The original bazooka was developed to stop tanks during the early stages of World War II. In late 1940, the military had created a new type of grenade that focused its blast into a narrow point of energy capable of penetrating tank armor. But it had a relatively short range. So 2nd Lt. Edward Uhl decided to build a device to keep foot soldiers away from the tanks they were targeting. After a bit of noodling, Uhl attached a dummy grenade to a rocket and put the rocket in a portable launch tube. The first tests of his device took place on a dock on the Potomac River, where the projectile flew straight and far into the channel. Later, at a mortar shoot-off at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in northern Maryland, Uhl scored a direct hit. A brigadier general nicknamed this rocket-launching gadget a bazooka, after the stovepipelike musical instrument used by a radio comedian at the time. My design for a bazooka looks a lot like the real McCoy. For the barrel, I used a 3-inch-diameter heavy paper tube I found at a local packaging store. My projectile is an uncapped plastic beverage bottle, filled with a mixture of air and evaporated alcohol. I position it in the tube so that the bazooka’s trigger—a modified grill igniter—fits inside the bottle. When a spark sets off the alcohol, it forms a hot gas that gushes out of the bottle’s mouth, propelling the plastic out of the tube. My bottle bazooka sports a distinctive and tough look. Even better, it packs a heckuva wallop. This article was originally published in the January/February 2016 issue of Popular Science. Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the Potomac River is near the Aberdeen Proving Ground.
How to Build Your Own Bottle Bazooka
This project is easy to complete and a real thrill to use. It is made from inexpensive materials such as cardboard tubes and beverage containers.
WARNING:
Inspect the bottle after every firing, and discard when it becomes worn.Always obey local laws and regulations. Check with authorities prior to using if you’re unsure about this project’s legality in your area.Build and use at your own risk.Don’t aim at innocent bystanders.
MATERIALS:
General-purpose glue or hot-glue gun(1) 3-inch-diameter smooth X female pipe thread PVC adapter(1) Heavy cardboard tube, 3-inch inside diameter by 4 feet long(1) 3-inch male pipe threaded plug(1) ½-inch diameter ID by 5-inch-long PVC pipe18 inches of two-conductor 18-gauge speaker wire(1) Size No. 00 two-hole rubber stopperElectrical tape(1) Piezo-electric gas-grill replacement igniter (Find them at hardware stores and other places that sell outdoor barbecuing gear.)(1) 1-inch square wood dowel, 4 inches long(1) 2½-inch corner brace(2) 4-inch diameter hose clampsBottle of rubbing alcohol
TOOLS:
Drill and ¾-inch wood drilling bitWire cutter/stripperScrewdriver
INSTRUCTIONS:
Test the device by pressing the button on the piezo-electric ignitor. If you’ve done everything correctly, you should see a spark jump between the two exposed conductors. If you don’t see a spark, check the spark gap, review the assembly diagram, and rewire as needed. 8. Use the hose clamps to attach the piezo-electric trigger to the bazooka body.
How to Use the Bottle Bazooka
Before Starting, Take These Safety Measures:
Wear safety glasses and, if your ears are sensitive, earplugs.The bazooka can shoot empty plastic bottles more 100 than feet. Clear the area in front of breakable objects. Never aim the bazooka at anything you don’t want to hit.Be careful with rubbing alcohol. It is flammable.
