Announcing...
TINY TANKS AND TANK-LIKE OBJECTS!
First, the 1917, Ford 3 ton. It's explained at length-in the flick so I'm not going to say anything but - twin Model-T engines, with drive-lines and transmissions, one for each of those darling little tracks.
A Japanese, armored-cable-layer.
I just decided, I can't cover all these at once so I'm going to mention one that will set out upper limit, seven tons or so with - the Renault FT-17/18, Light Tank.
Don't try this at home.
These men are trained professionals - not like the ones in the Ford movie.
Not to put a downer on anyone, it is nice to know that in the event we have to deal with the potential menace of these being used for nefarious purposes, it's good to know that the anti-dote has been provided.
Here's a movie (A Cartoon!) produced, in Canada, by Disney on the weapon of choice, at least early in the war - and in the Pacific all the way through,
The Boys Anti-Tank Rifle (As in; "Skippy, You give the boys their anti-tank rife back, this instant!")
The lads loved this weapon so much they called it "Charley the Bastard" after the loving tap it administered to the shoulder of the firer in case he missed hearing the detonation.
I can't remember, something like 3000+ FPS.
When I was a kid I had a round from one of these. I didn't know what it was until just recently.
It was chunkier than a .50BMG and all-around bigger .58 I think - it's in the movie - with a really, shiny surprisingly, sharp-pointed projectile.
A tungsten alloy I think.
It still had a live primer. Someone had just cut a hole in the side of the case and dumped the powder out.
One of those could come in handy.
I wonder if there are any modern equivalents available.
My other, live primer - blow-your-fingers-off - possession of the time was the brass from a WW1, 37mm anti-tank gun.
They called it "The One-Pounder"
I think one of these would help if the machines went all "I Robot" on us.
Gotta think about a scaled-down life now, folks,
Bye now.
2 comments:
Good post Dan.
If you have the $ and proper tax stamp you can still get a Boys AT Rifle! Why you'd want one? Hmm...
Those of us who still nibble the King's shilling have access to the 20mm AT rifle if the .50 hasn't wrecked our hearing enough. It's not the recoil that gets you, but the concussion. Maybe that's what goatees and guts are for!
The 55 Boys is an interesting cartridge. I picked one up at a flea market a dozen years back. It is 3.898" long and the same across the rim as the 50 Browning, measuring across the belt (yes, it's belted) it runs .850. The bullet is a bit eccentric having been clamped in a vise and measures .555 to .565. The priming is Berdan and it was mfg at Dominion Arsenal in 42. That should be enough to satisfy the most picky...
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