The strangest deadly weapon in the history of mankind. The most unusual weapon

Some of our greatest inventions have been in the military sphere. Here is a list of eccentric weapons invented by completely confused military inventors.

Bomb animals

Today's animal welfare organizations would protest against this use of animals in war, but some states did just that during World War II. The USA tried to use bats with tiny incendiary bombs. The British tried to use dead rats with explosives inside. They thought that when the Germans threw out their coal containers, the rats would explode. In the USSR, “anti-tank” dogs were trained to make them think there was food under the tanks.


Sword Destroyer

This weapon comes from the Middle Ages. It was a long, strong dagger with teeth carved on one side. During the battle, the knight grabbed the enemy's sword in one of the slots and with a quick movement broke or knocked it out.

Mancatcher

The mancatcher was a grip-like tip mounted on a shaft, distinguished by flexible “horns” studded with spikes. It was designed to pull a person off a horse. He played main role in the medieval tradition of penis grabbing royal family or aristocrat for ransom, and also to catch dangerous criminals.


Gun Pakla

This weapon is considered the first mechanical gun. It was an ordinary single-barreled flintlock gun placed on a tripod, but with an 11-round cylinder. This gun was designed for use on a ship to shoot at boarding parties and could fire 63 shots in 7 minutes. But what made this weapon so unusual was that it used two types of bullets at once: spherical against Christian enemies, and cubic against Muslims. Cubic bullets were considered more painful and, according to the inventor Paklu, could convince Muslims of the high development of Christian civilization.


Aircraft carrier

Often included in some novels, TV shows and films. Aircraft carriers were part of the collective imagination of military society. Some imagined them as a zeppelin with an airplane on top. But after the disaster with the Zeppelin Hinderburg, all plans to build such types of ships were canceled. Later attempts included bombers and Boeing 747s.


Shield with lantern

It was created during the Renaissance. It was not only a means of protection, but also a weapon. It was a small round shield, to which a gauntlet with several blades was attached; pikes and a lantern were located in the center of the shield. The lanterns were covered with a leather flap, which was then removed to confuse the enemy. But it was not only military weapon. This shield was also used by fencers or as protection against criminals on dark city streets.


Project "Habbakuk"

During World War II, metal was considered a valuable commodity. Because of the German submarines alliance forces were losing large quantity supply ships. Therefore, the British government planned to build the largest aircraft carrier from pikerite (a frozen mixture of water and sawdust). After lengthy development, it was proposed to build an aircraft carrier with a length of 610 m, a width of 92 m, a height of 61 m and a displacement of 1.8 million tons, which would be capable of receiving up to 200 fighters. However, before any such ship could be built, the war came to an end, and there was no longer a need to create aircraft carriers from pykerite.


Archimedes' claw

Archimedes' Claw was designed in the 3rd century AD. to protect the city walls of Syracuse from Roman invaders. The claw was a giant crane with large grappling hooks. When a Roman ship came close to the walls, the hooks would grab it and lift it out of the water. And then the ship was released back into the water so that it capsized. This invention was so carefully hidden that the Romans thought they were fighting the gods.


Tornado Cannon

The tornado cannon was built in Germany during World War II to create artificial tornadoes. Such a gun in full size was designed, but it could not create tornadoes on high altitude, so the project was closed.


Gay bomb

This was a non-lethal bomb that, when exploded, released a powerful aphrodisiac that seemed to cause strong sexual arousal in enemy soldiers, and, ideally, stimulated homosexual behavior, making them more vulnerable. In October 2007, the “gay bombshell” received the Ig Nobel Peace Prize, awarded for the most dubious achievements in science and technology. According to the organizers, none of those invited from the US Air Force showed up for the award ceremony.

Culture

Throughout the history of mankind, a huge number of various types weapons, sometimes even the most unimaginable at first glance devices were used.

Weapon devices ancient world- this is a completely different story, because one could only envy the imagination of our ancestors with what precision they sometimes produced means of defense and attack!

Below are the most rare species weapons that, for some reason, did not last very long, but which fully lived up to their purpose.

1) Macuahutl

This is a wooden sword, one of the main weapons of the Aztecs. The weapon was up to 120 cm long, and along its edges there were special grooves with built-up parts called obsidian.

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As the Spanish settlers noted, the weapon was made very carefully; when thrown, it was almost impossible to remove the obsidian from the wood, which indicated the strength of the device. Moreover, the teeth were so sharp that they were often used to decapitate a person.

The last mention of this weapon dates back to 1884. This copy was burned in a fire.

Rare weapon

2) Tepostopili

This weapon was very similar to the previous one, however, it was shaped like a spear. The tepotopile had the same obsidian ribs along the wooden grooves, however, the handle was approximately the height of a man, which allowed for a better grip on the spear and gave it better “pushing abilities.”

3) Kpinga

Kpinga is a multi-bladed throwing weapon used by the warriors of the Azande people who inhabited ancient Nubia. The length of the knife was about half a meter, with three iron blades protruding at different angles, which caused maximum possible damage to the enemy.

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In addition to the fact that the kpinga was considered an indicator of status among the Azande, and could only be the property of proven and valiant warriors, it also acted as part of the ransom that the man had to give to the bride's family.

4) Qatar

The Qatar seems to have been the most unique type of Indian dagger. It is characterized by an H-shaped horizontal grip, similar to brass knuckles, so that two parallel bars created support for the hand.

When used correctly and skillfully, this weapon could even pierce chain mail. It is worth noting that, like the kpinga, the qatar was a status symbol among Sikhs and was also used at ceremonial occasions.

5) Chakra

Chakra is the throwing disc of an Indian warrior, the outer edges of which were pointed and also had a rounded shape. Depending on the size, these weapons were hung on the wrist or neck and then, at the right moment, thrown at the target.

6) Khopesh

The Khopesh was an Egyptian sickle sword that was an "advanced" version of an older Assyrian weapon. Initially it was made of bronze, then iron became the main material for its creation.

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Thanks to its sickle shape, khopesh allowed short term disarm the enemy by deftly picking up his shield. At the same time, sharp in this weapon there was only an outer edge, which, nevertheless, could easily cope with the chain mail.

7) Chu-ko-nu

This unique weapon was a Chinese repeating crossbow that was used as early as the 4th century BC. With its help, it was possible to fire 10 arrows at a distance of up to 60 meters in 15 seconds.

However, its penetration power was comparatively poor compared to modern single-shot crossbows, but its speed and poisonous arrow tips made it very terrible weapon, which was used until the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895.

Australia

After Australia banned the ownership of most firearms in 1996, armed assaults and robberies increased by nearly 60 percent in just the 8-year period the law was in effect.

Bulgaria

The law of this state officially allows the carrying and storage of almost any type of firearm. After the Bulgarian authorities introduced such a law, very short period Since then, an incredible decline in the number of serious crimes has been recorded.

Brazil

In a 2005 referendum held in Brazil, the vast majority of Brazilian citizens voted against banning the sale of firearms. According to the results of the referendum, every Brazilian over 25 years old can have firearms for hunting or self-defense. It is known that the most acute social problem country is street crime. Through the referendum, according to the media, the government wanted to shift the solution to this problem onto the shoulders of ordinary citizens, disarming them.

UK

Since 1997, the UK has banned the ownership of firearms. As a result, over 6 years, rape increased by 105 percent, murder increased by 24 percent, armed assault and robbery by 101 percent, and violent crime by 88 percent. Thus, the crime rate simply skyrocketed, and the UK took the top lines in the crime rankings among the 18 most developed countries.

Germany

10 million German citizens carry legal weapons. At the same time, despite the fact that the number of gun owners is growing every year, the number of crimes related to the use of weapons has sharply decreased.

Mexico

The Mexican Constitution allows its citizens to own weapons and use them to protect themselves and their property. In addition to this, in 2004, a law was passed making it possible to have no more than two firearms at home. However, perhaps Mexico is one of the few countries in which permits to carry weapons have failed to protect ordinary citizens from the wars constantly waged between drug cartels.

USA

In many American states (31), as you know, carrying weapons is legal. There is a regular decline in murders, robberies and other types of criminal activity in these states. It is worth adding that in those American states where weapons are banned, the crime rate is much higher.

Edged weapons have always accompanied great warriors in their battles. Each country has its own national weapon with a centuries-old history. Cold steel, a sharp blade can both cause fear and become a faithful defender on the battlefield. As long as history has existed, weapons have existed for as long.

Urumi

Let's start with the unusual edged weapons of India, and first of all, this is the urumi. Exact date The appearance of this sword is unknown, but presumably it began to be used during the 9th century. BC e. This is a long, double-edged sword made from flexible steel. The length was 6 meters.

In the past, it was used by assassins who carried the weapon concealed on a belt wrapped around their torso. Thanks to the combination of the effect of a sword and a whip, they could deliver slashing and lashing blows. It has earned the reputation of being the most dangerous weapon in India.

Pata

Pata also comes from India. Initially, this bladed weapon was used by the ancient warrior caste - the Marathas. This sword was attached to a plate gauntlet, the design of which made it possible to protect the warrior’s arm up to the elbow. The warrior's wrist remained motionless, and all actions with this weapon had to be performed from the elbow.

From the memoirs of one British officer it is known that the technique of working with pata involves rotational strikes with constant movements, and only a few could skillfully wield this weapon. Most often it was used by horsemen. The length of this weapon ranges from 60 to 100 cm, weight - 1.5-2 kg.

Skissor

Scissor is an exotic, little-studied edged weapon of the Roman gladiators of the same name, which protected the warrior’s arm up to the elbow, just like the stata. In addition, it was quite effective in battle, because it simultaneously dealt serious blows to the enemy and blocked counter-attacks.

The length of the scissor reached 1.5 meters, the weight did not exceed 3 kilograms.

Lantern shield

This peculiar edged weapon dates back to the era early Middle Ages. The shield had round shape, made of wood and upholstered in leather. A glove with blades was attached to a small round shield, and in the center there were long spikes and a lantern.

It is known that not a single shield was released by the master until it had passed the bulletproof test. To do this, a test shot was fired at him from an arquebus as an experiment. It was used in fights and as a means of protection against criminals on dark streets.

Khopesh

Khopesh is one of the types of edged Egyptian weapons, which was originally made of bronze, later - of iron. It had a sickle-shaped structure and a wooden or metal handle.

Due to the specific shape of the blade, they could disarm the enemy, stab or chop. Only the outer edge of the blade had sharpening. Khopesh is a symbol of the New Kingdom, many pharaohs were depicted with it in their tombs, including Tutankhamun.

Macuahutl

Macuahutl is an ancient Aztec melee weapon, the exact origin of which is still unknown. Its shape resembles a club with spikes; its length did not exceed one meter.

The base of the macuahutla was made of wood, and sharp pieces of volcanic glass were attached along it. The wounds inflicted by these weapons were terrible: it was possible to decapitate the enemy and deprive him of his limbs with one blow.

Kpinga

Throwing edged weapon of the peoples of Africa with several blades. It was used in war and hunting. It symbolized power, human status and good financial standing. Several blades increased the area of ​​damage inflicted on opponents. The weapon was thrown horizontally and could kill several opponents at a time.

The length of the kpinga was about half a meter. There were many variations of weapons, and the shapes could vary.

Tekko-kagi

These are the edged weapons of secret ninjas, thanks to which warriors easily ran up steep walls with the help of claws like a wolverine, or knocked out blades from the enemy. Its sharp claws protruded from 10 to 30 cm.

Melee weapons caused unhealed wounds and left scars on the body.

Shuko

Shuko is a bladed weapon of ancient Japanese ninjas. It looks like a ring with spikes. They wore it one or two at a time, with the spikes inward or outward.

Intended to deliver shocking blows and subjugate opponents. Such a weapon could easily kill, especially if smeared with poison. Shuko was often used by female ninjas.

Odachi

Odachi is long japanese sword. The length of the blade was 1 meter 80 centimeters. These blades are very rare, as they went out of use back in 1615.

At that time, it was officially forbidden to carry swords of a certain length in Japan. Odachi could be used as an offering to a temple or for ceremonial purposes.

Below is a video that talks about the most unusual species edged weapons:

The entire history of earthly civilization is marked by wars. At all stages of development, man has created and continues to create weapons. Some samples amaze with their characteristics, capabilities and harsh aesthetics, while others seem completely ridiculous. It is simply impossible to describe all the most unusual weapons ever invented by man. Firstly, everyone has their own ideas about normality and strangeness, and secondly, progress does not stand still, and what until recently seemed like a formidable death machine can be perceived by subsequent generations as a pile of useless iron.

What kind of ordinary weapon is it?

Before discussing the most unusual weapons, let's mention what demands are made by gunsmiths and soldiers. The main ones are reliability, destructive power, and safety for the shooter. If we're talking about When it comes to portable weapons, weight and dimensions are important. Depending on the type, parameters such as effective range, damage radius, rate of fire, ammunition flight speed, convenience and ease of loading, crew and crew size are assessed.

Modern weapons companies, especially those working for the state defense industry, strive not only to develop the best performance characteristics, but also to reduce production costs.

Therefore, among professionals, weapons that are classified as strange are either too heavy and large for modest characteristics, or prohibitively expensive to manufacture and maintain, or unsuitable for performing real combat missions for various reasons.

Heavy equipment

The heyday of the era of unusual weapons has always been periods of war. The need for new non-standard solutions, austerity regime, limited time frames, lack of essentials, partially compensated by improvised material and unusable trophies - often these factors are the main motivators.

During World War II, many fundamentally new types of weapons were urgently created. The best minds on both sides of the front worked hard in this direction. It’s difficult to name the most unusual, but some specimens certainly deserve attention.

The German “Dora” with a mass of 1250 tons and a height of 11.5 m amazes with its power. The gun was delivered to the position in a disassembled state on rails, assembled on site in a few days, and to fire a shot required the efforts of 250 crew members and ten times more service groups. But “Dora” could fire a projectile weighing from 4.8 to 7 tons! She had to fight only twice: in Warsaw (1942) and near Sevastopol (1944). The Wehrmacht managed to create two samples and about a thousand shells.

Even a huge damaging effect could not compensate for all the difficulties and costs. Moreover, self-propelled guns, MLRS and aviation cope with similar tasks.

It can also be considered strange American tank Chrysler, developed in the 50s. True, the matter did not go beyond the prototype. According to the developers, the Chrysler was supposed to float and even shoot directly out of the water, and its operation was based on the use of a nuclear engine. The huge egg-shaped cast body looks more funny than threatening.

Creativity was also shown Soviet gunsmiths. It is worth mentioning the tank-plane, aircraft-carrier and tractor-tank. None of these entered mass production, but armored tractors had to undergo a baptism of fire in the same World War II.

Mortars and mines

Quite a formidable, albeit cumbersome weapon German army there was a “Goliath” - a self-propelled mine. "Goliath" had weak armor, the control wire was not protected by anything at all, and maximum speed did not reach even 10 km/h. At the same time, production required considerable costs. Operating a cumbersome self-propelled gun was risky, and the enemy’s engineering also sometimes reached the incredible.

At least a shovel mortar! The loaded weight of the gun reached only one and a half kg, and a 37-caliber projectile fired from it could cover a distance of 250 m.

Having finished firing, the artilleryman could easily turn the device into an ordinary soldier's shovel. IN airborne troops this weapon was used until the end of the war. Perhaps the shovel mortar became the reason for the terrible legends about Russian paratroopers?

Small arms of past eras and today

The duckbill 4-barrel revolver is not the only one of its kind. When listing the most unusual weapons, one cannot ignore the multi-barreled inventions that were common in the 17th-19th centuries. But we have to admit, such pistols and revolvers look terrifying.

Many people find the Belgian FN-F2000 assault rifle, which has excellent shooting performance, but for some reason also has excellent aerodynamics, quite strange. A person accustomed to an AK or M-16, looking at it, will not immediately understand how to take it into the correct position for firing.

The old comfrey will certainly be bewildered by such a common practice among mafia groups Latin America a phenomenon like designer AKs. In that environment, weapons covered with inlay, rich carvings and even gilding are still an indicator of status today. However, this does not detract from its combat characteristics.

The experience of gunsmiths of the past inspires today's engineers. But modern designers are trying to increase the number of ammunition, not barrels. There are many examples of this: multi-shot shotguns, the ammunition supply system on the Scorpion PC, twin and spiral drums.

Non-lethal law enforcement weapons

The most unusual weapons can be found not only on the battlefields. Law enforcement officers also sometimes resort to non-standard solutions. For example, the Israeli development “Thunder Generator”. The device is intended to disperse demonstrations and suppress the enemy. It strikes at a distance of up to 150 meters without causing harm to health. However, the crew at the moment of the shot also has a hard time. Even stranger is the Vomit Gun, which sends out pulses and pulsating beams. The result of exposure is general weakness, nausea and even vomiting.

Shooting pens and other items

Not all weapons look like weapons. Many items can fall into this category. The most unusual weapons, masquerading as stationery, canes, rings, buckles and other objects, are used today by intelligence services.

Melee weapons: swords, sabers

Sunny India gave the world not only the Kama Sutra and yoga, but also many examples of amazing weapons. For example, urumi has no analogues in the world. This sword, made of thin, sharp steel, can be worn at the waist. In battle, the sword-belt is quite formidable.

This is where the pata comes from - a sword with a protective glove attached to the guard.

Knives and claws

The most from Japan is tekko kagi, which means “tiger claws”. It may seem that the shape is too unusual for a weapon, and this item is more reminiscent of a prop from a superhero movie. How can we not remember Wolverine? But with the help of tekko kaga, the warrior of the Land of the Rising Sun could easily tear the enemy’s flesh into shreds and even repel the blows of the sword. By the way, an analogue of metal claws was also familiar to the ancient kshatriyas.

We can say that the katar, which combines the features of brass knuckles and a knife, and even with a blade sliding into three parts, is the most unusual edged weapon. But in modern world there are many of its analogues. An expert in knife fighting is unlikely to take such a weapon seriously, but the brass knuckle knife is common among street gangs.

Among some ancient peoples it was even more common unusual knife, worn on a finger. It was used not only in fights (to damage the eyes and neck), but also in everyday life.

Conclusion

As we see, man was always ready to go quite far in an attempt to arm himself better than a potential enemy. The most strange weapon we see both among samples from superpowers with huge military budgets, and among uncontacted wild tribes.

And I would like to end our review with the words of Mikhail Kalashnikov. The brilliant Soviet designer mentioned more than once that it is not weapons that kill - they are just a tool.

Weapons come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny pistols to huge guns, which can shoot at targets a kilometer in diameter. While the vast majority of weapons are understandable and common, as they follow the usual, some of them are completely different from what we have seen before. Modern advances in weapons technology have allowed gun manufacturers to create products that look more like science fiction movie props than weapons. In this article we look at the most bizarre weapons ever created and used, from loyalist traumatic innovations to giant war machines.

Laser rifle PHASR

Developed by the U.S. Department of Defense at Kirkland Air Force Base, the PHASR non-lethal laser rifle was created for use by military and law enforcement personnel. When fired from a light rifle, it temporarily blinds the enemy with focused laser beams. Another additional effect of PHASR is that two lasers operating at different wavelengths can also disorient the enemy. The PHASR is also equipped with a rangefinder so that the laser can be calibrated to the correct distance to avoid permanent damage to the victim's vision.

Thunder Generator


The Thunder Generator is not a menu item from the weapon selection in your favorite video game, but a very real weapon. The first prototype was developed by an Israeli farmer to repel potential pests that could damage crops, but the thunder machine has since evolved into a non-lethal crowd-dispersal weapon. Under funding from the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the thunder generator has become capable of hitting an enemy with a shock wave of fire at a distance of up to 150 meters, using a mixture of gas from liquefied petroleum, without causing much harm to human health. Although, the device is capable of causing quite serious damage to anyone who is closer than one meter from the device at the time of the shot.

Ducky Pistol


Duckgun pistols were produced in the 19th century and, unlike other pistol variants, were equipped with multiple barrels pointing in the same direction. This pistol had four separate barrels, which were secured into a structure reminiscent of a duck's leg. This unique arrangement allowed the shooter to fire at multiple targets simultaneously. This feature made it very popular among those who had to deal with attacks from criminal groups such as prison guards or couriers. This pistol was far from an ideal weapon, as its heavy design and high recoil made it difficult to conduct aimed fire.

Active electromagnetic pulse system


Active electromagnetic pulse system ( Active Denial System) resembles some kind of extraterrestrial anti-aircraft complex, but not modern weapons. Acting like a powerful radar, it fires a beam of electromagnetic waves at a frequency that allows them to be absorbed into upper layer skin without particularly harming the body as a whole. Those exposed to such rays will experience a painful burning sensation on the skin, as the electromagnetic waves act like a microwave oven. The effects are temporary and permanent and appear only while the impulse is applied to the skin, but the Active Denial System is very useful as non-lethal weapons, since it can hit the enemy even in thick clothing.

Automatic shotgun Auto Assault 12


Shotguns have long been an indispensable melee weapon due to their high stopping power and ability to hit a large area. The main disadvantage of such weapons is that they cannot offer continuous shooting. Auto Assault 12 was designed to solve these problems. It is capable of firing 300 rounds per minute and can be equipped with an 8- or 32-round drum magazine. As an additional option, the automatic shotgun can also use Various types ammunition, including bullets or rubber bullets, shot and high explosive mines.

Vomit gun


The so-called vomit gun is another weapon that strives to provide the most effective non-lethal effect. It may be suitable for providing efficient work law enforcement agencies and military forces to neutralize threats without causing irreversible damage to the enemy. This weapon is essentially a lantern that emits a pulsating light that can cause a person to feel nauseous and even violently vomit. Although the US military abandoned the project, two enthusiasts have created their own version of the vomit gun and are selling it for less than $250.

German railway guns Gustav and Dora


During World War II, the Nazis developed a number of different powerful guns that were supposed to help them become invincible military force on the planet. One of these projects was the giant railway guns Dora and Gustav. They were the biggest artillery piece, ever created and were so large that they had to be delivered disassembled and assembled in position. With a caliber of 32 inches and shells that weighed over 4,535 kg, this gun was capable of hitting targets at a distance of 150 km, and penetrating three-meter concrete barriers. This weapon was only used once, as its enormous size and weight made it extremely difficult to transport to firing positions.

Braverman pistol handle


In adventure films, we often see pistols disguised as ordinary household objects, such as a pen or a cane. The Braverman pistol grip differs from a regular shooting pen in that it can fold up to resemble the shape of a real pistol, making this concealed weapon much easier to fire. These pistols were created in the 90s, and today there are about 4,000 barrels, making them highly collectible.

Hand Mortars


This prototype of the modern grenade launcher was used mainly from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Unfortunately, the weapon was extremely unreliable and posed a constant threat to the safety of the shooter. Grenades often got stuck in the barrel and exploded, while in other cases, the fuses burned too early and caused an explosion prematurely.

Digital pistols from Digital


Digital produces pistols that look straight out of a sci-fi movie. The digital pistol has a security code that can only be disabled if the shooter is wearing a special wristwatch that sends a signal to unlock the pistol. Wrist watch become active only after the user confirms his identity using fingerprints. This essentially means that only a specially authorized user can fire the gun, effectively preventing the weapon from being stolen or used against the owner.