Everyone knows about Vespa's 150 Tap, the tank-busting, rocket-firing scooter. It's an icon and a testament to the old adage, "Everything's a technical." I mean, if you can turn something like a Vespa scooter, something that's meant to be driven carefree through the streets of Rome in search of a great espresso, into a weapon of war, nothing's off limits.
Everything can become a technical if you believe hard enough, know a good welder, and have access to some sort of large firearms.
But did you know that the Vespa wasn't the only rocket-firing scooter to be made? Did you know that the Taiwanese military once built a rocket-launching Mitsubishi scooter, one that was perhaps even wilder in its form factor than even the Vespa 150 Tap? Why was it wilder you ask? Because you literally straddled the 75mm rocket tube.
Is that a rocket launcher in your pants or are you just...oh, it's an actual rocket launcher!
The Taiwanese counterpart of tank destroyer Vespa. A modified Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon C-25 armed with M20 75mm recoilless rifle. Built by the 61st Arsenal, circa 50s-60s.
byu/Nemoralis99 inshittytechnicals
I first came across this Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon C-25 on Reddit's awesome r/ShittyTechnicals subReddit, where the scooter's insane rocket tube caught my eye. I'm obviously familiar with the Vespa and its side-mounted rocket launcher, but the Mitsubishi's center-mounted rocket launcher, one that goes through the vehicle's handlebars and where the rider sits on top of the tube, that was beyond intriguing. I had to know more.
I then found a post on the War Thunder forum where folks were talking about what other vehicle's they'd like to see in the video game's choices, with one person replying the Mitsubishi and giving a history lesson that I devoured. Basically, the US government and military industrial complex was the impetus for this vehicle in a round about way.
According to the post, "In late 1949 the US gave the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan the plans and examples for the M20 (T21) 75mm recoilless rifle. With this they created their own domestic version, the Type 40 75 mm recoilless rifle, produced by the 61st arsenal." However, it was the Vespa concept that saw the ROC take those plans and strap them to the Mitsubishi.
The post added, "Taking inspiration from the French’s M20 75mm recoilless rifle mounted on a Vespa the ROC military decided to do the same. The main scooter type they seem to chose is the Mitsubishi silver pigeon C-25 which the Joint logistics arsenal in Taiwan heavily modified. The gun is seated underneath the seat and it seems like it can carry 2-4 extra rounds." And while it saw use within the military, it wasn't that effective, as it was a close-promixity sort of weapon, which isn't ideal when the prime reason for its being is offense against tanks.
And although it doesn't state it in the post, I can't see how such a diminutive machine would've made for a good platform for such weapons. Yes, the rocket launcher is technically a "recoilless rifle," but aiming and firing such a rocket would have to be almost impossible in combat for the rider. I mean, you're not going to fire the damn thing sipping the aforementioned espresso while barreling toward a tank, right?
Either way, the Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon rocket launching scooter was quickly phased out, as it proved ultimately ineffective toward armor and wasn't super accurate. Still, it was a thing, and the idea is very cool, even if it really didn't work.
