the point where the intermittent jet engine needs to start working. Subsequently, the V-1 flew at an altitude of 2,000 - 3,000 feet under the guidance of three simple gyroscopes. After completing the set range, the engine was shut down and the missile dove downward, exploding instantly before hitting the ground. V-1 missile parameters: Model: Medium-range cruise missile manufacturer: German wing width: 17 feet, 7.5 feet wide inside (5.37 meters) Length: 25 feet, 11 feet inside (7.9 meters) Height: 4 feet, height 77/8 feet (1.42 m) Weight: 2152 kg Engine: 1 Argos As109-014 Thrust: 300 kg Propellant: 568 liters 80 octane Top speed: 390-410 mph (624-656 km/h) General flight altitude: 2500 feet (760 meters) Maximum flight altitude: 10000 feet (3050 meters) Range: 150 miles (240 kilometers) Flight time: 2 hours and 30 seconds Warhead: 830 kilograms of Amato explosive