History's Most Terrifying Conventional Weapons

FoxNews.com ^ | Monday, January 05, 2009 | Catherine Donaldson-Evans and Paul Wagenseil

[Joiseydude]

Modern conventional weapons, deadly as they are, have no monopoly on terrorizing soldiers and civilians. Many military innovations of the past scared the enemy senseless — especially when only one side got to use them.

"When you defeat someone psychologically, that's really how you win battles," says Pentagon spokesman and artillery officer Lt. Col. Mark Wright. "If [enemy forces] think they've been beaten, they're going to turn and run."

Here, then, are five of the most terrifying conventional weapons of all time. Each was effective because it was a surprise introduction to a conflict, permitted essentially no defense, and only one side got to use it — though, as we'll see, that didn't always guarantee victory.

[Joiseydude]

1. Greek fire

2. Napalm

3. The Gatling gun

4. The Paris gun

5. The V-2 rocket

[Peanut Gallery]

ping

[gridlock]

Whatever happens,
We have got
The Maxim Gun,
And they have not...

--Hillare Belloc

[Sybeck1]

Where’s Chuck Norris’ Roundhouse?

[Long Island Pete]

Must be a slow news day. I guess 0bama hasnt walked on water today.

[Arkansas Tider]

The cheeseburger and the FAE bomb have to be in the top 5.

[massgopguy]

The War Wagon!

[Lurker]

But I'm a bit prejudiced....

L

[DannyTN]

What is the Paris gun and the V-2 rocket?

Seems to me that the A-bomb ought to be in the list.

[SlowBoat407]

?

[albie]

The “Daisy Cutter is one of my favorites. Set off near a tunnel entrance, it will suck out every last bit of oxygen through the entire place leaving nothing but hair and teeth. Quite useful at the beginning of the attack on Afghanistan.

[RexBeach]

“When the war wagon rolls the screen explodes...for a co-star I’ve got Kirk Douglas.”

[ozzymandus]

You don’t know what the V-2 was? Seriously? And nuclear weapons aren’t “conventional”.

[Joiseydude]

History's Most Terrifying Conventional Weapons

Conventional meaning non-nuclear.

[Jaxter]

They said conventional weapons.

[Red Badger]

[SlowBoat407]

Oh... Conventional weapons.

D’Oh

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

[Joiseydude]

My eyes, my eyes.....

[SERE_DOC]

Terrifying, I can give you terrifying