Most Powerful Single Shot Rifle- Davy Crockett M28 M29 - 20 Billion FT Pounds of Energy

[hermosabeach]

Davy Crockett (nuclear device) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The M28/M29 Davy Crockett Nuclear Weapon System - The Army Historical Foundation

Written By: Matthew Seelinger During the Cold War, as the U.S. Navy and Air Force maintained America’s strategic nuclear arsenal of long-range bombers and submarine and land-based ballistic missiles, the […]

armyhistory.org

The M-28 or M-29 Davy Crockett Weapon System was the tactical nuclear recoilless gun (smoothbore) for firing the M-388 nuclear projectile

How does 10 Tons or 20 Tons TNT translate to Ft Pounds?
10 billion or 20 Billion FT pounds

 

[Blue Sky Country]

Nice read and awesome history.

The launcher and weapons system might be obsolete today but the warheads themselves won't be. They would be the perfect candidate for use in the propulsion of the Orion system of starships. A more efficient containment system, such as a massive "gun", walled on three sides, so the energy and products of the detonation would be propelled in one direction away from the ship, would make the Orion pulse system the perfect way to send manned crews to extrasolar destinations. An identical device mounted at the front of the ship would be used to decelerate once the ship reaches a certain distance from it's target.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

That was a huge POS, as the max launch range was much shorter than the extreme danger close.

 

[MtnCreek]

@W54/XM-388

 

[Sean the Nailer]

@W54/XM-388

Ya beat me to it!

 

[Crang]

Ya beat me to it!

Ha me too!

 

[W54/XM-388]

That was a huge POS, as the max launch range was much shorter than the extreme danger close.

Yes but it was the ultimate, take as many commies out with you as possible if you happen to like be driving over the hill in your jeep and come across a Soviet Tank group launching a sneak surprise.

 

[10ring'r]

Maybe that's what swallowell was going to use on us gun owners?? Mac

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Read my buddy Jim’s book Special Forces Berlin... for the backpack version.

cheers, Sirhr

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Yes but it was the ultimate, take as many commies out with you as possible if you happen to like be driving over the hill in your jeep and come across a Soviet Tank group launching a sneak surprise.

If that happened, the guys in S-2, manning the OP's & scout units, need to be looking over their shoulders 24/7,... IIRC just before they dumped them they had a remote triggering system for them via radio freq that also required a very odd tone carrier to be transmitted at the same time. Much like Ham repeaters in today's world.

 

[Crang]

Read my buddy Jim’s book Special Forces Berlin... for the backpack version.

cheers, Sirhr

Looks like a good read. Just added it to my list! Totally off topic, but the only reason I dont carry my 1963 ex-Stasi Makarov full time, is I dont have the heart to wear its gorgeous blued finish off with the draw practice needed. Have a feeling it will at least make it out a few times after that one- its always been one of my favorites.

 

[MtnCreek]

How to turn a bunch of tanks into microwave ovens. But watch the wind.

 

[abn31c]

If that happened, the guys in S-2, manning the OP's & scout units, need to be looking over their shoulders 24/7,... IIRC just before they dumped them they had a remote triggering system for them via radio freq that also required a very odd tone carrier to be transmitted at the same time. Much like Ham repeaters in today's world.

Was it not an oscillating tone triggered via a basic retrans setup? Thought I read that somewhere.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

The question in SF was always... when you push the “start countdown” button. Does it count down? Or go... boom. No one ever knew. Or knows to this day.

Of course, that was the backpack... Sirhr

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Was it not an oscillating tone triggered via a basic retrans setup? Thought I read that somewhere.

Could be as my memory about things I did not deal with every day back then is not what it use to be. I do remember it could be radio triggered though, before that system was scrapped an the warhead redesigned for boot carry.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Gives real teeth to the term "Trip Wire".

When you're going down anyway in a horde of hostiles, it's not such a bad idea after all.

Greg

 

[Aries256]

Do I want one? You bet your ass I do ?
Now where to park the car ?

 

[Sniperwannabee]

Did they ever use it

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Did they ever use it

Never that I know of for it's intended purpose. Like all platforms they were tested as close to real/real as it gets though.