WWII experimental weapon fails repeatedly
A steel drum filled with explosives, suspended between two giant wooden wheels and propelled by 18 powder rockets, was the design of the Panjandrum, an experimental weapon developed by the British army during World War II. The device was intended to destroy the bunkers of the Atlantic Wall by rushing directly at them at full speed. However, it was never able to go straight.Unstable design causes panic
During a test on the beach of Westward Ho ! in Devon, the machine veered off course, causing panic among spectators. The project was abandoned after nine unsuccessful tests, with the last test taking place in January 1944.Engineers and contractors involved
The Panjandrum was designed by the Directorate of Miscellaneous Weapons Development, a military laboratory responsible for unconventional weapons. Among the engineers involved was Lieutenant-Commander Norway, later identified as Nevil Shute, a novelist who led a double life in military engineering. The manufacturing contract was given to Commercial Structures Ltd in east London.Speed and explosive power
The device was supposed to travel at about 100 kilometers per hour while carrying nearly 1,800 kilograms of explosives. The first full-scale test took place on the beach of Westward Ho ! in 1943, but the prototype crashed after several rockets detached from the right wheel. Despite repeated warnings about the danger, the tests attracted curious onlookers.Failed attempts to stabilize
Adjustments were made, including increasing the number of rockets to 66, but this did not improve the stability. In October 1943, an attempt was made to guide the device using cables and winches, but the smoke and flames from the rockets blinded the operators, and the cables further unbalanced the device.Final test ends the project
The ninth and final test in January 1944 was conducted in front of senior officers. The device veered off course and rushed toward photographer Louis Klemantaski, causing confusion among the spectators. Some accounts suggest that some people were injured during this incident. This test marked the end of the Panjandrum project.Legacy of the failed weapon
The Panjandrum was never used in the Normandy landings or any military operation due to its instability and unpredictability. Some historians suggest that the tests may have been part of Operation Fortitude, a deception campaign. Despite its failure, the Panjandrum has not been forgotten. In 2009, a replica was constructed for the Appledore Book Festival and launched on the same Devon beach, using fireworks instead of explosives.
