I recall reading in one of the Aberdeen Proving Ground's 'Tank Data' series about an MG designed for German AFVs with a curved barrel to allow it to fire around corners! They even had a picture of one, as I remember.
Eric Maietta
Most Unusual Weapon/Weapon System of WW II?
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AbsntMndedProf
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Belisarius
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AbsntMndedProf
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Belisarius posted:
"They designed it for both 30 and 45 degree angles. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought it was intended for the StG44? Excellent in close-quarter...but turned out to be a bit unreliable."
That could very well be true. It's been many years since I saw this in the 'Tank Data' series, and my memory concerning the details is somewhat foggy. Go figure!
Eric Maietta
"They designed it for both 30 and 45 degree angles. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought it was intended for the StG44? Excellent in close-quarter...but turned out to be a bit unreliable."
That could very well be true. It's been many years since I saw this in the 'Tank Data' series, and my memory concerning the details is somewhat foggy. Go figure!
Eric Maietta
In the Concord pub. book D-Day Tank Warfare there is a pic of a U.S. M5a1 with a "bullet deflector" mounted below the hull MG. (basically a metal plate welded to three steel posts). This device was apparently to allow the MG to be fired directly beneath the tank into enemy trenches or foxholes (as if the occupants weren't having a bad enough day already!!!). Probably not an official mod- but like the Cullin Hedgerow cutter, someone evidently had a bright idea
What about
The Soviet "Dog" Anti-tank mine (Trained dog with explosives strapped to it)
The American "House Bat" Homing incndiary Bomb (A trained bat with an incndiary grenade attached, never actually used, as they couldn't overcome the problems of the bats waking up prior to release, and refusing to leave the bombing aircraft.)
The American "Homig Pigeon" Anti Carrier Glide Bomb ( A trained homig pigeon piloting a 2000 Lb glide bomb, again never saw action as the pigeons where found to be unable to tell the difference between a Japanese CV and an American CV, or a Japanese ship from an American ship come to that.)
The Japanese remote Bombing balloon ( a balloon loaded with incndiary bombs with a very long fuse, and released 1000's of miles upwind of continental USA. Was at least credited with starting some forest fires in washington state in 1944)
or on a sader note. The Italian MG that carefully oiled and then re-inserted spent cartriges back into the magazeen as they where fired! Leaving the poor gunner's mate to have to then manually strip all the well oiled and slippery empties out of the magazeen before he could refill it with fresh ammo.
The Soviet "Dog" Anti-tank mine (Trained dog with explosives strapped to it)
The American "House Bat" Homing incndiary Bomb (A trained bat with an incndiary grenade attached, never actually used, as they couldn't overcome the problems of the bats waking up prior to release, and refusing to leave the bombing aircraft.)
The American "Homig Pigeon" Anti Carrier Glide Bomb ( A trained homig pigeon piloting a 2000 Lb glide bomb, again never saw action as the pigeons where found to be unable to tell the difference between a Japanese CV and an American CV, or a Japanese ship from an American ship come to that.)
The Japanese remote Bombing balloon ( a balloon loaded with incndiary bombs with a very long fuse, and released 1000's of miles upwind of continental USA. Was at least credited with starting some forest fires in washington state in 1944)
or on a sader note. The Italian MG that carefully oiled and then re-inserted spent cartriges back into the magazeen as they where fired! Leaving the poor gunner's mate to have to then manually strip all the well oiled and slippery empties out of the magazeen before he could refill it with fresh ammo.
"We're having a war, and we want you to come!"
So the pig began to whistle and to pound on a drum.
"We'll give you a gun, and we'll give you a hat!"
And the pig began to whistle when they told the piggies that.
So the pig began to whistle and to pound on a drum.
"We'll give you a gun, and we'll give you a hat!"
And the pig began to whistle when they told the piggies that.
Re: Weird weapons
Personal favorite:
Fliegerfaust: One man shoulder launched anti-aircraft weapon the germans were experimenting with. Fired nine unguided 20mm rockets. Disposable launcher, very cool. Would have come as a rude surprise to allied fighter-bombers had the germans deployed them.
A good source for info on this topic: German Secret Weapons of the second world war by Ian V. Hogg
Fliegerfaust: One man shoulder launched anti-aircraft weapon the germans were experimenting with. Fired nine unguided 20mm rockets. Disposable launcher, very cool. Would have come as a rude surprise to allied fighter-bombers had the germans deployed them.
A good source for info on this topic: German Secret Weapons of the second world war by Ian V. Hogg
"Don't make me come down there!"
-God
-God
Now I may be wrong here, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that the Germans were trying to develop a "Hurricane Cannon" which would somehow create atmospheric turbulence to break up the Allied bomber streams (anyone else hear of this, or am I just nuts???). I also believe that the Allies researched creating huge aircraft carriers out of icebergs and sawdust...and I'm not kidding!!!
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Belisarius
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What numbnut came up with that idea?!Originally posted by Possum
What about
The American "House Bat" Homing incndiary Bomb (A trained bat with an incndiary grenade attached, never actually used, as they couldn't overcome the problems of the bats waking up prior to release, and refusing to leave the bombing aircraft.)
I'd say the problem with getting the bats to wake up would be their least.
Reference: The African or European Swallow dialouge in Monthy Pyton's Quest for the Holy Grail.
How much does a bat weigh? North american bats vary in size from 0.11 - 2.5 ounces! (3-70 grams for us metric people) How's a bat supposed to be able to carry a grenade? It's more like a "plummeting incendiary grenade with a bat attached to it". And how do you train bats?
A funny idea, but it would seem more practical to just attach wings to the grenade.
Got StuG?
"I also believe that the Allies researched creating huge aircraft carriers out of icebergs and sawdust...and I'm not kidding!!!"
The Soviets regularly operated ski-equipped Mig-29's from ice floes in the Artic, so the idea is not so crazy at all. I don't have the detail on this, however somewhere in my aircraft library there are photos of the Mig-29's on the floes.
Can you imagine taking off and having the heat from the jet engine exhaust - which is no small thing as you will know if you've been around one in operaiton - melt the runway behind you?
Soviet Secret Weapons of the (Real) Cold War: Disposal aircraft carrier.
Bing
The Soviets regularly operated ski-equipped Mig-29's from ice floes in the Artic, so the idea is not so crazy at all. I don't have the detail on this, however somewhere in my aircraft library there are photos of the Mig-29's on the floes.
Can you imagine taking off and having the heat from the jet engine exhaust - which is no small thing as you will know if you've been around one in operaiton - melt the runway behind you?
Soviet Secret Weapons of the (Real) Cold War: Disposal aircraft carrier.
Bing
"For Those That Fought For It, Freedom Has a Taste And A Meaning The Protected Will Never Know. " -
From the 101st Airborne Division Association Website
From the 101st Airborne Division Association Website
Bats Away!
Actually the Incinderary Bat project (Project X-ray) was a successful operation! Initial attempts to release the bats were unsuccessful due to problems with the release. While in the plane the bats were forced into a temporary hibernation by bringing the air temp down to 40 degrees F and then warmed up when the plane neared the drop site. The bat's carrier (similar to an egg carton) was then thrown out of the plane where the carton would break open in the planes propwash. This lead to many of the lil' bombers to be killed at release and led to only minimal flyboys to make it too their target.
They solved the release problem by encasing the bats in a bomb-like cylinder that seperated at a set height releasing the bats safely (except the few that were blown apart by the blast that seperated the cylinder). Initial tests proved successful and showed that they could be used in the battlefield.
There actually was a test that went wrong at an US air base. The bats were released prematurely and they flew into nearby aircraft hangers delivering their napalm payload successfully! They ended up burning down the hangars and destroying one or two aircraft that were parked inside! 
This, of course, made the brass a little mad but it did prove they (the bats) were able to accomplish their mission.
The bats payload was basically a very small packet of napalm glued to the bats chest that was ignited by a time delay fuse. There were thousands of bats released in a drop so the numerous packets of napalm would do the trick especially in Japan where they were intended to be released.
The project was proved to be a viable option but was cancelled late in the war due to the research on the Atomic bomb.
They solved the release problem by encasing the bats in a bomb-like cylinder that seperated at a set height releasing the bats safely (except the few that were blown apart by the blast that seperated the cylinder). Initial tests proved successful and showed that they could be used in the battlefield.
There actually was a test that went wrong at an US air base. The bats were released prematurely and they flew into nearby aircraft hangers delivering their napalm payload successfully! They ended up burning down the hangars and destroying one or two aircraft that were parked inside!
This, of course, made the brass a little mad but it did prove they (the bats) were able to accomplish their mission. The bats payload was basically a very small packet of napalm glued to the bats chest that was ignited by a time delay fuse. There were thousands of bats released in a drop so the numerous packets of napalm would do the trick especially in Japan where they were intended to be released.
The project was proved to be a viable option but was cancelled late in the war due to the research on the Atomic bomb.
Here lil' mouse
How about the German "Maus"? One gigantic SOB of a tank that was a "semi" moble fortress.
Re: Bats Away!
:eek:No, no, no - stop right there! I refuse to believe this! I know it's not April 1st, but this is insane. Evidence, sir - give me some evidence...Originally posted by Oxtane
Actually the Incinderary Bat project (Project X-ray) was a successful operation! Initial attempts to release the bats were unsuccessful due to problems with the release. While in the plane the bats were forced into a temporary hibernation by bringing the air temp down to 40 degrees F and then warmed up when the plane neared the drop site. The bat's carrier (similar to an egg carton) was then thrown out of the plane where the carton would break open in the planes propwash. This lead to many of the lil' bombers to be killed at release and led to only minimal flyboys to make it too their target.
They solved the release problem by encasing the bats in a bomb-like cylinder that seperated at a set height releasing the bats safely (except the few that were blown apart by the blast that seperated the cylinder). Initial tests proved successful and showed that they could be used in the battlefield.
There actually was a test that went wrong at an US air base. The bats were released prematurely and they flew into nearby aircraft hangers delivering their napalm payload successfully! They ended up burning down the hangars and destroying one or two aircraft that were parked inside!
The bats payload was basically a very small packet of napalm glued to the bats chest that was ignited by a time delay fuse. There were thousands of bats released in a drop so the numerous packets of napalm would do the trick especially in Japan where they were intended to be released.
The project was proved to be a viable option but was cancelled late in the war due to the research on the Atomic bomb.
"You one of those right wing nut outfits?" inquired the diplomatic Metzger.
Fallopian twinkled. "They accuse us of being paranoids."
"They?" inquired Metzger, twinkling also.
"Us?" asked Oedipa.
Fallopian twinkled. "They accuse us of being paranoids."
"They?" inquired Metzger, twinkling also.
"Us?" asked Oedipa.
Info came straight out of the June/July issue of "World War II" magazine. Don't have the magazine right in front of me but I just read the article last night.
Guy that designed the "Bat Bombs" was a zoologist who was impacted by Pearl Harbor and decided to put his two cents worth designing a "weapon" for the US military against Japan.
If you want issue # and page #s I will gladly get them for you when I get home
Guy that designed the "Bat Bombs" was a zoologist who was impacted by Pearl Harbor and decided to put his two cents worth designing a "weapon" for the US military against Japan.
If you want issue # and page #s I will gladly get them for you when I get home
No, don't trouble yourself. But you have to admit it sounds utterly preposterous - I mean what was the rationale behind it? And how many bats would you need to carry enough napalm (or whatever) to make any kind of impact? And how do you train a bat?!!!Originally posted by Oxtane
Info came straight out of the June/July issue of "World War II" magazine. Don't have the magazine right in front of me but I just read the article last night.
Guy that designed the "Bat Bombs" was a zoologist who was impacted by Pearl Harbor and decided to put his two cents worth designing a "weapon" for the US military against Japan.
If you want issue # and page #s I will gladly get them for you when I get home
"You one of those right wing nut outfits?" inquired the diplomatic Metzger.
Fallopian twinkled. "They accuse us of being paranoids."
"They?" inquired Metzger, twinkling also.
"Us?" asked Oedipa.
Fallopian twinkled. "They accuse us of being paranoids."
"They?" inquired Metzger, twinkling also.
"Us?" asked Oedipa.
Well, he knew that bats would find the darkest spot they could when released in daylight so he figured (correctly) that the they would fly into Japanese homes, businesses, military installations or wherever to find the dark.
Like you said I have no clue what the hell this guy did to even start revolving around an idea like this! Had way too much time on his hands.
I believe they started the initial testing with 1 million bats which they selected from Texas. They used a specific species (short tail something or other) of which they found a colony of over 20 million bats. So I we actually had the first "Kamakazi pilots"
Like you said I have no clue what the hell this guy did to even start revolving around an idea like this! Had way too much time on his hands.
I believe they started the initial testing with 1 million bats which they selected from Texas. They used a specific species (short tail something or other) of which they found a colony of over 20 million bats. So I we actually had the first "Kamakazi pilots"
Soviet Dog Anti-Tank Mine
Ref: The Soviet "Dog" Anti-tank mine (Trained dog with explosives strapped to it)
As I remember the picture, it looks like a doggie rucksack with a pole sticking up to detonate the explosives, and the dog, when it contacted the underside of the tank. The Soviets trained the dogs by feeding them underneath parked tanks.
However, you knew this was coming, they fed the dogs under SOVIET tanks, not German tanks. So when they were deployed, they ignored the German tanks - must smell different - and headed for the nearest Soviet armored formation. Understand the resulting Soviet tank losses kind of ended that project.
Sounds kind of like the bat incident.
As I remember the picture, it looks like a doggie rucksack with a pole sticking up to detonate the explosives, and the dog, when it contacted the underside of the tank. The Soviets trained the dogs by feeding them underneath parked tanks.
However, you knew this was coming, they fed the dogs under SOVIET tanks, not German tanks. So when they were deployed, they ignored the German tanks - must smell different - and headed for the nearest Soviet armored formation. Understand the resulting Soviet tank losses kind of ended that project.
Sounds kind of like the bat incident.
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Kanon Fodder
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Re: Most Unusual Weapon/Weapon System of WW II?
"German Tank and Anti-Tank" by E.J Hoffschmidt and W.H. Tantum IVOriginally posted by AbsntMndedProf
I recall reading in one of the Aberdeen Proving Ground's 'Tank Data' series about an MG designed for German AFVs with a curved barrel to allow it to fire around corners! They even had a picture of one, as I remember.
Eric Maietta
Page 7: "the curved barrel device shown here was designed to cover blind spots on a tank. It could be rotated 360 degrees and actually fired bullets around corners."
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Kanon Fodder
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