The 10 Most Unusual Military Vehicles in History

The Vespa 150 TAP was a unique anti-tank scooter produced in the 1950s by converting a standard Vespa scooter for use by French paratroopers. In terms of damage caused per unit weight, no weapon at the time could rival this small, unassuming scooter. Manufactured by the Ateliers de Construction de Motocycles et Automobiles (ACMA), the Vespa was equipped with an M20 75mm recoilless rifle—an anti-armor weapon developed by the United States. Despite its light weight, the rifle was capable of penetrating 100mm of armor with its HEAT rounds. The scooter retained the original VB 1T civilian model frame, powered by a 150cc two-stroke engine that allowed it to reach speeds of up to 60 km/h, fast enough to take out any vehicle in an emergency. The Vespa 150 TAP was also highly maneuverable, making it perfect for traversing rough terrain. With its combination of anti-tank firepower and speed, it gave French forces a significant edge on the battlefield. Today, this rare military vehicle is highly sought after by collectors around the world.

The Bob Semple Tank (also known as Big Bob) was a heavy tank prototype created by Bob Semple, New Zealand’s Minister of Public Works, during World War II. Built out of necessity with available materials, this tank was constructed using corrugated iron and mounted on a tractor chassis. Designed in a time of uncertainty, when New Zealand feared a Japanese invasion and lacked external support, the Bob Semple Tank was an attempt at creating a homegrown defense vehicle. The tank’s design, however, lacked proper blueprints, leading to many design flaws and practical issues, preventing it from ever being mass-produced or used in combat. The first prototype was built using a Caterpillar D8 crawler tractor, a model already in New Zealand’s inventory. The Public Works Department had 81 D8s, and 19 more were available. The D8, however, lacked proper weaponry, so it was fitted with six Bren machine guns—two on each side, one facing forward, one at the turret, and one at the rear. The Bob Semple Tank stood 12 feet ( meters) tall and was powered by a 95 kW (127 horsepower) diesel engine. It had a maximum speed of 24 km/h (15 mph) and a range of 160 km (99 miles). Lacking armor, its exterior was coated with bright margan plating to try and deflect incoming rounds. The vehicle was designed to carry up to eight crew members, with the gunner firing from a position above the engine, sitting on a mattress. Due to limitations in design and available resources, the Bob Semple Tank was extremely heavy (weighing 20-25 tons), unstable, and slow. The D8 struggled with low speeds and frequent gear changes, while the vehicle’s shape and excessive vibrations made it nearly impossible to fire accurately. These issues earned the Bob Semple Tank a place on many lists of the “worst tanks ever made.” Ultimately, due to its impracticality, the military decided to abandon the project.

The 2B1 OKA was a Soviet 420mm self-propelled mortar developed with significant limitations. The project was initiated following a decree by the Soviet Council of Ministers on November 18, 1955. The task of developing this self-propelled mortar was assigned to the Kolomna Design Bureau, with the Leningrad Kirov Factory responsible for the development of its chassis. Four experimental units were produced at the Kirov Factory. The lead designer was B.I. Shavyrin. The first prototype was completed in 1957. The mortar had a firing rate of one round every 10.5 minutes, with a range of 25 km and a reactive mine range of up to 50 km. The weight of a single shell was 670 kg, and it was designed to deliver nuclear payloads. The mortar’s barrel, measuring around 20 meters in length, was a 420mm smoothbore. Due to the lack of recoil systems, the vehicle would move back by 5 meters each time it fired. The shells were loaded from the muzzle, which significantly increased the firing rate to one shot every 5 minutes. The chassis was borrowed from the Soviet T-10 heavy tank. On November 7, 1957, the 2B1 OKA was demonstrated in a military parade in Moscow. Development continued until 1960, when it was halted by a decree from the Soviet Council of Ministers.

Centuries ago, around 1335, Italian inventor Gui da Vigevano sketched a design for a ‘battle vehicle.’ This idea was later echoed by Leonardo da Vinci in 1485, who created his own blueprint for an ‘armored vehicle.’ Fast forward another 400 years to 1885, when British inventor James Cowen patented the first wheeled armored vehicle with mounted guns. However, it was Frederick Richard Simms who made a significant contribution to the development of the first true armored vehicle. In 1899, Simms introduced the Motor Scout Quadricycle, the first military vehicle of his design. Using this as a base, he went on to create the Simms Motor War Car. The Simms Motor War Car was built on a Daimler truck chassis, produced by Simms' own company. It featured 6mm thick Vickers armor and was powered by a 3.3-liter, 16-horsepower Cannstatt Daimler four-cylinder engine, providing a top speed of about 9 miles per hour (14.5 km/h). The vehicle was armed with two Maxim guns mounted on 360-degree rotating turrets. Fully equipped, it measured 28 feet (8.5 meters) long with 8-foot (2.4 meters) beams at both ends. The car had two turrets, two guns, and was designed to handle rough terrain. It required a crew of four for operation. By the time the Simms Motor War Car was completed and unveiled at the Crystal Palace Motor Show in London in February 1902, colonial warfare was on the decline, making the vehicle obsolete. In fact, the British Army did not even attend the exhibition to view the vehicle they had commissioned.

The Sd.Kfz.2, more commonly known as the Kettenkrad HK101, was a half-track motorcycle used by Nazi Germany during World War II. Originally designed as a lightweight tractor for airborne troops, the vehicle's compact size allowed it to be the only tractor small enough to fit inside the cargo hold of the Junkers Ju 52 transport aircraft. The Kettenkrad HK101 was the lightest mass-produced military vehicle in Germany, designed and built by NSU Werke AG in Neckarsulm and patented in June 1939. It first saw action during the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. Powered by a 1.5-liter Opel four-cylinder engine, the Kettenkrad produced 36 horsepower (26 kW), enabling it to reach speeds of up to 70 km/h on flat terrain and climb gradients of more than 25 degrees. The vehicle could also be equipped with a special trailer, which could carry up to 350 kg (770 lbs), significantly enhancing its cargo capacity. The Kettenkrad HK101 was renowned for its reliability and exceptional ability to navigate through mud and sand. It was primarily used for transporting soldiers, towing light artillery, and laying cable. Its compact design also made it an ideal vehicle for transport by the Ju 52 aircraft. Production continued from 1941 to 1945, and although production ceased after the war, approximately 550 units were made for agricultural use until 1948.

Following the failure of the T-35 heavy tank design project, the Soviet army sought a new solution for replacement. The T-35 was known for its strong firepower and thick armor but had a poor engine and sluggish mobility. The Spanish Civil War demonstrated the significant role heavy tanks played on the battlefield, influencing tank designs in the pre-World War II era. Several designs were proposed, and the KV series became one of the most notable. With a more compact hull and a single turret, the KV tanks had reinforced front armor and turret while maintaining a reasonable weight. Two versions were produced: the KV-1 and the KV-2, the latter featuring a 152mm howitzer. Though only about 350 KV-2 tanks were built compared to the 4,500 KV-1 units, the KV-2 offered notable advantages, including its main armament, the 152mm M-10 howitzer, supplemented by three DT light machine guns. Its operational range was approximately 140 km, with a top speed of 25.6 km/h. The KV-2's thick armor was impervious to most anti-tank guns of the time unless at very close range. Its tracks provided a smooth ride, and its firepower was formidable. However, it had significant drawbacks: it was difficult to drive, the drivetrain was unreliable, the ergonomic design was poor, and the turret lacked a proper bustle. Later, the Soviet military focused on the T-34, a more versatile and cost-effective medium tank. The KV series saw limited use, primarily for training purposes. Towards the end of the war, the KV-2 became the basis for the development of the IS heavy tank series.

The Standard CC 4x2, more commonly known as the Beaverette, was a makeshift British armored vehicle produced during World War II. The first version of this vehicle was built in 1940 by Standard Motor Company at the request of the Minister of Aircraft Production. The vehicle was based on a commercial car chassis, upon which a simple, riveted armored body was mounted. The armor was open at the top and rear. The Beaverette was shielded by 11mm thick steel armor, reinforced with 3-inch thick oak planks. It was powered by a standard 4-cylinder gasoline engine, generating 46 horsepower (34 kW). The vehicle was equipped with a Bren light machine gun, which could fire through a slot in the casemate armor. Some versions were also armed with the Boys anti-tank rifle. A limitation of the Beaverette was its poor visibility, requiring the driver to rely on an observer to relay information about other vehicles. The Standard Beaverette was widely used by the British Home Guard, the British Army, and the RAF Regiment for domestic defense duties and for protecting aircraft production facilities, particularly those owned by Lord Beaverbrook.

The T-55 Progrev-T, a modified version of the widely produced T-54 tank, stands out for its unusual and somewhat intimidating addition: a jet engine. Rather than the standard gun, this tank was equipped with a jet engine taken from a MiG-15 fighter aircraft. The Progrev-T was specifically designed for mine clearing and pathfinding, using the intense heat and airflow from the jet engine to sweep away dirt and debris, exposing landmines hidden beneath. While it was an innovative concept, the T-55 Progrev-T was not entirely successful in its original role. It was not the last Soviet tank to feature a jet engine. Later models, like the “Big Wind,” were more effective, using the powerful air blast from the engine not only for mine detection but also for firefighting purposes.

During the Soviet Union's renaissance, before the collapse of the Eastern Bloc and its divide from the West, the Soviet Union needed a special vehicle for transporting astronauts and spacecraft modules in rugged terrains. At that time, Soviet tanks had limited operational range, and using hovercrafts was not feasible. Thus, the USSR aimed to develop a versatile vehicle capable of handling all terrains. This special vehicle development was assigned to ZiL (Zavod imeni Likhacheva), a company known for manufacturing trucks, heavy equipment, and armored vehicles. The ZiL-2906, a unique design, did not use wheels or tracks but instead featured two large cylinders on either side with spiral-shaped exteriors. These counter-rotating screws generated thrust, propelling the vehicle forward. To turn, the driver activated one screw. In swampy terrains, the ZiL-2906 could reach speeds of 30 mph, but it was slow on paved roads, moving at only around 4 mph. The vehicle’s downside was that its drill-like underside could damage road surfaces, and its loud engine noise made it easy for enemies to detect. The ZIL-2906 project was kept highly secretive, with only those involved in the Soyuz program knowing about it. While a few units still exist, most have either been destroyed or are corroded from being displayed outdoors in museums.

In 1945, during World War II, as the Japanese forces were attacked in Manchuria, the Soviet army stumbled upon a highly unusual round tank. To this day, experts have yet to determine the true purpose behind its creation. The Krupp Kugelpanzer is considered one of the most mysterious and bizarre military vehicles of World War II. It is currently displayed at the Kubinka Tank Museum in Moscow, Russia. Based on available research, the Kugelpanzer was likely produced by the German company Krupp during World War II before being transported to Japan. Its armor was only 5mm thick, and it featured a two-stroke cylinder engine. As for its armament, if it had been used in Germany, it would probably have been equipped with either an MG34 or an MG42 machine gun, both chambered in 7.92mm. Some believe the Kugelpanzer was designed as an armored reconnaissance vehicle for a single operator. However, this wasn’t the only odd design in military history. It may have been inspired by earlier one-wheeled tank concepts, such as the Hansa-Lloyd Bremen Treffas-Wagen (developed during World War I), the One-Wheeled War Tank, or even the Russian Tsarist tanks.