22-05-2025
4 deadly weapons the military never made
Just as the U.S. military has invented many everyday items – whether they meant to or not – they also brought many weapons to light, including those that never made it to battle. Though the research and effort went into creating said weapons, ultimately they were found unnecessary. However, the process behind these weapons is a story worthy of the history books, including the research that got them there.
In the mid 60s, the U.S. Army called on Lockheed, an aerospace manufacturer, to create a new attack helicopter. Named the AH-56 Cheyenne, the bird was to become the Army's first dedicated attack helicopter. It consisted of a four-blade rotor system that could provide high-speed flight capabilities. In 1966, a contract for 10 prototype helicopters was awarded, with the first flight taking place a year later. The plan was for more helicopters to be made, however, during testing, there was a fatal crash, which caused additional delays. Eventually, the contract was canceled in 1969. By 1972, all Cheyenne helicopter production had stopped. Instead, the Cheyenne research was morphed into the Apache helicopter, which was considered less technical and more survivable in a crash. Apaches are still used in the U.S. Army today.
Known as Project X-Ray, in the early 1940s, Uncle Sam experimented with the idea of using bats as bomb transportation devices. Essentially, bats would wear an explosive device that could later be detonated via timer. The bats would be dropped via plane and given time to roost in attics and other buildings within a 20-40 mile radius before exploding. The bombs were incendiaries, intended to set fires. It was even signed off on by then-President Teddy Roosevelt. In fact, it's his presidency that brought the idea into fruition at all; the bat bomb inventor, a dental surgeon, was acquainted with Eleanor Roosevelt.
Tests were completed and found that each 14 gram bat could carry between 15 and 18 grams of napalm, which was then affixed via glue. The venture was considered a success; on weight, it caused more damage than standard incendiary bombs of the time. When regular bombs sparked between 167 and 400 fires, X-Ray sparked 3,625 to 4,748 fires. However, it was canceled when the Navy Fleet Admiral heard it would take another year of testing to complete. An estimated $2 million was spent on the research. (That's more than $36 million in 2025.)
However, it was canceled due to the timeline and ongoing worry about humanity – ultimately, Uncle Sam realized it was unethical to not only kill innocent animals, but also potentially light fires, putting civilians at risk. Imagine being a military spouse – or a random civilian – and waking up to a house fire that was caused by a random bat.
During WWII, the German government came up with its own unique weapon idea that never saw the light of war. The Krummlauf was a machine gun with a curved barrel, which, in theory, would allow soldiers to shoot around corners or obstacles while still hitting their target. A mirror was added to help the user see targets around said obstacles. A larger version was also planned to be put on tanks. Versions of the gun were made to curve at 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, and 90 degrees. In practice, however, the barrels proved inconsistent and short-lived. The barrels could only handle about 300 rounds (just 160 for the 45-degree variant), putting great force on the metal and bullets alike. The bend would also shatter bullets, causing them to exit like a shotgun shell rather than a single bullet. Various efforts were made to reduce this, like adding holes to allow pressure to escape.
Testing was able to create some accuracy with the 30-degree model, but ultimately, the wear and tear and unpredictability of bullet pieces left the project short of its intended goal.
Another WWII weapon came to light with the UK's Great Panjandrum, a rocket-propelled cart set to carry explosives. Its intent was to approach 10-foot concrete walls surrounding the Atlantic; it would also need to be launched via landing craft to keep soldiers off of beaches, which were thought to be a killing ground. It was calculated that more than 1,000 kg of explosives would be needed to create a tank-sized hole. The Panjandrum's job was to carry said explosives, which were suspended between two 1-foot-by-10-foot steel-treaded wheels. Rockets would propel the device, which was expected to weigh about 4,000 pounds when fully loaded. All factors combined, the device would travel around 60 mph, hitting the wall with a rough force to ignite its explosives.
The UK attempted many tests, most of which were viewed by civilians on vacation, as a popular beach was chosen for testing and was not closed for the events. Starting with a few rockets at first, testing included up to 70 rockets to launch the Panjandrum. However, it would not travel straight or consistently, and caused danger for high-ups observing its use. Therefore, it was canceled after being determined to be unstable.
