Ridiculous History CLASSIC: (Some of) History's Dumbest Military Prototypes
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Oct 11, 2025 In this lively discussion, Christopher Hassiotis, a passionate historian and returning contributor, dives into the wacky world of military prototypes. He shares the bizarre tale of Admiral Popov's round ships, which sank faster than they could float. The Gyrojet rocket bullets, designed for thrilling uses, fell flat due to reliability issues. Christopher also unveils the quirky Confederate double-barreled chain cannon, while Ben describes the fascinating yet impractical ball tank. The quirks and failures of military innovation never sounded so entertaining!
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Round Warship Tradeoffs
- Vice Admiral Popov's circular warship idea solved armor and stability in calm water but ignored practical naval physics.
- The Popovka spun uncontrollably when firing and proved unsteerable and impractical in rough seas.
Gyrojet Rocket Bullet Story
- Noel describes the Gyrojet rocket-bullet project and how rounds ignited after leaving the muzzle.
- Tests showed poor point-blank performance and unpredictable accuracy despite dramatic top-end speed.
Rocket Rounds' Practical Limits
- Gyrojet ammo used small rocket motors so rounds accelerated after leaving the gun, causing slow initial velocity and inconsistent ballistics.
- Manufacturing complexity and cost (special drilling, fragile tooling) made the ammo and system commercially unviable.
