Crazy ideas thread

[plawolf]

This is a thread for all the little crazy ideas we have all had, which don't really fit in existing threads and are not really worth starting a whole new thread for.

I'll get the ball rolling and ask whether anyone has ever tried to parachute onto the deck of a flat top warship like carriers or LHDs.

The idea occurred to me when I was watching Captain Phillips, when the SEALs were inserted into the battlegroup. Some amazing panoramic areo shots of the USN fleet, and at one point I honestly thought the SEALs were going to land right onto the LHD deck.

Under calm seas, with the deck cleared and the ship sitting still in the water, its actually a pretty easy thing to do. I recon even I can do it under those conditions, and I have landed in a far smaller target area under worse weather conditions, so there is no question that SpecOps operators would be able to do it.

It will get a lot harder for such jumps in rougher seas, especially if the ships are moving, but not really impossible. It might be pointless for deployments in warm waters like the Indian Oceon, but it might be a useful tool to have to insert SpecOps teams into a friendly battlegroup in cold water environments like the Northern Atlantic, where you would not really want to spend any time in the drink if you can avoid it.

What does everyone think? Has there been any attempts by anyone (well I guess only the US has the assets and the need to develop such a capacity, but you never know) to try and land parachutes directly onto the deck of a warship, moving or stationary?

 

[vesicles]

This is a thread for all the little crazy ideas we have all had, which don't really fit in existing threads and are not really worth starting a whole new thread for.

I'll get the ball rolling and ask whether anyone has ever tried to parachute onto the deck of a flat top warship like carriers or LHDs.

The idea occurred to me when I was watching Captain Phillips, when the SEALs were inserted into the battlegroup. Some amazing panoramic areo shots of the USN fleet, and at one point I honestly thought the SEALs were going to land right onto the LHD deck.

Under calm seas, with the deck cleared and the ship sitting still in the water, its actually a pretty easy thing to do. I recon even I can do it under those conditions, and I have landed in a far smaller target area under worse weather conditions, so there is no question that SpecOps operators would be able to do it.

It will get a lot harder for such jumps in rougher seas, especially if the ships are moving, but not really impossible. It might be pointless for deployments in warm waters like the Indian Oceon, but it might be a useful tool to have to insert SpecOps teams into a friendly battlegroup in cold water environments like the Northern Atlantic, where you would not really want to spend any time in the drink if you can avoid it.

What does everyone think? Has there been any attempts by anyone (well I guess only the US has the assets and the need to develop such a capacity, but you never know) to try and land parachutes directly onto the deck of a warship, moving or stationary?

The only thing I would worry about is the actual parachute gets tangled on the ship's equipment, like its radar domes. That would be a nightmare for the crew to sort out, especially under urgent circumstances.

 

[bd popeye]

What does everyone think? Has there been any attempts by anyone (well I guess only the US has the assets and the need to develop such a capacity, but you never know) to try and land parachutes directly onto the deck of a warship, moving or stationary?

Ssshh... The SEALs practice this regularly..well at least they use to. Nowadays they are more than likely into fast roping. So wolfie.. what else ya' got?

Back in '83-'84 when I was assigned to HC-11 which had CH-46 Sea Knight. We did water and deck para drops with the SEALs. At that time the SEALs used sport type chutes not your typical 26ft(8M) military type chute.

Oh, I was a Parachute Rigger for 9 of of my 20 years of USN service. I have only one jump from a static line off the ramp of a C-130 at about 1500 feet.(457M)

 

[airsuperiority]

does it have to be military? or can it be other things too?
crazy non-military i probably will have tons..

 

[Equation]

The only thing I would worry about is the actual parachute gets tangled on the ship's equipment, like its radar domes. That would be a nightmare for the crew to sort out, especially under urgent circumstances.

It's possible. The US Special Forces uses a specialized parachute

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to do their HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) jumps at night. So therefore these SEALS can steer their parachutes to their intended targets as they glide towards it. Of course they have to have a lot of practice.

 

[TerraN_EmpirE]

Modifying a Russian MTs-255 shotgun revolver by cutting down the barrel attaching a muzzle standoff removing the stock and mounting it under the barrel of a carbine like a AK to be used as a masterkey-ski.

 

[plawolf]

Thanks for the detailed reply Popeye, good to know I'm not totally nuts to think about parachuting onto a warship.

Another crazy idea I have had for some time was a semi-auto 50.cal, like an M82, but with a massively cut down barrel (half current length), hell, maybe even a bulpump design to further reduce overall length and weight, to be used as a frontline assault weapon in urban combat.

Doesn't matter if the enemy has take cover behind that wall, I'll blast straight throw it and nail him anyways. Suicide car bomber heading towards my OP with a boot full of ordinance? Let's see him keep coming with his engine pumped full of 50.cal shells.

Even against conventional military enemies, such weapons could be hugely useful. They make body armour a joke, and would also be very effective against enemy light armour and helicopters.

 

[plawolf]

does it have to be military? or can it be other things too?
crazy non-military i probably will have tons..

Lol, let's have them. If it gets out of hand we can always rein it back later.

 

[advill]

Great "Crazy Ideas" done by the military ...... including those "things" done by the Special Forces who must always "Think OUT of the Box". But they have to ensure good chances of success in any ops ... otherwise being put in body bags could be a nasty outcome!

Lol, let's have them. If it gets out of hand we can always rein it back later.

 

[TerraN_EmpirE]

Thanks for the detailed reply Popeye, good to know I'm not totally nuts to think about parachuting onto a warship.

Another crazy idea I have had for some time was a semi-auto 50.cal, like an M82, but with a massively cut down barrel (half current length), hell, maybe even a bulpump design to further reduce overall length and weight, to be used as a frontline assault weapon in urban combat.

Doesn't matter if the enemy has take cover behind that wall, I'll blast straight throw it and nail him anyways. Suicide car bomber heading towards my OP with a boot full of ordinance? Let's see him keep coming with his engine pumped full of 50.cal shells.

Even against conventional military enemies, such weapons could be hugely useful. They make body armour a joke, and would also be very effective against enemy light armour and helicopters.

There are a few that match that description. the Hangarian Gepárd anti-materiel rifles, the russian

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, the Barret M107A1 CQ for example. the key issues though remain weight, size and capacity.
the larger Russian and Chinese 12,7x108mm becomes a hard to carry magazine above 5 rounds. the smaller American/NATO 12.7x99 max out at a 10 round box. because of the need to stabilize the round you need a large barrel minimum that could be gotten away with being 20" for BMG. and it's a real pain to carry unless you have a powered Exoskeleton or something. and good luck concealing it.