Its an old phrase but nothing fascinates me more (apart from ISO containers, bridges and MEXEFLOTES) than modern technology that is assumed to be new yet has been thought of, designed and used by our forebears.
This is just a random example but have a look at this
The Parachute Regiment on patrol
And this
JAB MkII, 1946
From here
Standard JAB Mk II had several modifications, including redesigned wings. Only about six of these vehicles were built. The front axle drive casing was cast as an integral unit with the engine sump. The tires were 7.50-10, a special aero tire , modified to have cross-country tread. Also seen here is an amphibious trailer into which the front end of the vehicle was to be placed, for ferrying across rivers. During the first test in a water tank, the outfit sank straight to the bottom. Afterwards, four empty Jerry cans were fixed to the rear corners of the trailer for extra buoyancy.
More information here
You missed the ‘battle-sled’ on page 121. (Wow!)
I don’t think commanders sanctioning “mind control” (e.g. tots of rum, motivational speeches etc) is new, but the science is moving on very quickly. Tripling recognition rates from imagery is not to be sniffed at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/feb/07/neuroscience-soldiers-control-weapons-mind
I remember when I first saw the laser beam riding 40mm CTA round data that the real reason to take this technology seriously was that eventually miniaturization would lead to a smart bullet
http://www.aaafasso.fr/DOSSIERSAAAF/ACTES_COLLOQ.LIBRES/ActColloq.06/MissDef.06.NonCompress/papers/35_23_27.swf
Well it didn’t take as long as I expected
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/sectors/military-and-defence/news/dart-like-bullet-could-hit-laser-targets-more-than-a-mile-off/1011652.article
Surely if one marries the Sandia dart with cased telescoped ammunition technology it will have all the makings of a new highly accurate 50 calibre type of machine gun ??
CEP of 8 inches at 1 mile ?????????????????????????????????????????????????
I think that counts as new
Taking what James said in a different direction, I know civilian medics in both Canada and the US who’ve worked with some of the new “pathway remapping” ideas — based on therapeutic techniques with rapid-eye movement in restful-waking and sleep states — to treat PTSD in combat veterans. In a growing number of cases it’s been a godsend and helps avoid the “pill trains” that make for both addiction and self-blame in combatant service personnel who can be so prone to self-blame when they’re not an immoveable object against trauma. Between that and the active-service applications James brought up, it’s a full spectrum of genuinely new possibilities.
On the “everything new is old again” theme, some years ago for professional reasons, and again more recently for recreational/academic interest, I was looking over British-Pathe footage from the Congo crisis. Belgian paras scooting around on those little specialist quad “jeeps” that look like a Supacat on a diet or something Q brought Sean Connery in the diplomatic bag.
RW,
The Sandia round is already highly telescoped. The projectile nearly reaches the primer as it is, so I don’t know what “cased telescoped ammunition technology” you could add to it.
Oh, and for irony’s sake, check out TD’s “Magic Bullet” article.