GENERAL. The rocket Taifum is a biliquid rocket reputed to be fired in groups of 65 from a launching machine know as the Dobgerate. From all indications, it never passed beyond the experimental stage.

The projectile is approximately 2.1 meters long and 10 centimeters in diameter. The greater part is taken up with the fuel tanks which contain Visol and acid. The acid is housed in a central aluminum tank, while the Visol is contained in the annular tank bet-ween the inside tank and the outer skin of the missile. The walls of both tanks are 1 mm thick. (See fig. 199.)

The acid tank is supported in the rocket shell by two aluminum end plates bolted to its end flanges. These end plates are perforated so as to connect the fuel tanks at the up-per end to the cartridge pot, and at the lower end to the liquid sprays. A thin aluminum rupturing diaphragm covers the holes in the two end plates.

Behind the solid steel nose piece there is a hollow chamber for housing the 500 grams of explosive, the impact fuze, and the igniting device for setting off the cartridge pot.

The cartridge pot is just aft the chamber which houses the warhead and the fuzing sys-tem. When the contents of the cartridge pot begin to burn, a gas is generated which is used to expel the liquids from the tanks and force them into the combustion chamber.

The combustion chamber and venturi are made of mild steel mostly 1 mm thick, but the thickness increases at the venturi throat to 2 1/2 to 3 mm. At the end of 2 seconds operation, the temperature of the venturi reached 300° to 400°. It was possible to use a venturi experimentally for five runs, after which it had to be renewed.

Total length: 2.10 meters.
Maximum diameter: 0.10 meter.
Length of tanks:

Acid tank: 1.15 meters.
Annular tank: 1.20 meters.

Diameter of tanks:

Acid tank: 0.08 meter.
Annular tank: 0.10 meter.

Nose Piece: 1.30 kg.
Outer Shell: 3.25 kg.
Tanks: 1.75 kg.
Combustion Chamber: 1.50 kg.
Thrust Block: 0.73 kg.
Thrust Disk: 0.70 kg.
Rest: 1.77 kg.

Total (empty): 11.00 kg.

Charge in Warhead: 0.50 kg.
Expellant Cartridge: 0.50 kg.
Acid: 8.60 kg.
Fuel (Visol): 2.30 kg.

Total (loaded): 22.90 kg.

Figure 199 – Taifun