Isn't that a recoiless rifle? Maybe you just used the scooter to get it to a position and then fired the bugger at a target. I saw them mounted on jeeps in the Korean war footage, and they really "rocked" the little jeep, but I think those were 105 recoiless, that looks sort of like a 75 or so. Still a weird set-up, even with the little "out-rigger" stabilizers I would think it would be a tricky affair to not tip over.
The WLA 45 was a fine and dependable unit, but if somebody was going to "gift me" a WW2 Harley, I'd pick the XA. Only about a 1000 of them were made, and would really be worth something today. I understand they ran almost 100 degrees cooler than the WLA in desert conditons, and their shaft drive was superb. It was a copy of the BMW in the drive and such, but none the less. If I was to get "gifted" another war time V twin I would pick the Japanese version of the Harley 45, which while having all parts exchangable is unique as it is fully Japanese in production. Many WW2 vets were astounded to run across what looked and drove just like "Harley-Davidsons" in the PTO.
Google Image Result for http://www.bikeexif.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/vespa_militaire_tap.jpg By guest writer Scott of Pipeburn. Many times I’ve wished I had a Bazooka attached to my bike, usually after almost being killed by someone who didn’t check their side mirrors. Luckily for them, all I had to unload was my middle finger. So when I first saw this Vespa, I knew most motorcyclists would love the concept—even if it was made for a different purpose. It is named the Vespa 150 TAP (Troupes Aéro Portées) and it’s an Italian Vespa scooter modified by creating a hole in the legshield to carry a M20 75 mm recoilless rifle. The recoil or ‘kick’ from the rifle was counter balanced by venting propellant gases out the rear of the weapon; this eliminated the need for heavy mounts, and enabled the weapon to be fired from the Vespa frame. Due to the lack of any kind of aiming devices, the recoilless rifle was supposed to be mounted on a tripod, which was also carried by the scooter. Primarily built for the Algerian War in the 1950s, five parachutes could carry a two-man gun crew, weapon, ammunition, and two scooters. Then the men would load the weapon on one scooter and the ammo on the other, before riding away to find their enemy. Although rumour has it that the drivers were seen more often pushing it rather than riding on it http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgu...N&rlz=1T4ADRA_enCA331CA336&ndsp=21&tbs=isch:1 The armoured Vespas of the Algeria and Indochina conflicts. Via: Dark Roasted Blend "After World War II, there was little money for defense spending while the nations of Europe rebuilt their industry and society. When there was some cash to spend, one had to be creative to stretch it as far as possible. The French probably accomplished the most astounding example of that with the ACMA Troupes Aeról Portées Mle. 56. Deployed with their airborne forces, this was essentially a militarized Vespa scooter outfitted with a 75mm recoilless rifle. Five parachutes would carry the two-man gun crew, weapon, ammunition, and two scooters safely to earth, and the men would load the weapon on one scooter and the ammo on the other, then ride away. More impressively, the recoilless rifle could be fired effectively on the move by the best of the gun crews. Total cost? About $500 for the scooter and the recoilless rifle was war surplus. Were they successful military machines? Well, the French Army deployed about 800 armed scooters in wars conducted in both Algeria and Indochina."
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/1942-harley-davidson-wla-and-xa-1.jpg http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bh512CDlCUo/RrahKKGmspI/AAAAAAAAAEM/Iu0E8biQ73k/s1600/bmw_r71_4.jpg http://www.sdronline.org.uk/images/_SBH4992.jpg http://www.beijing-sidecar.com/images/pics/wwgrn5.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/3085167115_dccd27fa79.jpg?v=0 http://hellforleathermagazine.com/images/Harley_WLA.jpg
Too true, but that isn't everything really.. When the Tokyo earthquake happened in 1923, the Harley Davidson company brought a few hundred H-D motorcycles to the devastated area, and they became so popular that Japan was the second largest importer of Harleys by 1928. Only Australia was a better overseas customer and imported more. In the early 1930s, the Harley-Davidson Motor Company (like everyone else), was mired in the Great Depression. By 1932, in fact, the Milwaukee factory was running at about 10 percent capacity, and sales were below 4,000 units a year. In 1933 the Japanese Sankyo company bought the one and only entire 1200 cc plant (74 cubic inch) in Milwaukee and it was disassembled and sent to Japan. Enter Alfred Rich Child, an independent business agent authorized to represent Harley-Davidson in Japan, China, Korea and Manchuria. Child figured he could reduce the retail price of a Harley to a Japanese customer if the machines were built in-country. It was Child who convinced the home office to sell Harley machine tools and licensing rights to the Japanese Sankyo Seiyako Corporation, which would build Harleys in Japan. In dire straits, Harley agreed to the deal, and a new, Japanese-built model appeared under the "Rikuo" name. Roughly translated, Rikuo means "Land King," or "King of Road." The deal continued for several years, until Harley-Davidson produced the EL 61 OHV Knucklehead in 1936. Child couldn’t convince Sankyo to buy the licensing rights for the new machine. That disagreement, coupled with the rise of a militaristic government in Japan, put an end to Child’s, and Harley’s, relationship with the Japanese Rikuo company. Despite that split, Rikuos continued to be built in the Japanese factory without license. In fact, military versions of the Rikuo 45 and 74 were built for the Japanese army during World War II. See: 1958 Rikuo RT2 - Classic Bikes - Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum and: Powered by Google Docs then: Japan's Motorcycle Wars: An Industry ... - Google Books
I would sure hate to fire that thing while doing about 60 mph. The recoil sure would test the transmission.
great pics and oddities. a few more Google Image Result for http://www.motorcycle.com/images/content/Event/tn_07_Garson_Blitzkrieg_WWII_sidesaddl_soldier_c2.jpg
Wielka Encyklopedia Uzbrojenia M.S.Wojsk. 1918 - 1939 more from way back.. russian ural.. http://www.chasseurblanc.com/ChasseurBlanc-steps/Vehicles/82A2CE62-C3E7-484C-83E5-3AA9096D2B50.html
