Training WWII gunners to hit moving planes from a moving plane
An evening pause: While figuring out why this works is really complicated, the simplicity of the technique and engineering is superb, and illustrates again why the U.S. did so well against Germany.
And yes, that is the voice of Mel Blanc.
Hat tip Jim Mallamace.
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“Stop That Tank” (1942)
Walt Disney / Canadian Film Board
https://youtu.be/Lkc2yAaU3CY
21:36
What with the Barrett .5O cal. and its long range, I have heard it said that even the rotation of the Earth has to be taken into account by snipers due to Coriolis effects or something. If true…that means you may have to lead your target even if it is standing still.
Commanding Officer of the USAAF’s First Motion Picture Unit was a former corporal in the California National Guard Cavalry by the name of Ronald Reagan
And, yes, in tank gunnery and artillery fire, the rotation of the Earth must be accounted for (along with temperature, pressure, wind direction and speed, amount of wear on the gun, type of projectile, etc, etc)
Bull was thinking about gun launching small-sats.
The Excalibur shell looks to have tough circuitry that withstands the high g forces. This would even beat Musk’s low rates.
But cost-cutters who don’t understand testing cut this ballistics von Braun off at the knees, and…well, you know the rest. Where the US abandoned the big guns…China may not be as foolish. They fund a wide variety of tech.
Speaking of technology testing… I wonder if the Russians tested their missile yet.
https://theblogginghounds.com/2021/06/10/russia-to-test-launch-sarmat-hypersonic-icbm-before-putin-biden-meeting/
Col–
Great factoid!
“Camouflage”
https://youtu.be/Gb36GQO14k0
20:00
Couldn’t stop thinking about Sean Connery shooting up the tail of his own airplane in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade..
Jeff Wright, even shooting @ 1000 yards at your local range, the Coriolis effect has to be accounted for.
That was neat.
I’ve always read/heard that one of the principles of massed bomber formations was that the combined defensive firepower added up for mutual protection. That video implies that unless the fighter is attacking your bomber, the shots would be high deflection and ineffective. I wonder if gunners would fire on fighters attacking other bombers, and if they had lead guidance, and if hits were ever achieved.
I immediately thought of the B29’s gunnery system- Looks like the gunners there aimed at the fighter and let the computer calculate the lead. Amazing for the 1944’s.
https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/defending-superbomber-b-29s-central-fire-control-system
John-
Hitting a Moving Target for World War 2 Bomber Gunners
(1944)
https://youtu.be/DWYqu1Il9Ps
14:15
(with inspiration from Col Beausabre)
“The Rear Gunner” (1943)
Burgess Meredith & Ronald Reagan
https://youtu.be/oKdLbEQ6Dv8
25:30
(->degraded print & sound)