V1s

V1s typically refer to the V-1 flying bomb, the first of Nazi Germany's Vergeltungswaffe (Vengeance weapons) series developed during World War II. The term covers multiple pilotless, remotely guided missiles deployed against Allied targets from 1944 to 1945. The V-1 was designed as a short-range, automatic bomb and is regarded as one of the earliest examples of a cruise missile.

Design and propulsion: The V-1 consisted of a small, aerodynamically shaped airframe powered by a pulsejet engine (the Argus As-014). Flight control relied on a simple autopilot that used a gyroscope and a magnetic compass to maintain course and altitude, with the engine’s throttling and a fuel cut-off controlled by a timer mechanism. Takeoff was accomplished from ground ramps using a catapult or launch ramp, and the vessel carried a large high-explosive warhead.

Operational history and impact: Operational from mid-1944, V-1s were launched from sites in German-occupied France and the Low Countries toward Britain, including London and southeast England. The attacks caused civilian casualties and disruption, prompting widespread defense responses. Allied measures against the threat included fighter interception, anti-aircraft fire, and countermeasures such as radar-guided detection, jamming efforts, and the destruction of launch facilities, as part of larger efforts to neutralize the threat.

Legacy: The V1 demonstrated the feasibility of operationally deployed guided missiles and influenced postwar development of cruise and air-launched missile programs. The weapon’s distinctive sound and its role in the wartime history of guided delivery have made the V1 a notable subject in military history.