I was seeing these Napoleonic depictions of artillery piece being transported on a donkey's back and never stopped wondering if they ever tried to fire directly from that poor donkey's back.
Anti Tank Vespa
31–40 of 75 posts
Re: Anti Tank Vespa
#32> ...in an emergency it could be fired while in the frame, and while the scooter was moving. You'd have to have balls of steel to fire that thing while riding the scooter. It's recoilless, but you are sitting right on top of it.
Not to mention the blast from the missile after it leaves the tube, and the aerodynamic effects. I've fired a 9mm pistol from a moving motorcycle, and it's already tricky to maintain balance. Can't imagine this wouldn't end with the rider on the ground many feet away from the bike.
> I've fired a 9mm pistol from a moving motorcycle...
I am curious, why would you do that?
Re: Anti Tank Vespa
#33I was seeing these Napoleonic depictions of artillery piece being transported on a donkey's back and never stopped wondering if they ever tried to fire directly from that poor donkey's back.
I think this is a good time to mention the elephant-mounted machine gun: https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/elephant-mounted-machine-gu...
That's a real WW1 thing, not an Age of Empires 2 cheat code.
Re: Anti Tank Vespa
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not to mention the small mass you have on your side. A vespa is going to lose in a ramming fight against most any vehicle. The cited source doesn't say anything about ramming.
It's just claimed that it has enough speed for ramming, not that the ramming would actually be effective...
What does it means to have enough speed for non-effective ramming? That it is not stationary? It seems a very low bar...
Re: Anti Tank Vespa
#35Still a thing. https://www.eurasiantimes.com/electric-bikes-in-ukraine-are-...
A big improvement. A vespa is loud. A electric motorbike/bicycle is silent and way better offroad so greatly improves survival rates of teams using these in real combat.
Don't forget IR. The night vision is very widely used in the Ukraine war, and ICE engine is much better/farther/brighter visible in IR.
Re: Anti Tank Vespa
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's just claimed that it has enough speed for ramming, not that the ramming would actually be effective...
What does it means to have enough speed for non-effective ramming? That it is not stationary? It seems a very low bar...
Fast enough that when you jump off it will stay on line and reach your target tank and then explode, taking out a track or something.
ie. Will reach the tank but not ram it at high speed, so timed grenades or something will do the job.
Re: Anti Tank Vespa
#37All of you criticizing the mismatch of power between a Vespa and a tank simply do not understand the desperation felt by those living in countries occupied by the Germans during the war. In the 1950s Europe was poor, extremely traumatized, and people lived in fear of another war. This is a vehicle of desperation.
It is not a "vehicle of desperation", it's just a cheap para-friendly way to move a 47kg gun around. The contemporary equivalent is bigger but still not that big: https://www.defense.gouv.fr/dga/actualites/qualification-du-...
Re: Anti Tank Vespa
#38be sure to bring your spade mortar as well. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37mm_spade_mortar
Re: Anti Tank Vespa
#39Finally a two wheeled vehicle that will command some respect in Amsterdam traffic. I'll take it.
Re: Anti Tank Vespa
#40Finally a two wheeled vehicle that will command some respect in Amsterdam traffic. I'll take it.
I can recommend the "Bad Teeth No Bar" book for more ideas
https://onlinebicyclemuseum.co.uk/colins-new-book/?tax=tour&...