Avalanche missile

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An avalanche missile is a self-propelling, unmanned, non- military surface-to-surface missile ( ballistic missile ) equipped with explosives with a solid rocket engine ( black powder ).

history

Solid rockets were probably built by the Byzantines as early as the 7th century . They consisted of bamboo as a rocket body and a mixture of saltpeter and sulfur as fuel. Independently of this, rockets propelled with black powder are said to have been developed in China in the 13th century . These were also used for military purposes, among other things. Rockets became known later in Europe, but their main meaning here was initially only as fireworks (see also: Congreve rocket ). Whether such rockets were also used to trigger avalanches has not yet been investigated.

A mobile avalanche launching device weighing around 4 kg with a solid rocket was developed by the infantry instructor, Schärer, and tested in 1954. It is said to have had a range between 300 and 800 meters and was equipped with a time fuse . This small rocket system was loaded with around 1.2 kg of active ingredient for triggering avalanches.

The company Hans Hamberger AG from Oberried , Switzerland , had been selling avalanche missiles for several decades, which however did not meet with any major market acceptance, since it was war material that was only freely marketable to a limited extent.

construction

The avalanche rocket essentially consists of only two parts, the drive and the payload (explosives), which are located in the rocket.

Avalanche rockets have not established themselves on the market permanently and in large numbers. They are said to have been too imprecise when reaching the set destination and particularly susceptible to gusts of wind .

System Hamberger

The avalanche rocket from Hamberger had a length of 70 cm, a diameter of 50 mm and a launch weight of 1.2 kg. The amount of explosives was limited to 0.3 kg and the propellant charge of black powder to 0.27 to 0.3 kg. The avalanche missile had a maximum range of 1400 meters (horizontal).

The missile body was made of plastic and wood and had a tail unit . The rocket was launched after about 10 to 15 seconds. The explosives were detonated using a pyrotechnic delay set, which usually did not lead to an over-snow ignition, but rather the rocket penetrated the snow and only then ignited. As a result, the effect of the explosives was not optimal, as the trigger point should be approx. +3 to 3.5 meters when blasting over snow. For the right time to trigger an avalanche, see: Artificial avalanche triggering - triggering time .

The drive (propellant) of an avalanche trigger rocket from Hamberger, Type 2 Spezial, consisted of black powder with 75% saltpeter, 17% coal and 8% sulfur. The explosive device (payload) made of 50% aluminum and 50% potassium perchlorate .

The launching device (launching frame) from Hamberger could be used mobile or stationary. The avalanche missile was guided the first about one and a half meters on a metal guide rod on guide eyes.

Use in Austria

Avalanche rocket type II special company Hamberger were in Austria only in the ski Hochfügen used in the Skilift- and development company Hochfuegen over about 40 years. According to a report by the Federal Ministry of the Interior dated March 29, 1982, the avalanche release rockets were classified as missiles with weapons effects , after they had been introduced and used over 20 years previously without further authorization. Since then, a permit from the Federal Ministry of the Interior has been required for use and a separate permit from the Federal Ministry of Defense has been required for every import from Switzerland to Austria .

costs

An avalanche rocket was charged at CHF 250.00 in 2000 (around EUR 215.00).

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ See: Kampf den Avalanche - A new type of avalanche launching device in: Schweizer Soldat: Monthly magazine for army and cadres with FHD newspaper , Volume 32, 1956–1957, Issue 12, p. 227.
  2. ↑ Lukas Stoffel: Artificial Avalanche Release , Tec 21, Volume 131, 9/2005, p. 6.
  3. ^ Letter from Hans Hamberger to Skiliftgesellschaft Hochfügen GmbH. & Co. KG. dated March 11, 1983.
  4. ↑ All of the above information according to the manual: Avalanche release rockets from Hamberger dated February 4, 2000, AK / ba - Avalanche release rockets.doc.
  5. ↑ See notification of the Federal Ministry of the Interior of March 15, 1984, Zl. 59 060 / 79-11 / 13/84.
  6. ↑ Basic decision according to § 28a Abs. 2 and 4 WaffenG.