The Second World War gave impetus to the development of new, highly effective experimental weapons projects. Among them, there were resounding successes, as well as highly comical failures. The latter include "Panjandrum", also known as "Great Panjandrum" (Great Panjandrum) The name was chosen as a reference to the poem of the same name by Samuel Foote.
The British Admiralty's Miscellaneous Weapons Development Department (DMWD) was responsible for a range of devices of varying usability and success. The DMWD was tasked with coming up with a device capable of penetrating the concrete defenses of the Germans in northern France. Lieutenant Nevil Shute calculated that about 1016 kg of explosives are needed to break the wall.
How to deliver this amount of explosives was a significant problem, and one of the concepts discussed ultimately led to the prototype of the Great Panjandrum. The proposed device consisted of two giant wheels with a diameter of three meters, connected by a central drum equipped with an explosive payload.
The device was propelled by multiple rockets attached to each rim. It has been calculated that when deployed with a full load of 1800 kg, the Panjandrum will reach speeds of around 100 km / h, simply smashing any obstacles to reach its target.
The secretly constructed mechanism lost all secrecy during testing, since the beach chosen for them was a very popular vacation spot. And since September 7, 1943, each test has been witnessed by numerous civilians.
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The first test ended unsuccessfully, and an attempt was made to refine the device. After another three weeks of work on the project, Panjandrum received over 70 cordite missiles and a stabilizing third wheel. On launch, it flew towards the shore, gliding along the beach before turning back into the sea. Several rockets weighing 9.1 kg came off, flew wildly over the heads of the assembled audience, and exploded.
The project was completely scrapped due to security concerns, although it has been speculated that the entire project was a trick of Operation Resilience to convince the Germans that plans were being developed to attack the heavily fortified defenses around the Pas-de-Calais, and no less defended Normandy.
To mark the 65th anniversary of the Normandy landings, a replica of the Great Panjarndrum was built on a beach in Devon.
