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Canal Defence Light
- arethuza 11y agoThe UK was very fond of making specialised of tanks in WW2 - notably "Hobart's Funnies": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobart's_Funnies https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobart's_Funnies The Soviets also used searchlights to dazzle enemies during attacks - particularly that attack on Seelow Heights: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Seelow_Heights https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Seelow_Heights
- kitd 11y agoI remember seeing one of these at the Tank Museum in Dorset, UK. If you're in the area, it's worth a visit. The weird contraptions mounted on some WW2 tanks must be seen to be believed.
- swang 11y agoAccording to Wikipedia, you saw the only one in existence with its original tank model/structure.
- ceejayoz 11y agoCan't imagine driving one of these into battle. Seems like it'd be a giant "shoot me first!" announcement.
- hopeless 11y agoI thought that too but, if it's too bright to look at, you can't hit it. Or maybe you have retreat beyond your weapons effective range just so you aim at it. Though I'm sure the enemy would have eventually found some welding glass or even oil-smeared glass
- creshal 11y ago> Though I'm sure the enemy would have eventually found some welding glass or even oil-smeared glass You don't exactly carry either for an amphibious assault. And once beaten back, there likely wouldn't be a second attempt.
- creshal 11y agoNot that much of a problem for defensive positions. They can be fortified, and successfully attacking a tank is difficult either way, especially for an amphibious force with limited munitions and firepower available. And without night vision gear (prototypes were only available by 1945), the only options are flares (which would aid attackers as much as defenders), or search lights (which are much harder to destroy this way).
- Avalaxy 11y agoSo why is it no longer in use? Seems to me that emitting an extremely bright flashing light is a great way to disorientate enemy infantry in close quarter combat scenarios.
- Tuna-Fish 11y agoBlinding flashes of light are widely used by infantry forces of several states, including the US, in the form of flashbangs[1]. They are much smaller and cheaper than a searchlight system mounted on a tank, and being deployed as a hand grenade allows their use indoors. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stun_grenade https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stun_grenade
- Avalaxy 11y agoI'm aware. I was specifically talking about vehicles, but I see that I didn't include that information in my previous post. I think with present day technology the lights could be a lot smaller than searchlights no?
- jasonwatkinspdx 11y agoI think now the preference is to use night vision, IR sensors or the like and remain as concealed as possible.
- karlkatzke 11y agoFrom the linked wikipedia article: "There was brief interest in resurrecting a CDL on M4 Sherman design (T52) that had started in 1944 but it was recognized that four battalions could be fitted with normal searchlights for the cost of a single CDL tank." Which sounds like a good lesson in right-sizing a task.
- lifeformed 11y agoI wonder if it's possible to create an extremely disorienting strobe system, that an operator would carry around, but the operator has special optics that cancel out the strobe's effects. Maybe his goggles are special night vision ones that have a framerate synchronized with the strobe, so it looks like it's always light (or dark).
- argumentum 11y ago"The idea is credited to a Greek citizen, Marcel Mitzakis, who devised the system for the de Thoren Syndicate in the 1930s; they were advised by J F C Fuller." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedes#Heat_ray https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedes#Heat_ray Putting his heritage to good use it seems :)
- rgbrgb 11y ago"Curiously, the actual use of the system resembled its name, which was intended to be spurious." Names are important.