FRITZ-X (Ruhrstahl / Kramer X-1)

On July 21, 1943, the port of Augusta, Sicily, received the first attack in History carried out with radio-guided glider bombs. That day, the German “Ruhrstahl / Kramer X-1“, better known as “Fritz-X” bomb, made their appearance. Although it has to be said that completely unnoticed, because no one was aware that these bombs were different from those previously received in other air raids. It was the culmination of a program initiated by engineer Max Kramer in 1939. This program consisted of adding radio-controlled spoilers to free-fall bombs to greatly improve their accuracy against mobile targets, especially ships. By means of a Kehl-Strasbourg radio control link, it was possible to send signals to a FuG-230 Strasburg receiver that controlled the bomb’s tail mobile spoilers that allowed a certain degree of control over the bomb towards the target. The bomb was directed by a bombardier from the launching bomber, which had to keep the target in view until the bomb hit the target.

FRITZ-X gallery and more info