# What are some crazy Soviet weapons of their day? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 1, 2004, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177 "2004-01-01T22:20:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/21 "2004-01-02T03:32:43Z")
[The flying tank did fly](http://aeroweb.lucia.it/~agretch/RAFAQ/KT-40.html) I also heard they were into sharks with lasers on their heads. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/22 "2004-01-02T03:37:09Z")
[This tank did fly tooā€¦](http://www.elale.net/Aero/Fotos/Flying%20Tank.jpg)šŸ˜› ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/23 "2004-01-02T05:02:44Z")
**qts** Plutonium 239 has a half life of around 24,000 years. Donā€™t know where you live, but that ainā€™t short in my book. I suppose compared to U-235 (713 million years) or U-283 (5.4 billion years), it is short. Perhaps you are thinking of tritium, used for thermonuclear weapons? That has a half life of 12 years, which is one of the justifications the US uses to stay out of the CTBT. The nuclear arsenal always has to be checked for tritium-\>deuterium decay (IIRC) because deuterium will squelch fission chain reactions by absorbing neutrons. I personally like the Russian Firefox, a modified MIG interceptor that was piloted using thought control. But you had to be able to think in Russianā€¦ šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/24 "2004-01-02T11:23:58Z")
Youā€™re right, edwino, I was getting mixed up. And Derleth, fallout can be cleaned up - Hiroshimaā€™s now a thriving city. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/25 "2004-01-02T12:35:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Poetgrrl \* > [@](#): > > **Nuclear Hand Grenades** - I read in a magazine (Time? Newsweek? I canā€™t remember ā˜¹ ) about suitcase bombs that had small nuclear weapons, and these _were_ real, so it seems like it wouldnā€™t be that farfetched that the soviets might have a throwable/lobbable version? Or was that _too_ crazy even for the Soviets? You will probably see an Anti-matter grenade before you ever see a microtac nuke , size constraints The suit case nuke was a language interpratation thing, the original soviet leader that mentioned it , used suitcase , when he meant cabinet, have to find the exact phrase he used later , for the rebuttals > [@](#): > > **Tanks parachuted out of airplanes** - People were talking about how the Soviets wanted to parachute tanks out of airplanes. I remember seeing an episode of Ren and Stimpy where they trained to become tank paratroopers and I figured maybe they were spoofing a real Soviet idea. It seems like Cold War scaremongering to me, but would it be a viable tactic to rapidly deploy tanks in distant places? Parachuting into my neighborhood to crush my decadent capitalist bourgois home?! :eek: Already been mentioned that the 82 airborne used them as well, the tanks got dragged out of the airplane on a pallet , then the chutes engaged > [@](#): > > Of course I know that the dubious sources of these tales could mean they are BS, but watching the History channel I was suprised what measures people were willing to go through in wartime. I mean in WWII the Japanese had all sorts of suicide craft, so it makes it hard to totally disbelieve the possibility that the Soviets might have developed something as silly as a nuclear hand grenadeā€¦ Read up on the SKvaal , for your next new years party, the rocket powered torpedo Declan ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/26 "2004-01-02T12:43:41Z")
qts was sort-of right about plutonium weapons. The plutonium itself has a long life but itā€™s corrosive, so if the weapons are not stored properly and given regular maintenance, the metal bomb casings have short half-lives. Soviet-era bombs (as well as the reactors in nuclear subs) offer a huge ongoing threat because they might spring leaks and that people trained to prevent this havenā€™t been paid in years, etc. Within the next few decades, we might see occasional Chernobyl-sized radiation leaks popping up all around Russia. ---
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/27 "2004-01-03T03:37:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tapioca Dextrin \* > \*\*There was the [Ekronoplan](http://aeroweb.lucia.it/~agretch/RAFAQ/WIG.html) - the worldā€™s biggest plane. > > The US, OTOH wad the [Davy Crockett](http://www.guntruck.com/DavyCrockett.html). Not exactly a nuclear hand grenade, but a 250ton payload and a range of around a mile, it was a spectactularly stupid idea. \*\* That page also mentions the North American atomic landmine. ā€˜Atomic Annieā€™ was a moveable artillery cannon that launched atomic shells. It took longer to set up than it would for a plane to deploy and bomb a target. I long for the day when scientists put two and two together and usher in a new Golden Age of the atomic AAA battery. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/28 "2004-01-03T03:55:48Z")
Well, they did have the nuclear-capable [Nike Hercules](http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/airdef/nike-hercules.htm) and [BOMARC](http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/airdef/bomarc.htm) SAMā€™s. There was also the [Genie](http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/airdef/air-2a.htm), a nuclear-armed air-to-air missile with a range of, umā€¦6.2 miles. However, it only carried a _small_ nuclear warhead, with a yield of 1.5 kiltons. It was also an ā€œunguidedā€ missileā€“I guess youā€™d just let fly with the thing and cross your fingers. They were _really_ into nukes back in those days, werenā€™t they? ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/29 "2004-01-03T03:57:50Z")
("ā€¦the DOUGLAS AIR-2A ā€˜Genieā€™ has a range of 6.2 miles, and a lethal radius in excess of 1,000 feet." **Pilot:** ā€œAnd just how _much_ in excess of 1,000 feet would that be?ā€) ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/30 "2004-01-03T05:38:15Z")
Iā€™ll always remember the CynicalMan comic where he ā€œtestedā€ the Pentagonā€™s prototype Flying Tank. (He stood on a large X on the ground beneath a tank suspended from a construction crane). Afterwards the Pentagon spokesman proudly announced that the experimental tank ā€œremained airborne for 99% of the testā€. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/31 "2004-01-03T06:02:20Z")
Well, theyā€™re not so ā€œcrazyā€ butā€¦[Soviet Combat Snowmobiles](http://www.battlefield.ru/library/bookshelf/aerosani/aerosan.html). And donā€™t get be wrong, these werenā€™t just ā€œjeeps with skisā€ā€¦some of them had [armour and gun turrets](http://www.battlefield.ru/library/bookshelf/aerosani/aerosan2.html). ---
**Author:** ![\_possum\_stalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/b77776/32.png) [@\_possum\_stalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_possum_stalker)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/32 "2004-01-03T06:15:35Z")
Hereā€™s a wacky idea lots of countries killed unlucky sailors with: > [@](#): > > The British converted several unfinished K-boats from steam to diesel power. They fitted one, designated M.1, with a 12-inch naval rifle. In theory, crew members could fire the gun while the boat was submerged; in practice, the submarine had to surface after each shot to reload the gun. M.1 sank after a collision in 1925. **The British turned another, designated M.2, into a submarine aircraft carrier. M.2 sank when someone opened the hangar door by mistake while the boat was still partially submerged.** -[from this site](http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostsub/hist1918.html) (my bolding) Then Japan got into the act, with totally unspectacular results: [QUOTE] 1942 Japan began construction of the 5,223-ton I-400 class of submarine aircraft carrier, each of which carried three dive-bomber seaplanes. Designed for attacks against the Panama Canal and the West Coast of the United States. Twelve were planned; only two were built, and did not see any useful service. [QUOTE] -[from here](http://www.submarine-history.com/NOVAfour.htm) I seem to recall the Soviets trying the same submarine aircraft carrier trick in the 80ā€™s, resulting in a classic tragicomic Communist catastrophe. Still fishing for sites. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/33 "2004-01-03T06:51:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Poetgrrl \* > \*\* > **Tanks parachuted out of airplanes** - People were talking about how the Soviets wanted to parachute tanks out of airplanes. I remember seeing an episode of Ren and Stimpy where they trained to become tank paratroopers and I figured maybe they were spoofing a real Soviet idea. It seems like Cold War scaremongering to me, but would it be a viable tactic to rapidly deploy tanks in distant places? Parachuting into my neighborhood to crush my decadent capitalist bourgois home?! :eek: > \*\* I canā€™t find a good cite, but I recall seeing a Discovery or History channel show talking about Soviet Airborne forces, and theyā€™d actually figured out a procedure for air-dropping a T-72. Basically they had 3 big parachutes, and then when the tank was around 50 feet off the ground, they had retrorockets mounted where the parachute shrouds met the pallet attachments, and these rockets would fire, slowing the tank to a reasonable speed so that it wasnā€™t damaged on landing. Damnedest thing to see a clip of. This idea of airborne tanks isnā€™t as stupid as it might sound- airborne forces are usually elite forces- highly trained and motivated, but as a result of their air mobility, are really short on heavy equipment such as tanks and artillery, and tend to get chewed up by heavier formations after air drops. (check out the British experience at Arnhem for proof). Having a few tanks or other AFVs around would help immensely. ---
**Author:** ![patchbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dc4da7/32.png) [@patchbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/patchbunny)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/34 "2004-01-03T09:08:41Z")
How about [Dog Mines](http://www.soviet-empire.com/arsenal/army/anti-tank/dog_mine.php)? ā€“Patch ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/35 "2004-01-03T22:35:37Z")
Another oneā€¦the [APS Underwater Assault Rifle](http://arms.ashst.com/firearms/aps.htm). There was an underwater pistol, too, as I remember. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/36 "2004-01-04T11:07:06Z")
This page [www.combinedfleet.com/sen\_toku.htm](http://www.combinedfleet.com/sen_toku.htm) has more details about the Japanese aircraft-carrying submarines mentioned earlierā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/37 "2004-01-04T17:27:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by patchbunny \* > \*\*How about [Dog Mines](http://www.soviet-empire.com/arsenal/army/anti-tank/dog_mine.php)? > > ā€“Patch \*\* > [@](#): > > _From the link:_ > This however, was one simple idea that did not work terribly effectively in combat. **As the dogs were trained by placing food under Soviet tanks they would run to the familiar smells and sounds of any Soviet tanks in battle rather than the strange smells and sounds of the German tanks** , and with hindsight, one would also expect that in battle a dog would run anywhere but towards a moving tank firing overhead, and in doing so become a menace to everyone else on the battlefield. So, does anyone else find this a good nominee for the Darwin awards? :dubious: Tripler Those wacky Soviets. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/38 "2004-01-04T18:02:07Z")
Iā€™ve read that one probable cause of the dog mines going awry was that the Soviet tanks they were trained with burned diesel, while Nazi armor tended to burn gasoline, explaining much of the difference in smell. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/39 "2004-01-04T18:16:41Z")
A simple one from WWII. Penal battalions were much used during the war, with aerial gunners often being drawn from them. When a gunner died, the barrel of his machine gun would droop, letting the Nazi flyers know that the plane was undefended. Marshal of the Air Forces A. E. Golovanov is credited with the idea of fixing a spring to the barrel, so it was always elevated whether the gunner was still conscious or not. ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177/40 "2004-01-04T23:05:31Z")
In WW II the British experimented with a flying jeep called the [Rotabuggy](http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/aircraft/WWII/fly-jeep/info/info.htm). It was basically a jeep with a tail and an unpowered rotor (like a gyrocopter) added. The idea was for the vehicle to be towed behind a plane and then cut it loose to glide to a landing behind enemy lines! Eric [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-crazy-soviet-weapons-of-their-day/222177.md?page=1)