Ep 24. Confederate Steam Gun

In season 5, episode 24 of Mythbusters, the team takes on a unique challenge in testing the validity of the Confederate steam gun. This weapon was supposedly developed during the Civil War, designed to shoot a stream of hot water at enemy troops and cause serious damage. The weapon was never used in battle due to its ineffectiveness, but the Mythbusters aim to see if there is any truth to the claims.

To start, Jamie and Adam team up to build a replica of the steam gun using historical records and diagrams. They encounter several setbacks during the construction process, including leaks and issues with the power supply. However, after some trial and error, they are able to create a working steam gun that is meant to be a close representation of the original.

Meanwhile, Kari, Grant, and Tory delve into the scientific background of the steam gun to determine if it would even be possible for the weapon to cause damage. They use a high-speed camera to film drops of water being heated to extreme temperatures and determine that while the water can cause significant burns, it would not be able to penetrate clothing or do any serious damage to skin.

The team then brings both parts of the experiment together, testing the steam gun's effectiveness against a group of pig carcasses. They set up the steam gun at various distances and angles, aiming it at the pig carcasses to see if it can cause any significant damage.

Throughout the episode, the team encounters several obstacles and difficulties, including exploding water tanks and issues with the pressure valve on the steam gun. However, they are determined to see the experiment through to the end.

In the final moments of the episode, the team presents their findings and conclusions on the Confederate steam gun. While the replica they built was able to produce a stream of hot water and could cause minor burns, it was not an effective weapon and would not have caused any significant damage to enemy troops. The Mythbusters put the myth of the Confederate steam gun to rest, proving that it was, in fact, just a myth.