What type of weapon was the V1?

The V1 was an early cruise missile developed by Germany during World War II and is best classified as an inertially-guided pulse jet powered cruise missile. It was designed for long-range attacks and utilized a pulse jet engine to achieve sustained flight, allowing it to cover significant distances before striking its target.

The term "inertially guided" refers to the guidance system that utilized gyroscopic stabilization and a basic form of autopilot, enabling it to follow a straight path towards a predetermined target. While it did not have advanced targeting capabilities like modern missiles, its design and functionality place it within the cruise missile category.

The other options don’t accurately describe the V1: it was not a drone, as those are typically unmanned vehicles and operated differently; it wasn't a guided torpedo, which is designed to travel underwater; nor was it a reactive artillery shell, which refers to shells used in conventional artillery systems. Therefore, understanding the specific design and operational principles of the V1 confirms that it is correctly categorized as an inertially-guided pulse jet powered cruise missile.