Now THIS is a true BATTLE SCOOTER

[TallRob]

Just saw this on the net and had to share. Yes, that is a military Issue Vespa with a Bazooka and its ammo! You ride ontop of the Bazooka!!

[redhandmoto]

106mm recoilless rifle. French paras; deployed Indochina.

[drizzle]

the french answer to a tank.

[SCQTT]

Originally Posted by drizzle

the french answer to a tank.

Yes, but you look good.....& that is the important part.

[TallRob]

Originally Posted by redhandmoto

106mm recoilless rifle. French paras; deployed Indochina.

Really? recoiless? Looked like and old school bazooka to me. I bet if your riding at 40mph and you fire it. The speedo reads 10 mph for a second.

[Photog]

There have been a few 'real battlescooter' threads around here but I'm way too lazy to find 'em at the moment. But here's a few:

Cushman Airborne








Welbike



British Welbike being assembled in the field (large pic but worth a look)

those pics are from this really cool page that has a lot more good stuff.

1953 Bernardet:



And you can go crazy with 2-wheel military history on this page.

[redhandmoto]

Originally Posted by TallRob

Really? recoiless? Looked like and old school bazooka to me. I bet if your riding at 40mph and you fire it. The speedo reads 10 mph for a second.

yep still in use in many places, in many configurations. Has odd-looking ammunition with patterns of holes around the base of the brass shell. part of the gas-direction recoil-reduction design. the bazooka launched a rocket; the rr has a rifled barrel.

the USMC used to have a tracked vehicle called the "Ontos" which mounted eight of them. the Army had some on jeeps.

[Speedo66]

Originally Posted by TallRob

Really? recoiless? Looked like and old school bazooka to me. I bet if your riding at 40mph and you fire it. The speedo reads 10 mph for a second.

As mentioned, the bazooka is a rocket. You don't stand behind the tube when it's fired because rocket blast and flames shoot out the back.

Firing one may actually increase your speed.

[ctp13]

If it's French the bazooka is pointing the wrong way.

[redhandmoto]

Here's a nice history of the 106. Note the mention of the Vespa-mounted rr.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recoilless_rifle

How did the French miltary get an unjustified reputation for pusillanimity so often seen on the 'Net? French troops are some of the world's best - people must be mistaking the character of the French army for the behavior and decisions of some of the politiicans who directed their use.

[Speedo66]

Groundskeeper Willy: "Look at me, I'm shaking like a French soldier". "Bunch of cheese eating surrender monkeys".

Are you saying I shouldn't trust Groundskeeper Willy?

[redhandmoto]

God forbid. A Simpsons' quote trumps anything.

[roadracer75]

I wonder how it handles 2up???

[Neil Claydon]

Originally Posted by ctp13

If it's French the bazooka is pointing the wrong way.

Can't be French, unless Vespa fitted a reverse gear.