Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
Points for the innovative energy, though!
Points for thinking out of the box, though!
War = innovation
As long as humans have walked this Earth, we have fought each other.
We’ve always tried to get the upper hand when fighting our foes, and even though war is a horrible thing, there’s no denying that it really gets the creative juices flowing.
The internet was made by the military
Many of the things originally made for military purposes is now an integral part of our everyday life – and you’re using at least one of them right now.
The internet was originally made for military purposes, but let’s all be thankful, that we now have the opportunity to watch all the cat videos, we desire!
When innovation gets out of hand
As with all science, some things turns out being nothing but a dead end.
Either it’s too expensive to develop, too technically demanding – or maybe simply too stupid.
So get ready for a mindblowing dive into the history of military creativity!
10. Nazi Sun Gun
The Nazi Sun Gun was a theoretical orbital weapon proposed by Nazi scientists during World War II.
The concept involved placing a giant mirror in space to focus sunlight onto Earth, potentially incinerating cities.
While it never progressed beyond the conceptual stage, it exemplifies the extreme lengths of wartime innovation.
9. Gloster Meteor Prone Pilot
The British experimented with a version of the Gloster Meteor jet fighter where the pilot would fly in a prone position (lying face down). This design aimed to reduce the effects of G-forces on pilots.
However, it proved impractical due to difficulties in control and emergency egress, leading to its abandonment.
8. Project Habakkuk: Ice Aircraft Carrier
During World War II, the British proposed constructing an aircraft carrier from “Pykrete,” a mixture of ice and wood pulp.
This massive, unsinkable vessel was intended to combat German U-boats in the Atlantic.
Despite successful small-scale tests, the project was ultimately deemed impractical and was abandoned.
7. Vespa 150 TAP: Anti-Tank Scooter
In the 1950s, the French military developed the Vespa 150 TAP, a scooter equipped with a 75mm recoilless rifle for paratroopers.
While not intended to fire the weapon while moving, the combination of a scooter and anti-tank weaponry remains one of the most unusual military vehicles ever conceived.
6. Windkanone: Nazi Wind Cannon
The Windkanone was an experimental German weapon designed to shoot down aircraft using compressed air blasts.
Despite its innovative approach, it failed to produce the necessary force to damage enemy planes and was ultimately deemed ineffective.
5. Soviet Dead Hand: Automatic Nuclear Retaliation
The Soviet Union developed the “Dead Hand” system, an automated nuclear control system designed to ensure a retaliatory strike even if the country’s leadership was incapacitated.
Activated under certain conditions, it could launch a nuclear response without human intervention, embodying Cold War-era fears of mutual destruction.
4. The Grand Panjandrum: Rocket-Powered Wheel
The British engineered the Grand Panjandrum during World War II—a massive, rocket-propelled wheel intended to breach enemy defenses.
However, it proved uncontrollable during tests, veering unpredictably and posing a danger to its operators, leading to its cancellation.
3. The “Gay Bomb”: Non-Lethal Chemical Weapon
In the 1990s, the U.S. Air Force considered developing a non-lethal chemical weapon that would release pheromones to disrupt enemy morale by inducing same-sex attraction among troops.
The concept was never realized and has since been widely criticized for its ethical implications.
2. Project Pigeon: Pigeon-Guided Missiles
Psychologist B.F. Skinner proposed using trained pigeons to guide missiles during World War II.
The birds were conditioned to peck at images of targets, steering the missile accordingly.
Despite successful tests, the project was eventually shelved in favor of electronic guidance systems.
1. Bat Bombs: Incendiary Bats
The U.S. developed bat bombs during World War II, equipping bats with tiny incendiary devices to be released over enemy cities.
The bats would roost in buildings, igniting fires upon detonation.
Tests resulted in unintended fires, including the destruction of a U.S. airbase, leading to the project’s cancellation.
