Henschel Hs 293

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	Weapon: Henschel Hs 293 Type: Anti-Ship Missile Country of Origin: Germany Year Adopted: 1943 Overall Length (mm): 3820.0 Overall Length (in): 150.39 Weight (kg): 1045.00 Weight (pounds): 2303.83

The Henschel Hs 293 was a German guided air-to-surface missile developed during World War II for use against Allied shipping. Designed by Henschel under Dr. Herbert A. Wagner, it combined a standard 500 kg (1,100 lb) bomb with a rocket booster and aerodynamic control surfaces, creating one of the earliest practical precision-guided munitions. Launched from bombers such as the Dornier Do 217, the missile was guided by radio signals transmitted by the launch aircraft, allowing the operator to steer it toward enemy vessels. Its streamlined fuselage and rocket-assisted propulsion gave it greater range and accuracy than unguided bombs.

Production of the Hs 293 began in 1942, with approximately 1,000 units manufactured by the war's end. The weapon was first used operationally in 1943 during attacks on Allied convoys in the Bay of Biscay. While the missile achieved some notable successes-most famously sinking or damaging several warships including the British sloop HMS Egret-it also suffered from increasing countermeasures. The Allies quickly developed electronic jamming equipment to disrupt its radio guidance, reducing its effectiveness as the war progressed. Despite these shortcomings, the Hs 293 represented a revolutionary step in precision strike technology.

The notoriety of the Hs 293 lies in its status as one of the world's first operational guided missiles, foreshadowing the modern era of precision-guided munitions. Although it did not decisively alter the course of the naval war, it forced the Allies to adapt with new defensive tactics and technologies. After the conflict, captured examples and documentation influenced postwar missile research in both the United States and the Soviet Union, ensuring that the Hs 293's legacy extended far beyond its limited wartime service.

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