Fritz X emerged from a long pre-war development program, entered service in 1943-44, and reached a limited production total of about 1,400. Its 320 kg warhead could be guided onto vulnerable deck areas, penetrate into a ship, and cause serious internal damage despite the weapon's much larger overall mass. Scarce chromium and other specialized materials restricted the numbers Germany could build. The radio-command system also required an operator to watch both weapon and target while the launching aircraft remained within line of sight. Earlier deployment would create a powerful anti-ship capability whose material and guidance limits still shaped every attack.
Chapter · 0:16-5:58
The power and limits of Fritz X
The historical Fritz X combined a heavy, accurately guided warhead with scarce-material constraints and a vulnerable manual guidance method.