What are some of the most bizarre and never-used weapons in history?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around bizarre and never-used weapons throughout history, exploring various examples and anecdotes related to military projects and concepts. Participants share insights on historical weapon designs, their intended uses, and the implications of such innovations, with a focus on both humorous and serious aspects of these ideas.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants mention the "Bat Bomb" project aimed at igniting fires in Japan during World War II, questioning the feasibility of bats carrying explosives.
  • Others discuss the "Puckle Gun" and express curiosity about its design implications.
  • A participant recalls a grenade design from the Vietnam era that resembled a Frisbee, highlighting the absurdity of military spending on such projects.
  • There is mention of a nuclear hand grenade concept, with humor about its impracticality given the average soldier's throwing distance.
  • One participant describes a CIA operation involving cats used to start fires in Cuba, raising ethical concerns about such tactics.
  • Another shares a story about Russian anti-tank dogs, noting their unintended training outcomes.
  • Some participants critique the overall quality of the weapons discussed, suggesting that they do not provide meaningful insights into military history.
  • There is a debate about historical arms sales to Nazi Germany, with differing views on the implications and accuracy of such claims.
  • Several participants recommend the book "Skunk Works" by Ben Rich as a more credible source of information on military aircraft and projects compared to the articles being discussed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of agreement and disagreement, particularly regarding the historical context of military actions and the effectiveness of the discussed weapons. Some find humor in the absurdity of certain projects, while others take a more serious stance on the ethical implications of military innovations. The discussion remains unresolved on several points, particularly concerning the accuracy of historical claims and the value of the weapons mentioned.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various historical projects and anecdotes without providing comprehensive details or sources, leading to potential gaps in context and understanding. The discussion includes speculative claims and personal recollections that may not be fully substantiated.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those fascinated by military history, unconventional weaponry, and the ethical implications of warfare. Readers interested in historical anecdotes and the evolution of military technology may also find value in the shared insights.

Ivan Seeking
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[Top ten] Best: Never-Used Weapon Systems, From the USSR's Ekranoplan to the Puckle Gun

...8. Bat Bomb
Aiming to end World War II, the Pentagon sponsored a project to release time-bomb-laden bats over Japan. The mammals would nestle in the nooks of buildings, where their incendiaries would eventually ignite. Little Boy and Fat Man beat them to the punch. [continued]
http://www.wired.com/culture/design/magazine/16-05/st_best

And one of my favorites: The Great Panjandrum
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=114542
 
Science news on Phys.org
I like the "Puckle Gun" :biggrin:

I wonder what shape he'd have chosen for atheists? :smile:
 
How many pounds of explosives could bats possibly lift?
 
waht said:
How many pounds of explosives could bats possibly lift?

lol About six billion in appropriations worth.
 
I remember hearing about one during the Viet Nam era--late 60's or early 70's in the 'hippie era': It was a variation of a grenade, but they spend who knows how much trying to make the 'new' grenade with the design of a Frisbee. I can't remember if the war ended first, or projected time was extended so often for 'munchies' breaks that it got too expensive.
 
It might have been George Carlin, but I can't remember for sure. Anyhow, it was a bit about the US Army developing a nuclear hand grenade that would devastate everything within 500 yards of it. Unfortunately, the average soldier could only throw it 20 feet.
 
no--it was an actual 'project' by the defense dept.---again, if I remember right, the DOD spent about 1/4 million on the idea before it was 'scrapped'
 
The best weapon is always a never used weapon :smile:

I did once hear about a nuclear land mine developed during the cold war to be deployed in the USSR's path in Europe 'just in case'. The second biggest problem (the first being the uninhabitable atomic scar to be left between E & W Europe) was parts would stop working in the prolonged cold it would have to endure. A proposed solution was to fill the casing with live chickens, food and water. They would be able to keep it warm 'til it was needed.

I told a vegetarian that once, and her first comment was "oh those poor chickens!"
Yeah, worry about the chickens 'cause everyone else within 10k will be just fine :rolleyes:
 
Danger said:
...a nuclear hand grenade that would devastate everything within 500 yards of it. Unfortunately, the average soldier could only throw it 20 feet.

<insert icon for "laughing so much you can't breathe" here>

:smile: :smile: :smile:
 
  • #10
what said:
How many pounds of explosives could bats possibly lift?

The bats were to have carried small incendiary devices. The idea was to start fires in Japan's wooden structure cities.

One of the most cruel ideas was used in Cuba. CIA operatives would take cats out to the sugar cane fields. They would then soak a long piece of cloth in kerosene and tie it to the cats tail. When they lit the cloth the cats would run wildly through the fields starting fires in the sugar cane crop.

We haven't always been the good guys.
 
  • #11
Another animal related one- I heard Russia once trained dogs to associate the underside of tanks with food with the intent of strapping bombs to them. Unfortunately they only learned to associate the underside of Russian tanks with food.
 
  • #12
phyzmatix said:
I like the "Puckle Gun" :biggrin:

I wonder what shape he'd have chosen for atheists? :smile:

Dodecahedron, of course. :biggrin:
 
  • #14
[QUOTEWe haven't always been the good guys. [/QUOTE]

Yeah, HUGE surprise there...
 
  • #15
edward said:
We haven't always been the good guys.

Wanna try, haven't ever been the good guys? Remember that you Yanks were selling arms to Hitler until he declared war on the US the day after the Pearl Harbour attack. Nothing like having a strong social conscience, unless it gets in the way of profit.
 
  • #16
And it was the Canadians that marched on Berlin?

Who was selling arms to Hitler?
 
  • #17
Danger said:
Wanna try, haven't ever been the good guys? Remember that you Yanks were selling arms to Hitler until he declared war on the US the day after the Pearl Harbour attack...

...got Saddam into power...trained Osama...voted Bush in a second time ( )...sold the Easter Bunny to Playboy...

*sigh*

(ok, maybe not the last one :biggrin: )
 
  • #18
Although not really comical, I've always been fascinated by the experimental aircraft designs that the Luftwaffe was coming up with during WW2. One of my favorites is the Triebflugeljager project, better known as the Dragonfly.

http://home.wanadoo.nl/r.j.o/skyraider/gallery/trieb_3.jpg
http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/AC/aircraft/Focke-Wulf-Triebflugel/info/assy.gif
http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/AC/aircraft/Focke-Wulf-Triebflugel/info/assy.jpg

Neat video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqqQ48KFXJE&feature=related
 
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  • #19
Ivan Seeking said:
And it was the Canadians that marched on Berlin?

Quite a few, yes. Let's not forget Normandy, the Battle of Britain, and a few other minor conflicts that didn't interest the US.

Ivan Seeking said:
Who was selling arms to Hitler?
Lockheed, General Motors, General Electric... pretty much the entire US military-industrial complex.

Since the title of this thread reminds me of a quote from the trailers, I'll mention that I'm now heading off to watch Iron Man. Don't anybody bother me for a couple of hours.
 
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  • #20
Danger said:
Quite a few, yes. Let's not forget Normandy, the Battle of Britain, and a few other minor conflicts that didn't interest the US.

My point was that we were there as well and probably in larger numbers by a couple of orders of magnitude or more. To say that we have always been the bad guys is ludicrous.

Lockheed, General Motors, General Electric... pretty much the entire US military-industrial complex.

Do you have references for this? Were they selling weapons or just doing business? This claim seems inflated given that before the war, we weren't at war. Large companies do business all over the world in times of peace.

Was Canada doing business in Germany before the war?
 
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  • #21
These weapons all suck ass. I am reading "Skunk Works" by Ben Rich, I recommend that over these msn nonsense articles written by people who only know what they saw on tv and then made a list. Skunk works gives you the real deal no BS of what went on in SWs.
 
  • #22
Cyrus said:
These weapons all suck ass. I am reading "Skunk Works" by Ben Rich, I recommend that over these msn nonsense articles written by people who only know what they saw on tv and then made a list. Skunk works gives you the real deal no BS of what went on in SWs.

How old is the book? Does it mention anything about Lockheeds morphing UAV?
 
  • #23
Cyrus said:
These weapons all suck ass.

Yes, they do. :cry:

Im reading "Skunk Works" by Ben Rich,

Wow!

I recommend that over these msn nonsense articles written by people who only know what they saw on tv and then made a list. Skunk works gives you the real deal no BS of what went on in SWs.

Absolutely, please ignore the article linked.
 
  • #24
B. Elliott said:
How old is the book? Does it mention anything about Lockheeds morphing UAV?

Book is copy 1994. But its really really good if you want to learn about the aircraft of the cold war, and what we had, and what the russians had. As opposed to a quick top ten list that really says nothing.
 
  • #25
Ivan Seeking said:
Wow!

I don't know if that's sarcasm or if you've read the book?

Absolutely, please ignore the article linked.


The problem with this list is that it does not really tell you anything about these weapons, or any context. I've seen these on a program on the history channel, so I'd hope the author of this article had enough knowledge not to simply write up what he saw on tv.

I also don't understand the title. "Best: unused weapons?" How are they the best?
 
  • #26
Ivan Seeking said:
Yes, they do. :cry:


Wow!


Absolutely, please ignore the article linked.


I'm still trying to figure out if you're being sarcastic or not...
 
  • #27
Cyrus said:
The problem with this list is that it does not really tell you anything about these weapons, or any context. I've seen these on a program on the history channel, so I'd hope the author of this article had enough knowledge not to simply write up what he saw on tv.

I also don't understand the title. "Best: unused weapons?" How are they the best?

There is no need to trash something that is intended to be light entertainment. Frankly, I for one don't have the time to waste reading a book about old weapons. I do take the time to skim interesting news items when I need a break. Again, the point is that this is just light entertainment. It is supposed to be fun.
 
  • #28
Ivan Seeking said:
There is no need to trash something that is intended to be light entertainment. Frankly, I for one don't have the time to waste reading a book about old weapons. I do take the time to skim interesting news items when I need a break. Again, the point is that this is just light entertainment. It is supposed to be fun.

Sorry Ivan. I am not trying to trash your thread, but the article really ticked me off that the guy literally ripped off a show from the history channel and published it.

If you skim this kind of stuff and want to fly in a Russian MIG at the edge of the earth, you'll love this book. Its very very interesting and a fast read, and its full of actual facts behind what went on. There is actual meat to digest on.