WI: Nazi Germany with thermobaric weapons

Zachariah

Banned
IOTL, the Nazis were the first to research and develop thermobaric warheads (aka 'fuel-air bombs'), courtesy of Projekt Hexenkessel, carrying out its first successful test in 1943; however, none of these actually saw use in combat in WW2. So then, what if Adolf Hitler and the Nazis gave their approval to a proposed Projekt Hexenkessel several years earlier, with these thermobaric warheads starting to entering full production from mid-1940 onward ITTL? How much of an impact might this have upon the passage of the war, and the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe in particular?
 

Deleted member 1487

Depending on the expense and Allied response, they'd be formidable city busters. Good luck to the Brits and Soviets. Stalingrad will likely be able to taken cheaply if thermobaric weapons are used, but that is not counting the impact on operations prior to them, as field fortifications defending say Leningrad would be bust-able. The only limit is expense and availability. FAR more cost effective and useful weapon than the V-2.
 
They weren't really that operationally 'successful' either as the yields were strictly 'hit-or-miss' and greatly depended on the mixing and area conditions. They also weren't functionally 'deliverable' which was the major issue. Earlier development MIGHT have made some difference but considering nobody managed to make them "really" work till the late 60s OTL I have doubts the Nazi's could have managed it. The devices they were playing with required liquid air which alone was technically an operational issue let alone the things that had to be done with the dust dispersion, (they had no luck with liquid vaporization "fuels" which was the key to later success) arguably would have been unworkable for tactical delivery.

Worse the dispersion was actually hindered in built up areas such as cities or bunker complexes which is where they would be most effective normally.

Randy
 

Wimble Toot

Banned
Maybe if an ASB sent a TOS-1M back in time to the Nazi, otherwise no.

(I think Yuri the Comintern Alien Space Bat might object, and send many to the RKKA)
 
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