44M_Lidérc
44M Lidérc
Hungarian acoustic proximity fused air-to-air rocket of World War II
The 44M Lidérc (Hungarian: lidérc) was an experimental air-to-air rocket developed in Hungary during World War II. It had an acoustic proximity fuse invented by Károly Pulváry (Technological University of Budapest). The acoustic device was a highly advanced piece of technology in 1944, and the research of necessary electronics was quite a complex project. The sensor consisted of a super-sensitive microphone and a squelch principle circuit with two electron tube amplifiers.[1][2]
The fuse worked excellently with the artificial American bomber-engine sound in the Aerotechnical Institute's wind tunnel. During air combat every Me 210 Ca-1 destroyer-aircraft (Hungarian: romboló, German: Zerstörer) would have launched 2-4 Lidérc rockets into a bomber group which was expected to cause great damage and significantly impact the morale of bomber crews. The main goal was to scatter bomber formations, disrupting their attacks rather than destroying every aircraft, thus protecting civilians from terror-bombings.[3]
A total of a few hundred rockets were produced, but the Allied bombing raids made it impossible to finish the acoustic system. The weapon was produced in Csepel at Weiss Manfréd Works, but due to the bombing raids on the factory, DIMÁVAG continued it. The Hungarian troops used them in the defensive operations of Csepel Island, Érd, and later in Lake Velence as anti-personnel incendiary rocket artillery (like the Nebelwerfer) against Soviet human-wave attacks.[1][2]