I've seen that a couple of times, and I can't decide if it's a work of desperation, lunacy, or genius. On the plus side it's as cheap as chips; provides good mobility to a paradropped AT weapon; and requires little except ammo to keep using - scooters run on the smell of an oily rag, and it's not exactly a complicated beast mechanically. On the other hand, it's a SCOOTER carrying a freaking RECOILLESS RIFLE! I suspect that absinthe being legal back then must have had a lot to do with the concept.
The motor scooter merely carried the two man crew and a few rounds of RR ammunition. It is not a self propelled scooter gun.
 
Awe! spoil sport I had visions of our erstwhile thread readers imagining James Bond like antics as a swarm of Lambretta born soldiers buzzed around like angered bees letting fly with their recoilless stings.
 
I've seen that a couple of times, and I can't decide if it's a work of desperation, lunacy, or genius. On the plus side it's as cheap as chips; provides good mobility to a paradropped AT weapon; and requires little except ammo to keep using - scooters run on the smell of an oily rag, and it's not exactly a complicated beast mechanically. On the other hand, it's a SCOOTER carrying a freaking RECOILLESS RIFLE! I suspect that absinthe being legal back then must have had a lot to do with the concept.
The Vespas were dropped in pairs according to the article. Gun weighed 103 pounds and ammunition weighed about 25 pounds. Four gunners were dropped, two per Vespa. Gun carried as pictured. The tripod and ammunition were carried on other Vespa.

The Chinese Army was doing much the same with their Chinese version BMW with side car a few years ago.

We had a lively and amusing discussion on this about 10 years ago in PATROLLING, the periodical of the 75th Ranger Regiment Assn.
 
The Americans came up with a solution the 105mm recoilless rifle mounted on a Jeep.The 105mm was on the testing grounds when The War ended,
Start development 18 months earlier and it will be available for Normandy
 
The Americans came up with a solution the 105mm recoilless rifle mounted on a Jeep.The 105mm was on the testing grounds when The War ended,
Start development 18 months earlier and it will be available for Normandy

The 57mm did see combat in both Europe and Pacific, and some were fitted on the .30 cradle on Jeeps, that's only 8 months
 
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