Ultra-High Bypass (UHB) or "propfan" jet engines received attention in the late 1980s as an economical and greener alternative to current GTF and ATF jet technologies. Development was partially prevented by concerns about cabin noise and R&D costs as well as by industry fears that the external propellers would being seen by some as a step backwards. Evidently, General Electric and NASA are reinvesting in the technology.

The design is ultimately a hybrid between a Turbofan and Turboprop, which was aptly named a Propfan or Unducted Fan. The process begins by using a turbofan engine with the fans relocated to the outside of the engine housing. As the exhaust from the turbofan engine is forced out, they pass over a turbine which is connected to a prop on the exterior, while the other prop is driven by the turbofan.

The TDC was unique in World War II. It was the computational part of the first submerged integrated fire control system that could track a target and continuously aim torpedoes by setting their gyro angles. The TDC Mark III gave the U.S. fleet submarine the ability to fire torpedoes without first estimating a future firing position, changing the ship's course, or steering to that position. Instead of hoping that nothing in the setup changed, a fleet submarine with the TDC could fire at the target when the captain judged the probability of making hits to be optimal.

From an article by Terry Lindell

This amazing short has been picked up by Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov (Night Watch) for reinvention as a full length feature film. They will most likely add voice actors to the feature which, in a way, is a shame. The emotion is palpable without dialogue. However, I suppose most audiences wouldn't sit through ninety minutes of begoggled burlap mimes.