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How to Launch a Lethal Projectile
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 3:48 pm
by VMI77
http://weaponsman.com/?p=22655
Full story at the link.
In World War II, the OSS wanted the National Defense Research Committee (NRDC), a gathering of eggheads led by Harvard’s former head James Conant, to address the question of projectile launching, starting at first principles, with the objective of producing silent weapons. Stanley P. Lovell, a former NRDC guy who’d been transferred to OSS to help the nascent spy and sabotage agency develop the specialty equipment such missions required, drafted the initial requirement, complete with an innocuous cover name:
No. 1 – Impact Testing Machine
You are directed to study, and if possible produce, a gun having the approximate following military characteristics:
Silent
Flashless
Muzzle velocity of 1000 ft./s.
Maximum calibre bullet compatible with a, B, and C, preferably 50-calibre.
Minimum reloading time, preferably under 30 seconds.
The project may conceivably eventuate as two weapons, one for relatively long-range sentry assault, the other as a personal short-range weapon. The US Armed Forces prefer the former and there are indications that our Allies wish both types of arms.
Re: How to Launch a Lethal Projectile
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 3:51 pm
by WildBill
This looks like a cross between a slingshot and a crossbow.
Re: How to Launch a Lethal Projectile
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 4:30 pm
by joe817
WildBill wrote:This looks like a cross between a slingshot and a crossbow.
WildBill. But I'm wondering what advantage the slingshot side of the weapon has over the crossbow, unless it can hurl a hand grenade a really, really long ways.
Re: How to Launch a Lethal Projectile
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 4:34 pm
by TVGuy
joe817 wrote:WildBill wrote:This looks like a cross between a slingshot and a crossbow.
WildBill. But I'm wondering what advantage the slingshot side of the weapon has over the crossbow, unless it can hurl a hand grenade a really, really long ways.
I don't know, but possibly cost? Bullets are much less expensive than arrows.
Re: How to Launch a Lethal Projectile
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 5:32 pm
by VMI77
Remember, this was all for the OSS. They didn't have the same kinds of elastic materials back then. The device pictured was an attempt to develop the force necessary to launch the desired projectile size, given the materials of the time.
Re: How to Launch a Lethal Projectile
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 5:41 pm
by C-dub
Some pretty tough parameters.
.50 cal
1000 ft/sec
Good handheld crossbows only get up to 350 ft/sec at best, no?
Re: How to Launch a Lethal Projectile
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 9:05 pm
by The Annoyed Man
So THAT's where my corset went!
Re: How to Launch a Lethal Projectile
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 10:06 pm
by JSThane
The Annoyed Man wrote:So THAT's where my corset went!
Brain bleach!
Re: How to Launch a Lethal Projectile
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 11:04 pm
by Skiprr
JSThane wrote:The Annoyed Man wrote:So THAT's where my corset went!
Brain bleach!
I do wish there was a Forum "like" button, only for that.
Re: How to Launch a Lethal Projectile
Posted: Wed May 13, 2015 8:07 am
by threoh8
The Annoyed Man wrote:So THAT's where my corset went!
It's War, man! Sacrifices must be made!