sound as a weapon

From: PAPAI@kcgl1.eng.ohio-state.edu (Jonathan Papai)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Re: Nikola Tesla invented a dangerous machine
Date: 10 Jun 1994 15:27:28 GMT

 In Message-ID: <2t7pi7$rke@beta.qmw.ac.uk>
 On or about 9 Jun 1994 19:12:07 GMT
mtaylor@dcs.qmw.ac.uk (Taylor) posted:
>
> On a similar subject,I heard a mister Vladimir Gavreau, of Marseilles,France
> created some sort of Low frequency oscillator, the vibrations from which,
> instantly killed the technician operating the thing.


I have a related item from sci.military from
four or five years ago, (back when it was
a moderated, noise-free environment.)

-Jon


..........ancient posting begins here............

From: griffenj%db1_pdx@ncube.com (Griffen)

1. [monster sized kanonen deleted -jp]

2. RE: Sound as a weapon.

   Luftkanone.  Developed at Talstation Lofer, Germany, during WWII.
   Developer:  Dr. Richard Wallauscheck.

   Best quote here:

   "...design consisted of a parabolic reflector, 3.2 meters in diameter,
   having a short tube which was the combustion chamber or sound
   generator, extending to the rear from the vertex of the parabola.
   The chamber was fed at the rear by two coaxial nozzles, the outer
   nozzle emitting methane, and the central nozzle oxygen.  The length
   of the chamber was one-quarter the wavelength of the sound in air.
   Upon initiation, the first shock wave was reflected back from the
   openend of the chamber and initiated the second explosion.  The
   frequency was from 800 to 1500 impulses per second.
      The main lobe of the sound intensity pattern had a 65 degree
   angle of opening, and at 60 meters' distance on the axis a pressure
   of 1000 microbars had been measured.  No physiological experiments
   were conducted, but it was estimated that at such a pressure it
   would take from 30 to 40 seconds to kill a man.  At greater ranges,
   perhaps up to 300 meters, the effect, although not lethal, would be
   very painful and would probably disable a man for an appreciable
   length of time.  Vision would be affected, and low-level exposures
   would cause point sources of light to appear as lines." [1]

   The device was not deployed, due to complexity and lack of range.

   Also, a device that created vortices in the air, and a device that
   shot 'plugs' of air were developed at the same facility, primarily
   for low-level anti-aircraft defence.

References:

[1]   _Secret Weapons of the Third Reich_ by Leslie E. Simon (USA, ret)
      WE, Inc., Publishers (c)1971 [great book!]

[2]   _The Guns 1939-45_ by Ian V. Hogg
      Ballentine Books Inc. (c)1970

[3]   _Lost Victories_ by Erich von Manstein
      (Ooops, no data)

[4]   _German Secret Weapons of World War 2_ by I. V. Hogg
      ARCO Publishing Company, Inc. (c)1970




January 25, 1995