# What are some other wacky military ideas that never made it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 27, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911 "2005-08-27T22:28:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/41 "2005-08-29T20:49:42Z")
> [@captnkurt](#): > > PS. Also, I heard that the Boomerang grenade never really got past the testing field… > ] Why would you want a grenade to come back to you after you throw it? ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/42 "2005-08-29T20:55:12Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > Why would you want a grenade to come back to you after you throw it? So you can re-use it. Duh. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/43 "2005-08-29T21:06:20Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > Why would you want a grenade to come back to you after you throw it? > > > [@bouv](#): > > > > So you can re-use it. Duh. Man, you must work for Alpha Complex R&D Weapons Division. [/Paranoia reference] Strang-R-TRN-3 ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/44 "2005-08-29T21:26:55Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > So you can re-use it. Duh. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/45 "2005-08-29T23:11:07Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > There was the [Bv-141 Asymmetrical airplane](http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Rev1/401-500/Rev459_BV-141B_Swan/rev459.htm), one of many strange experimental designs the Germans came up with during WW2. Apparently it actually flew just fine, but people couldn’t get past how weird it looked. I love plane! That’s crazy. I want COBRA to have one. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/46 "2005-08-29T23:13:59Z")
Boomerang grenades would be a classic mis-direction project. The enemy gets ahold of the idea, starts working on it and deploys the weapon to its troops who are soon clobbered by self-fire. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/47 "2005-08-30T03:01:32Z")
What about the Lepage Glue Gun? It glued a whole formation of planes together in mid-air. ---
**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:** [August 30, 2005, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/48 "2005-08-30T03:36:57Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > Some of the German tanks, if not silly, were a bit over the top. > > The [Maus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzer_VIII_Maus) and [Ratte](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-1000). > > Though it does remind me of the Mammoth tank from the C&C games. I’ll raise you a [P1500 “Monster.”](http://members.tripod.com/~fingolfen/superheavy/p1500.html) And, for your pleasure, [Luft 46](http://www.luft46.com/) and [Hikoki 1946.](http://j-aircraft.org/xplanes/) Personally, I’m fond of Von Braun’s [A9/A10](http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/a9a10.htm). That, and the [Apollo LM Combat variant](http://www.astronautix.com/craft/apolmcsd.htm). And…something I ran across the other day, the [Colt “Defender” shotgun. (At the bottomof the page.)](http://guntech.com/hillberg/) ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/49 "2005-08-30T03:55:14Z")
> [@CC](#): > > What about the wacky idea that if you just kill an evil dictator, then all the people will welcome you as liberators? I heard of a country that actually tried that, but they had almost no spies and knew almost nothing about the country, so when they got there, they were considered the enemy by most of the people, and they never, ever, ever were able to leave. Politically charged statements are not permitted in GQ. Please do not repeat this. Thank you. - **xash** General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/50 "2005-08-30T04:16:53Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > Personally, I’m fond of Von Braun’s [url=http://www…] Warning- pop ups there. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/51 "2005-08-30T04:25:12Z")
Watching The History Channel today. (Hence, accuracy is suspect.) They claimed the Russians had plans for a flying submarine (or submersible airplane) in WWII. It was never built. However, they did build one flying tank. Basically, wings and an empannage werre attached to a tank and it was towed aloft by a bomber. Upon reaching the landing zone it was to jettison the flying structure upon landing, after which it would be a regular tank. It was flown once. ---
**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:** [August 30, 2005, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/52 "2005-08-30T05:03:51Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Warning- pop ups there. :mad: Eh? Sorry bout that—none showed up on my machine. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/53 "2005-08-30T08:15:38Z")
> [@Push You Down](#): > > I love plane! That’s crazy. I want COBRA to have one. They already did. It was called “Destros Dominator” Okay, not quite the same thing, but really, really cool. ---
**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:** [August 30, 2005, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/54 "2005-08-30T09:18:38Z")
At the risk of more popups, I’d also like to bring up [Ithacus](http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/ithacus.htm). It’s a troop transport. A 1,200 man troop transport. A 1,200 man, VTOVL SSTO intercontinental troop transport. ::pause:: ::Low, sliding whistle:: All we need are some mechs, killbots and/or supersoldiers, and the party can REALLY begin. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/55 "2005-08-30T10:41:43Z")
The Panjandrum was a huge self-propelled demolition bomb - it had a pair of enormous wheels propelled by rim-mounted rockets firing tangentially. It featured in a _Dad’s Army_ episode and caused about as much havoc as it would if it had ever been deployed operationally. Blohm und Voss came up with some other asymmetrical designs as well as the Bv141. I found this out only a few months ago. There are some pics on the web. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/56 "2005-08-30T11:41:29Z")
> [@](#): > > The Panjandrum was a huge self-propelled demolition bomb - it had a pair of enormous wheels propelled by rim-mounted rockets firing tangentially. It featured in a Dad’s Army episode and caused about as much havoc as it would if it had ever been deployed operationally. > > Blohm und Voss came up with some other asymmetrical designs as well as the Bv141. I found this out only a few months ago. There are some pics on the web. This is one of those contraptions I mentioned above that was supposed to demolish the Atlantic Wall. It wasn’t the only one. I think they would’ve done as much damage to our side as theirs, if they’d actualy deployed it. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/57 "2005-08-30T11:49:35Z")
Yes. “Here’s the new wonder device, which will roll unerringly to its destination as long as the ground is perfectly level, all the rockets fire with perfect synchronisation, and the device itself, which is roughly the size of a double-decker 'bus, is not damaged. Any questions?” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/58 "2005-08-30T11:53:02Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > There was the [Bv-141 Asymmetrical airplane](http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Rev1/401-500/Rev459_BV-141B_Swan/rev459.htm), one of many strange experimental designs the Germans came up with during WW2. Apparently it actually flew just fine, but people couldn’t get past how weird it looked. Deja Vu all over again… > **[Rutan Boomerang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaled_Composites_Boomerang)** > > The Rutan Model 202 Boomerang is an aircraft designed and built by Burt Rutan\[when?\]. The design was intended to be a multi-engine aircraft that in the event of failure of a single engine would not become dangerously difficult to control due to asymmetric thrust. The result is an asymmetrical aircraft with a very distinct appearance. > The Boomerang was designed around the specifications of the Beechcraft Baron 58, one of the best known and most numerous twin-engine civilian aircraft. The use of t... ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/59 "2005-08-30T12:11:13Z")
> [@Corporate Hippie](#): > > In a military history course a few months ago, my professor enlightened the class about [Bat Bombs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_bomb) ([more details](http://www.afa.org/magazine/1990/1090bat.html)). The idea struck me as hilarious, so I was wondering if any military buffs out there know of any other wacky, strange, or unorthodox military ideas that were rejected or are just not widely known about? …peace?.. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911/60 "2005-08-30T13:26:53Z")
We tried that in the Thirties, which is why we found ourselves in France in 1939 with a whole bundle of obsolete stuff and got our sorry behinds booted the following May. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-other-wacky-military-ideas-that-never-made-it/318911.md?page=4)