Rheintochter

Rheintochter was a German surface-to-air missile developed by Rheinmetall-Borsig[1] during World War II.

Its name comes from the mythical Rheintöchter (Rhinemaidens) of Richard Wagner's opera series Der Ring des Nibelungen.

[1] The sustainer motor, located ahead of the 136 kg (300 lb) warhead (rather than behind, as is more usual) exhausted through six venturis between the first stage fins.

Examples are on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, the Deutsches Museum in Munich, Air Defense Learning Annex at Fort Sill, OK and at the RAF Museum Cosford, UK.

[1] The R3 model was developed, which had a liquid fuel engine with solid-fuel boosters ("strap-ons").

A Rheintochter R1 (left), and part of an R3 (centre), with a Rheinbote (right)