Puff the Magic dragon was a C-47 gunship that was deployed during the Vietnam war.
The "Puff" part is obvious, but what about the "Magic" part?
So it turns out, that when a sparkplug goes off whilst in it's regular petrol engine beat, it gives off a very detectable electromagnetic signal that can be easily detected using standard radio triangulation equipment. Thus it was very easy for Puff to detect the Vietcong trucks moving in convoy, when they were suppling the south with weapons and rice.
Puff would zero in, and then, once the positions of the trucks had been determined; open fire with the onboard guns, and whilst hugely entertaining to the observers, the carnage resultant was complete.
The devastation was was so complete, that it only took two weeks to destroy nearly every single petrol engined truck in the Vietcong inventory.
After a while the Gooks twigged,
They can see our signal from our spark plugs.
So, they put their thinking caps on, and quickly realized that diesel engines don't have spark plugs, and there for don't give off easily detectable radioelectric emissions. Ah ah! , they thought.
BUT, there was a problem…….
Whilst it is true that diesel engines do not have sparkplugs, and therefore have no radioactive signature, the fuel itself, has a serious problem; namely the impurities, particularly sulphur and potassium.
Oh dear…
Turns out the sulphur and potassium has an easily detected signal, when it it is "energetically" reacted.
Puff retuned its detection gear, and was able to re-engage the diesel convoys moving at night.
The result was the complete destruction of the Vietcong mobile reinforcement.
Interesting, No?
So, what else has sulphur and potassium impurities, that can be easily detected using radio triangulation?
Gun powder does…..
So does Cordite…….
Ooops, you mean to say that whenever someone pulls the trigger on their rifle, the authorities have already quadrangulated their exact position, even before the themselves hear the shot?
So……
Why does Rambo use a knife and a bow?