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Old April 10, 2001, 02:04 PM   #1
Hard Ball
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I am trying to find out who invented or developed the US Army 2.36 inch anti-tank rocket launcer (the Bazooka) used in WW2. Some sources say a Captain Skinner. Others say a Navt officer named Uhl (?) or Dale had the basic idea. Does anyone know the facts?
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Old April 10, 2001, 07:41 PM   #2
Steven Mace
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Hard Ball, you might try visiting http://www.geocities.com/Augusta/8172/panzerfaust13.htm to find some history on the Bazooka. Hope this helps!

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Old April 11, 2001, 11:13 AM   #3
Hard Ball
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Thanks Steve. I will check iu out.
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Old April 11, 2001, 01:11 PM   #4
C.R.Sam
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Invention goes to Robert Goddard. Pre 1920 I think.

Developement to that particular spec...???

Sam
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Old April 11, 2001, 10:02 PM   #5
James K
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I thought Goddard worked on liquid fuel rockets, hardly the same thing.

The anti-tank rockets are small solid fuel rockets, holding a shaped charge of TNT. The power of the shaped charge was discovered by a number of experimenters at about the same time. Basically, it is an explosive with a cone shaped depression and a means of detonating the explosive at an optimal distance from armor plate. The cone focuses the explosive charge and a great deal of force is concentrated in a small space, burning and blowing a hole in the armor. A metal liner increases the power, for reasons I don't understand. A light nose cone reduces air resistance and provides the proper stand off distance. Rotation reduces the effect, which is why shaped charges from rifled bores don't work well unless some means is used to prevent or slow rotation.

The projectile carrying the charge does not need high velocity, since the speed of the projectile has no bearing at all on the force of the explosion.

Jim

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Old April 12, 2001, 07:48 PM   #6
C.R.Sam
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Jim....ye be right re Goddard workin on liquid fuel rockets. However, he did a lot of work, from patent to working models for the Army, on solid fuel stuff. Morters, recoiless rifles and heavier stuff.

If you are plannin on bein shut in for a week or so, check out the three vollume set titled "The Goddard Papers" Govt printing office did em years ago. Bout 3,000 pages of his patents, contracts, letters etc. Hell of a good read. He even made big vacuum tubes, turn of last century, for measuring recoil of free gun in space. Offshoot of this was functioning radio and TV tubes made by (I think) Collins.

Respectfully, Sam
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Old May 24, 2001, 03:56 PM   #7
C.R.Sam
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1917....Robert Goddard. Invented, patented and demonstrated shoulder fired, solid fuel rocket propelled, anti armor warhead, recoiless rifle. Bazooka. Twas a long time indeed before the Army opted to use em.

Sam ; with thanks to beemerb who dug it out for me.
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Old May 25, 2001, 02:05 AM   #8
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Goddard was no one trick liquid fueled pony! While he is known to have worked extensively with liquid fueled rockets of a variety of designs, he, like many others, started out with solid fueled rockets. While he is credited with the invention of the bazooka, he actually had little interest in wartime efforts.
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Old May 27, 2001, 02:12 PM   #9
po boy
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ain't u guy's got no bok lernin?? ever herd of Bazooka Joe of
bubble gum fame??
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Old May 28, 2001, 08:57 PM   #10
Art Eatman
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Wasn't the name taken from that weird "musical" instrument of (IIRC) Jimmy Durante's? The looks and size were similar...

Art
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Old May 28, 2001, 10:29 PM   #11
Quartus
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No, no, Art. Only part of the bazooka was named for that. You know, the....

Nose cone.



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Old May 29, 2001, 11:02 AM   #12
BigG
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Hatcher's Notebook discussed the bazooka and shaped charge and named the guy who invented or perfected it, IIRC.

According to Hatcher, the thin metal liner Jim Keenan mentioned was blown into a cylindrical shape by the blast, penetrated the armor, and played hell with the occupants once inside.
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