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Project OSS Bigot: silent "Colt" and arrows

Project OSS Bigot: silent «Colt» and arrows OSS Bigot system before firing.

Since its inception, the American Office of Strategic Services (Office of Strategic Services – OSS) It is dealing with the problem of creating a special weapons. The main attention was paid noiseless system with high performance combat. The original version of the special weapons for silent liquidation of the enemy has been proposed under the project code-named Bigot. curious, that the project was created with the use of as an entirely new ideas, and existing product serial.

According to various sources, development of a new version of the silent weapons was launched in 1943-44 years and implemented OSS forces without substantial assistance from other organizations. Since its own production capacity of the Office poor, with a certain amount of time involved in the project is one of the commercial organizations, which had experience in the manufacture of small arms. Nevertheless, unknown, What is the firm responsible for the production of an experimental batch of weapons and ammunition for it.

Project OSS Bigot: silent «Colt» and arrows Pistol Colt M1911 — base complex Bigot

The new project was silent system working designation Bigot - literally "fanatic" or "bigot". This name did not disclose the essence of the project and allowed to observe secrecy. but, according to some, it still reflected one of the features of the project. there is a version, according to which the name chosen for a certain consonance with the term «spigot mortar» - «shtochny mortar". The thing is, that "fanatic" had to use a similar method of throwing ordnance.

The project proposes the creation of the throwing device, able to send in flight sharpened metal arrows. For their use launch planned energy propellant gases. Boom output to the desired trajectory was to provide a guide-rod, placed in a longitudinal cavity of its shaft. A very interesting fact, that designers have refused to develop a special throwing device for the new shooting. Instead, it was proposed to use a serial self-loading pistol, equipped with a special supplementary starting system.

Bigot system became the basis for a self-loading Colt M1911 pistol design Dzh.M. Browning. This weapon was built on the classical scheme and was based on automatic recoil barrel with its short stroke. The gun was equipped with a rifled barrel chambered .45 ACP (11,43X 23 mm). The handle was placed detachable box magazine for seven bullets. The use of impact-type firing mechanism, single action. While gun M1911 was the main weapon of its class in all kinds of troops and US special services.

As part of "Fanatic" gun was used without any major design changes. The method of application differed from regular. For example, in the trunk instead of a cartridge .45 ACP had placed a special device, a store with ammunition removed. At the same time the existing USM had to work the usual way. After retrofitting a pistol trigger retained normal appearance, but now because of its muzzle appeared thin long tube.

Project OSS Bigot: silent «Colt» and arrows gun controls. for shooting «fanatic» required only fuse, the trigger and the trigger

To convert the pistol in a launching device for arrows used special product insert simple design. The insert is received in a housing of two tubes of different diameters and different lengths. After the gun barrel held long tube diameter of about 7 mm, performs the stock-guiding function. The gun chamber was placed a short tube with a diameter of about 12 mm. Along the entire length of the liner had a channel, in which there was a spring-loaded firing pin rod. anticipated, that the latter will transfer energy to the hammer gun to the appropriate parts of the boom.

To install the required insert partially disassembled gun. First of all, should withdraw from his seat movable shutter cover. Thereafter, the tubular element is placed in the barrel, and weapons can be collected again. In the operative position of the insert was a thin tube exactly on the longitudinal axis of the stem and not in contact with the walls.

As part Bigot system proposed to use different configurations of metal arrows. As far as, they are all built on the same scheme, but they differed in the shape and dimensions of different parts. Apparently, OSS has developed several versions of the boom, which are then scheduled to test at the shooting range and compare. The most successful versions, characterized highest characteristics, We could go into service.

Main boom part for "bigot" was a metal tubular shaft of a high aspect ratio. The internal channel of the tube having a diameter of about 7 mm and matched stem-size guide. The front part of the shaft provided for the thread to set the tip. The tail boom arranged a thickening, the diameter of which corresponds to the caliber of the barrel. It was something like a driving belt, and also serves as a stopper, held in place by moving parts.

Project OSS Bigot: silent «Colt» and arrows The trunk liner and M1911 pistol from the Bigot

arrowhead was a detail of the average elongation of large diameter - could be considered a munition nadkalibernym. tip shape may vary. known tips, formed by a pair of cones, the device having a cylindrical side surface and an edge in the form of intersecting planes, etc.. Inside there was a small tip cavity, in which it was placed a blank cartridge type .25 ACP (6,35x 15 mm Browning), responsible for the production shot. Cartridge installed Dultsev forward and had a tenuous attachment. When expanding gas in the cavity tip he could go back on the shaft.

OSS experts also offered several options feathers, intended to stabilize the boom in-flight. All of them, as is the case with a tip, based on general ideas. On staff offered to put on a short tube, to which four soldered feather plane. Due to tail pipe can move freely on the shaft, that was required in the preparation of the system for firing. Known booms equipped with samples of various shapes plumage. Known stabilizers rectangular different sizes, and trapezoidal swept device.

Depending on the configuration of the tip, boom could have a length of 6 to 8 inches (152-203 mm). Boom weight does not exceed 80-100 g. Precise indicators speed and range, Unfortunately, unknown. There is reason to believe, that the initial boom speed does not exceed a few tens of meters per second, a Sufficient stability and lethal effect persisted at ranges up to 10-15 m.

Before applying Bogit arrow system was available to equip the gun liner and rod. This device is simply placed into the barrel M1911 pistol, after which it was converted to the means for starting the arrows. In this case, the arrow should be remembered, that the gun should not be installed shop. Cocked by displacing the shutter housing is also not required. Of all the procedures were needed just off the fuse and manual cocking the hammer.

For the shot, should establish an arrow on the gun, putting it on the rod shaft. The boom can be moved all the way back, placing a flagpole into the barrel. In this case, the stabilizer moves forward, to the tip. Thickening of the tail shaft, in its turn, concerned and the barrel wall should have to provide additional stabilization of the shot. After installing the boom could cock and turn off the circuit breaker.

Project OSS Bigot: silent «Colt» and arrows Arrows of different versions

When the trigger is pulled the trigger occurred descent, which hit the striker manning gun. The transmitted pulse long drummer, at the inner rod. It is responsible for the firing pin insert pinned capsule cartridge .25 ACP inside the boom. Ignition of the propellant charge resulted in the formation of propellant gases, expanding a cavity arrowhead. gas pressure causes the cartridge to shift back sleeve. However, she rested against the stem and remains stationary relative to the gun. Arrow, in its turn, He received acceleration and set off toward the goal.

After leaving the boom from the stem sleeve blank cartridge remains within the shaft and locked powder gases, preventing the formation of shock waves and noise. During the movement of the rod boom inertia forced to move back feathers on the shaft and to hold their position in the tail boom. In this configuration, an arrow "Fanatic" flew to the goal. The massive boom with a pointed tip, on the idea of ​​engineers, I had to have a high breakdown and killer action, sufficient for destruction of manpower. For the next shot should install a new boom and re-cock.

easy to see, Bigot system that the developers managed to successfully solve one of the main objectives of the project - to ensure minimal noise shots. Locking propellant gases excluded shock wave formation, and the clank of weapons parts are not distinguished by a special volume. In fact, in the shot could only hear the clicks of parts of the trigger, and clanging from the moving of the boom rod and sliding along it stabilizer. Depending on the situation,, such noise can be noticed from a distance of several meters.

The known data, at 1943-44 , the Office of Strategic Services and unknown armory enterprise jointly produced before 25 inserts available for pistols. The party was prepared from 300 arrows with different shape of the tip and stabilizer. Using these products scheduled to determine actual characteristics and capabilities of the entire system, as well as to identify the most successful version of the boom.

Project OSS Bigot: silent «Colt» and arrows pistol cartridge .25 ACP

During the tests revealed the characteristic disadvantages of the new silent complex, because of which he could not effectively solve tasks. Besides, some of its features made it difficult to operate the weapon and leveled part of the received benefits. Due to the ambiguous correlation of advantages and disadvantages, the fate of the “Fanatic” was in question.

Firstly, low fire characteristics of the new system became the reason for claims. Relatively weak cartridge .25 ACP couldn’t transmit enough energy to a heavy boom, whereby the initial velocity and the flight distance is not too large. Besides, boom intended for applying serious injuries, which made special demands on its flying qualities. In practice, it turned out, that the likelihood of a successful hit by a watch or guard dog with a first shot is not too high. At the same time, saboteurs might not have a chance for a second shot.

Another drawback of the Bigot system was the nature of the re-equipment of the M1911 pistol. It was proposed to equip a special liner, who took a place in the chamber and the barrel. Installation and dismantling of this device took time. Consequently, pistol, involved in the composition of “Isover”, could not use arrows and regular cartridges alternately. In other words, special forces soldier risked remaining without auxiliary weapons, or he would have to carry two pistols at once.

Finally, Fanatic compared to existing firearms, equipped with silent shooting devices. The results of this comparison were obvious.. A system with metal arrows could not be a successful addition for pistols with silencers, not to mention replacing them.

Some sources provide a version of the possible use of Bigot arrows to throw cables onto tall or distant objects.. How can you judge by the available data, the energy performance of this system was insufficient to solve such problems. Cable, fixed on an arrow, could shorten the already low range of her flight. Apparently, "Fanatic" was created exclusively as a means of lethal destruction of manpower.

According to various sources, completing the test, OSS decided to abandon the original silent weapon. Its combat and operational characteristics were insufficient for use in real operations. However, the remaining liners and arrows were not sent for scrap. Until a certain time, they remained in warehouses and, perhaps, had a small chance to return, least, at the shooting range.

At the end 1945 of the year, shortly after the end of World War II, management of the Office of Strategic Services decided to free up storage space and dispose of unnecessary material. Together with other unsuccessful products, most of the elements of the Bigot complex went into remelting. Naturally, this only concerned arrows and liners, while the pistols returned to work in their original configuration. As far as, only a few elements of the Fanatic system of the original production have been preserved. Now they are in museums and private collections..

Decades ago, the CIA - the successor to OSS - published data on special weapons, created during the Second World War. Information about the Bigot system attracted the attention of gun lovers, which led to interesting consequences. Several private companies proactively began production of replicas of “Isuver”. However, such products were not in great demand, and therefore was soon discontinued. In a manner, a copy of the silent system repeated the fate of the original.

During the Second World War, OSS specialists developed a large number of original silent weapons. Some samples of this kind reached full operation and contributed to the victory over the Axis. Others showed themselves not in the best way and therefore did not go beyond the boundaries of polygons.. Bigot system, originally seemed promising and promising, replenished the second list.

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