Quote:
Originally Posted by Stefan
How about the Soviet dog mine? Inventive but badly executed.
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A perfect example of the Pavlov Response, in order to train the dogs to run under tanks to deliver their "mines" they were always fed under tanks with their engines running. Unfortunately no-one thought on that they were feeding them under Russian diesel engined tanks when most German tanks were petrol engined (or vice versa)! Result? The mutts associated the noise of "friendly" tanks with food rather than the real targets! Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!
Quote:
Originally Posted by PzJgr
I was going to post the Defiant and then I saw your post................great minds always thinking alike. Cheers
I guess they did not expect to chase any planes. Just play sittin duck. |
I understand that once the shortcomings of the design were highlighted by some drastic losses it gave good service as a Night Fighter especially when combined with RADAR and also in daylight when flown in mixed formations with Hurricanes which it closely resembled!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kai-Petri
Other ideas that went into the garbage can:
Hajile
"Hajile"
Hajile was a "Deceleration Device" — in other words, the world's first retro-rocket.The Admiralty's Directorate of Miscellaneous Weapon Development was actually working on a request from the Army, who wanted a better way than parachutes of getting heavy equipment like jeeps safely and quickly from an aircraft drop to the ground.
DMWD's answer was to put the equipment in a cradle fitted with a number of rockets that would fire a few metres above the ground, bringing the cargo to a soft landing, A plummet on a wire would trigger the firing. Unfortunately, things never quite went exactly to plan... |
During the Cold War the Warsaw pact developed a successful rocket deceleration system for Heavy Drop Parachute Loads like Armoured vehicles. The pallets were brought down under multiple Chutes and the rockets were triggered by long trigger rods below the pallet about 30 feet before impact thus substantially softening the impact.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe
I've heard of the piloted V-1 before. I think Hitler was disgusted by the Idea and gave it to the Japanese.
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To the best of my knowledge the piloted V-1 was only a test bed to iron out problems in the guidance systems as illustrated in the film Operation Crossbow which charts Germany's V-1 and V-2 Programs and SOE's efforts to counter it! Incidentally one of the test pilots was a woman.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe
I agree on the Maginot line. The Germans attacked through that area in 1870, so the French always thought they would attack there again. They didn't in ww1 so the French where stupid to think that they would do it again. And besides, if you had two choices;
-attack through a heavily defended area, all according to the enemy's plan
OR
-walk through a neutral country to attack they lightly defended bit.
If the French had extended the Maginot line on ALL of France's borders, the war might of been different. The would have to fortify the beaches as well in case Germany wanted to do an amphibious landing.
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I thought the same until I watched a recent program regarding the origins on WW2. The main reason the Maginot was not extended along the Belgian frontier to the coast, was political, as it would viewed as abandoning their Belgian Akllies. However when shortly before the outbreak of war the Belgians declared neutrality it was too late to extend the construction program!
As for fortifying the beaches the Germans were not equipped for an Amphibious Landing of any size as proven by the failure to prosecute Operation Sealion. The only nation to have conducted Amphibious Operations against an opposing force of similar technological level was the British and Empire forces in the Dardanelles and that was hardly a shining example of how it should be done!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Za Rodinu
Ah, the Sticky Bomb. Great idea. If you look up the Internet you'll see reports of it sticking to the user's clothes and having to throw your jacket as far as you can as well, etc  |
Also improvised to considerable effect, not all of it beneficial, using Army Socks, Composition B and Axle Grease in the final battle in Saving Private Ryan!
As my own submission of a Stupid Weapon from the files of the Home Guard who had some ideas for real which were even crazier than those dreamt up by Lance Corporal Jones in the Dads Army Movie. I'm not sure of this one had a proper title but I recall reading about this as an Anti Tank Weapon for use in built up areas. It required a team of 4, a rifleman whose job it was to open fire on the tank causing its crew to button down and concentrate on trying to destroy him. Meanwhile the remaining three would be secreted in an alley way or sidestreet and equipped as follows No.1 carries a 4 foot length of railway line (yeah right!
), No.2 carries a blanket and a jerry can of petrol and No.3 a Very Pistol.
As the tank passes by, buttoned down and concentrating on eliminating the "sniper", the team rush from their place of concealment, No.1 thrusts the length of railway line into the tracks and running gear immobilising the tank (you hope), No.2 throws the blanket over the track and douses it with petrol from the jerry can and No.3 ignites the lot using the Very pistol!
This shows a complete lack of comprehension that tanks rarely travel singly
and without supporting infantry!