Failed "Laser" Tank

In the first half of the 20th century, the aircraft industry gathered up all technical and scientific achievements. Airplanes were the first to try out new materials, new engines, equipment, and armament. From time to time, tank designers had the chance to use something that was designed for aviators. The attempt to install the ShKAS aircraft machinegun on Soviet tanks in the mid-1930s was one such occurrence.

Svetlana Death Ray

"USSR - People's Commissariat of Aircraft Production

Factory #454

#44917

Kuybishev

July 26th, 1941

Report

Introduction

About three months ago, during a conversation with Doctor of Technical Sciences, G.I. Babat, who was working at the "Svetlana" factory in Leningrad, comrade Babat and I decided on boundaries to a solution to the issue of an effective offensive death ray.

Prospective Death Rays

"9. Device for intercepting and jamming foreign radio stations that are broadcasting images. Special Projects Laboratory. A design is in development.

Weapons (Death Rays)

10. Powerful electronic emitters and short wavelength rays. Literature and intelligence has been gathered, theoretical work is underway.

11. Powerful sound waves. Physical-Technical Laboratory and Special Projects Laboratory. Theoretical work is underway. Professor Andreev's device is being finished, which generates short sound waves using quartz."

Via _tezka.

Heat Ray Tank

"To the Chair of the State Committee of Defense of the USSR, comrade Stalin

For consideration by your ingenious mind, I provide an idea and a design that could give the Motherland a weapon of unseen all-conquering power. This force can defeat any number of tanks, planes, guns, ships, fortresses, cavalry, or infantry, and can be achieved from this proposed idea. This force can be localized in one all terrain armoured vehicle, and only needs a driver and an operator-gunner. Currently, there is nothing more important than this idea, as it holds the possibility of dominion of the Motherland over the world. Your genius and intuition will easily suggest to you that it is necessary to realize this idea quickly and secretly, on a trial basis.

I do not write much, and do not draw many blueprints, as the idea here is not in the amount of words or blueprints. You will understand me, and the rest will come when it is built, that's the most important thing.

I am hopeful that you will personally read this and order someone to build this under my guidance and test it.

The idea:

The idea consists of the following:

A temperature of over 20,000 degrees is created and transmitted to a distance from 0.001 km to 50 km, burning everything instantly in its path (bodies, cloth, fuel, metal, armour, concrete, stone, ammunition, ships, guns, etc).

1. Imagine a welding torch, which usually gives a flame that is 700-1000 degrees at the tip. It is known that if air pressure is increased and the design is made more robust, the length of the flame can be made as long as that of a flamethrower.
2. Imagine that instead of welding torches, there are special nozzles that shoot flame at long ranges.
3. Imagine that we have 100 such nozzles and that they are fixed on a disk in such a way that they all converge on one point.
4. In this place, the heat from one nozzle would be 700-1000 degrees, from two almost twice as much (1100-2000 degrees), from three almost 2.5 times as much, etc.
5. The concentration of 100 flame jets in this point will be (like light collected with 100 lenses) much stronger than just one jet, minus losses for heat loss and dispersion.
6. It is known that a heat ray can travel millions of kilometers, loses very little energy. It is known that the collection of heat from all the lenses will be nearly equal the sum of all heat from individual lenses. It is known that air will steal little heat, as the air high in the mountains is cold even though it is closer to the sun, since it is heated by the ground and not the sun.
7. All this means that the point of convergence of all 100 jets will be at minimum 20,000 degrees, and maximum 100,000 degrees.

(x*100)-y=z

Where x = the temperature of one flame jet

100 = 100 nozzles

y = loss of heat (0%-80% of the heat)

z = 20,000 degrees to 100,000 degrees

Maximum range: 50 km

1. There is no item in nature that does not burn at 20,000 degrees, but this heat can be held in a metal pipe that does not only not burn, but does not exceed 100 degrees. This method is based on the well known experiment where you can heat water at 1000 degrees in a container that is thin enough to burn from a candle, as long as there is water in it. 
2. Based on that, I the pipe which concentrates the heat of the nozzles will be washed over with rapidly pumped cool water.
3. The pipe will be covered with a rigid metallic hull which has rapidly moving water on the inside.
4. The inside of the pipe is polished to a mirror sheen to deflect heat.
5. The pipe tapers to direct the heat at tens of kilometers, at an angle from 1/1000 to 1/10000
   Pipe length: 1 meter
   Pipe diameter: 5-10 cm

November 13th, 1941

Moscow, VSKhV, OVPO NKVD

Battalion Commissar, M.V. Shekin"

From here.

Nezhinets' Wonder-tank

"To the GABTU chief, Lieutenant-General of the Tank Forces, comrade Fedorenko

From a student of the VAMM Stalin Military Academy, Lieutenant Nezhinets, Ivan Ivanovich

From May 1938, I worked alongside Military Technician 2nd Grade comrade I.M. Sharalapov on orders from Colonel-General of the Tank Forces, comrade Pavlov. We completed all tasks assigned to us.

In response to my letter in May 1940 addressed to Colonel-General Pavlov, Colonel-General Pavlov replied with orders to develop special equipment for tank units. This equipment has been developed by comrade Sharalapov and I, and a new universal tank designed to use it.

This tank uses a new 300 hp diesel type engine, which burns fuel in a different way and a hydraulic gearbox. There is no electric starter, which makes the tank easier to maintain and resistant to various rays. The suspension has a convertible drive, the hull and turret are aerodynamic in shape. The conical turret has a rotation mechanism. The gun has a loading mechanism, which lets the third crewman work on fire correction and other equipment which will be used in more difficult combat situations.

The tank has a mass of approximately 14 tons, with a maximum speed of 100 kph. If one or two track links break on one track, the tank does not stop moving, due to an improved chassis. Driving the vehicle will be made simpler due to a lack of clutch. In the winter, the vehicle can be heated by recycling air.

When tanks are used in more difficult combat situations, it is equipped with special devices which protect the crew from anti-tank rifles and poison gases (the tank is air-tight). The engine is cooled with special devices. The driver's controls are two-sided, making it easy for large tank units to make 180 degree turns in tight spaces and makes vehicles more maneuverable in combat.

The vehicle is designed for improved independence from other vehicles. It is equipped with a hydraulic compressor to generate pressurized compressed air, with several advantages over the one designed in 1939. The compressed air can be used to:

1. Start vehicles.
2. Operate tow cranes when the engine has broken down.
3. To repel poison gases.
4. To clean the vehicle from dirt and dust.
5. For other specialized uses.

Such a vehicle can also be equipped with a trailer.

Comrade Lieutenant-General, allow me to report to you more detailed combat and technical characteristics on this vehicle.

Lieutenant Nezhinets

February 7th, 1941"

CAMD RF 38-11355-46

The Incredible Story of Soviet Diesel Engines

Looks like the Soviets weren't the only ones with pre-war science fiction ray guns. Germany got in on that game as well.

"To comrade Stalin

January 1st, 1935

INO GUGB received the following information about military preparations in Germany.

1. Recently, in all German newspapers, a story was published about the emergency landing of three Polish aircraft on their territory because of fog.
   The real reason for this is not fog at all. In October of 1934, a Polish military delegation arrived in Berlin, which observed secret military inventions. A device for halting cars was demonstrated on the Berlin-Zossen highway, where there is a special device for turning off aircraft engines remotely from the ground. The Poles sent three of their airplanes to test this, which were taken down next to Elbing. In Elbing, antennas are installed openly for the purpose of taking down airplanes with ultrasonic waves.
   Because of this, Germany is racing to replace their aircraft engines with diesel engines.
2. In Heilsberg, underground fortifications are being dug, and heavy weapons are being installed.
3. Schichau plants are producing large amounts of barbed wire, grenades, and shell casings. Light military ships are also being built there.
4. In Pillau, there are underground storage facilities for oil and fuel that can completely supply the German fleet and aircraft in the Baltic.
5. Locks and dams in East Prussia can cause flooding of a large area, if necessary.
6. From November 15th, 1934 to February 15th, 1935, the Reichswehr is in full battle readiness. All leave taking place in this period has been cancelled.

Deputy Chief of the INO GUGB, Berman"

Stalin responds: 

"

1. Give all surplus in the NKO's budget to SNK, in order to:
1. Create an airplane diesel motor as soon as possible.
2. Invent a device to stop cars and bring down aircraft as soon as possible."

Of course, Germany had no such beam weapon, and Soviet experiments with diesel engines (at least for tanks) predate 1935 (the first diesel engine was installed on a BT-2 in 1933), but this is an amusing anecdote nevertheless. 

Tesla's Death Ray

Among some rather tedious purchase orders from abroad available in archives, there is occasionally a note that stands out.

"177. Comrade Voroshilov's proposal.

Approve comrade Voroshilov's proposal to purchase blueprints and technical aid relevant to the invention of the American scientist Tesla, dedicating 25 000 dollars to this task."

Well, that certainly demands further investigation.

"November 29th, 1934
Top Secret (special folder)
Only personally
#1

Politburo of the Central Committee and comrade Stalin.

In July of this year, the famous American physicist N. Tesla contacted comrade Tolokonskiy at our embassy at New York, claiming that, as a result of 30 years of work, he invented a device capable of sending a beam that destroys objects it is directed at. He offers this invention to the Soviet government, as he believes it is the only one that fights for peace, and this device is a method of defense, one that creates peace. Tesla also says that he, as a Slav, has deep sympathy for the success of our "Slavic nation".

Comrade Tolokonskiy found two of our electrical engineers working in America, comrades Smolentsev and Vartanyan (both party members), who met Tesla with the goal of finding out more about his invention.

In the course of the meeting with Tesla, they found out the following:

1. He discovered a method of splitting matter (steel, mercury, etc) into tiny particles, approaching the size of one molecule.
2. He discovered a method for applying many millions of volts to this molecule.
3. Due to the principle of repulsion of like charges, using a voltage of 20 to 50 million volts, he can propel these particles thousands of miles away.
4. He discovered a method of neutralization of these particles as they exit the device. Having lost their electrical charge, the particles fly through the air at speeds approaching light. This projectile of very small size (about 1 square mm) can destroy any living or mechanical target, and no armour can protect against it.

Tesla refused to supply us with more exact information about his invention. The note that he wrote on Vartanyan's request reveals nothing new. He claims that the system is tested in his laboratory. 

As for the conditions of passing the invention on to us, Tesla told comrades Smolentsev and Vartanyan that he is ready to provide us with a full set of blueprints and technical specifications, as well as the technical data for all processes, at the cost of 25 000 American dollars, to pay his engineers and for other expenses.

After the receipt and investigation of these materials, Tesla is certain that the Soviet government will be convinced of the value of his invention, and when the device is completed, the government will pay him a larger sum, to be determined.

Tesla refuses to go to the USSR, citing his age, but wishes to manage the construction of his device, if it happens. 

According to available data, Tesla was born in 1856 (currently 78 years old), Serbian by nationality. He attained world fame with his work on electric currents. He has patented hundreds of various inventions. In American electrical engineering circles, he is considered one of the most influential inventors, after Edison. 

Tesla's claim is definitely dubious due to being nearly science fiction, but the name Tesla gives it credibility, due to his world famous career. 

Considering the relatively small initial risk, I think it is reasonable to send comrade Sinyavskiy to the USA, along with several electrical scientists, in order to conduct preliminary negotiations and authorize 25 000 dollars from the People's Commissariat of Defense's funds to purchase Tesla's blueprints and specifications for his invention.

Attached:

1. Report by American scientist Nikola Tesla titled "Death Ray"
2. Excerpts from comrade Vartanyan's report.
3. Article from "Viner Journal" from July 18th, 1934 "At 78 years of age, Tesla invents a new death ray"
4. New method of obtaining powerful effects at a distance.

K. Voroshilov."

On December 21st, use of 25 000 dollars is authorized (the scanned document above). On December 27th, Voroshilov requests permission to send Sinyavskiy abroad. 

The next document in the series is from Sinyavskiy, dated July 26th, 1935. It is a report from his trip to France and America to complete 4 purchases, one of which was Tesla's device. The relevant portion of the document is:

"I made a deal with Tesla, which states that he must:

1. Compose a project for the construction of his device.
2. Give us detailed blueprints and descriptions of aforementioned inventions.
3. Give us full descriptions and recipes for chemicals used in the construction of the device.
4. Act as a consultant for the duration of the construction. Tesla can provide this aid through Vartanyan.
5. The work will be completed 4 months from now.

I paid Tesla 25 000 dollars according to the conclusions of the Politbureau from December 25th. Tesla told us that all theoretical calculations have been made, and the device should work. He could not test it practically, as in the conditions of American reality, it is not possible to do this without a subsidy. Amtorg informed me that Tesla has a personal fortune of approximately 3 million rubles.

...

Conclusions:

1. Tesla's original invention, and his scientific credibility and significant personal experience in the area of energy transmission generate interest in its development. I believe that, by risking 25 000 dollars, we can do something big."