5 Weirdest Weapons of World War 2
5 Weirdest Weapons of World War 2
Schwerer Gustav
Schwerer Gustav is the name of a massive railway gun designed to destroy the forts of the French Maginot Line - the strongest fortifications then in existence.
Schwerer Gustav
Needing to punch through seven meters of reinforced concrete or one full meter of steel armor plate...
Schwerer Gustav
...the resulting weapon weighed 1350 tons and featured a 32.5 meter long barrel that could fire shells weighing 7 tons nearly 29 miles.
Schwerer Gustav
The size and weight of the weapon meant that it had to be supported on twin sets of railway tracks which determined the gun's aim.
Schwerer Gustav
Successfully used in Soviet siege operations, it was the largest gun ever used in combat.
Schwerer Gustav
5 Weirdest Weapons of World War 2
BA 349 Natter
The German Ba 349 "Natter" ("Viper") was the first manned, vertical-take-off interceptor.
BA 349 Natter
Essentially functioning as a manned surface-to-air missile, the Natter was designed to quickly intercept Allied bombing campaigns late in the war.
BA 349 Natter
To eliminate the need for an airfield, the mostly wooden aircraft was launched vertically from a steel tower using a series of rocket boosters.
BA 349 Natter
Once at altitude, the pilot was to direct the aircraft towards inoming bomber formation before releasing a salvo of 24 unguided rockets.
BA 349 Natter
Once at altitude, the pilot was to direct the aircraft towards inoming bomber formation before releasing a salvo of 24 unguided rockets.
BA 349 Natter
The pilot then glided to a lower altitude before ejecting, with the airframe plummeting to the ground for recovery as scrap.
BA 349 Natter
At least 36 operational Natters were produced, but none would be used in combat before the launch sites were captured by Allied troops.
BA 349 Natter
5 Weirdest Weapons of World War 2
Bat Bomb
The idea for the Bat Bomb was conceived by an American dentist name Lytle S. Adams, who was a friend of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
Bat Bomb
Observing that buildings in Japan were largely made of flammable material, Dr. Adams surmised that the bats could be fitted with incendiary devices...
Bat Bomb
...which would be timed to ignite after the bats were dropped over a target and had a chance to roost in buildings throughout the city.
Bat Bomb
Code named Project X-Ray, plans were drawn up to drop over 1 million bats over Japanese cities using specially designed bomb casings.
Bat Bomb
Tests of the bat bombs were fairly successful, but the project was scrapped due to the development of the atomic bomb.
Bat Bomb
5 Weirdest Weapons of World War 2
Vampire Vision
Code named "Vampir," the Zielgerat 1229 was an active infrared device developed for the Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifle.
Vampire Vision
First developed for the Panther tank, technological improvements allowed the device to be used by soldiers known as Nachtjagers (night-hunters).
Vampire Vision
The system consisted of an infrared spotlight fixed atop the rifle with a range finder that could detect the infrared light.
Vampire Vision
The five pound device was bolted on the rifle and connected to a 30-pound battery strapped to the soldier's back.
Vampire Vision
Deployed very late in the war, the Vampir system had limited impact, though it laid the groundwork for modern combat night vision.
Vampire Vision
5 Weirdest Weapons of World War 2
Horton Ho 229
The Horton Ho 229 was a German prototype fighter/bomber designed by Reimar and Walter Horten and built by Gothaer Waggonfabrik late in the war.
Horton Ho 229
It was designed as part of the Luftwaffe "3x1000 Project" to produce bombers that could carry a 1000kg load over 1000km at 1000km per hour.
Horton Ho 229
It was the first pure flying wing powered by jet engines...
Horton Ho 229
...and it is often described as "the first stealth bomber" because it resembled the modern B-2 Spirit and had a charcoal-infused, anti-radar paint.
Horton Ho 229
The prototypes were destroyed or captured by Allied forces before going into production...
Horton Ho 229
But modern testing suggests the Horton Ho 229 could have changed the course of the war with its high-speed capabilities and radar-evading shape...
Horton Ho 229
