This is call a THUD attack. It was a highly secretive counter attack method developed by the Germans in late 1943. A swooping plane that is attacking what is perceived as a defenseless tank, gets a very nasty surprise.
The entire gun barrel was loaded with smokeless solid rocket fuel. The gun barrel is set to the correct take off elevation and at an opposite aspect to an attacking plane. Launch is committed just as the attacking plane reaches zero altitude and the rocket fuel is ignited. The tank is rapidly propelled to a position high on the attacking planes six.
Timing for a kill was crucial. After the rocker fuel was spent, a cannon shell needed to be quickly loaded to the gun muzzle. The gun was rapidly aimed and fired. The projectile ripping apart the attacking A/C from a lethal six position. Moments later a shoot would pop out for safe tank recover.
I have heard that this THUD attack had a reasonable chance of success and was used widely during the latter parts of WWII. For the most part the allies never fully understood the mechanics of this attack and consequently never found a successful method to counter it.
Crews for this THUD tank were some of the most elite personal in field of the German Army.
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Mino
The Wrecking Crew
"Anyway, more golf..."
Humble
