Marine Corp - Ultra Heavy Lift Amphibious Connector

bobbymike

bobbymike

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http://blogs.militarytimes.com/battle-rattle/2014/02/27/this-new-marine-corps-project-looks-like-a-cross-between-a-tank-and-a-giant-paddle-boat/
 
Not really a new concept. In fact, it reminded me of the old PATA, which, along with other similarly configured vehicles, can be found here:
http://www.unusuallocomotion.com/pages/locomotion/pneumatic-tracks.html
 
CostasTT said:
Not really a new concept. In fact, it reminded me of the old PATA, which, along with other similarly configured vehicles, can be found here:
http://www.unusuallocomotion.com/pages/locomotion/pneumatic-tracks.html
Click to expand...

I wonder if any of those on the program even knew of those earlier efforts. I'm guessing not.
 
CostasTT said:
Not really a new concept.
Click to expand...

UHAC goes back to *at* *least* 2009. This half-scale vehicle was being tested with an annoying soundtrack at least two years ago, when it was called CAAT - Captive Air Amphibious Transporter.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAxpJNI5u4Q


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Remote Area Vehicle Evaluation I at Pontiac, Michigan), US ATAC Research and Engineering Directorate, 29 Oct 1962.
 
Looking at the UHAC/CAAT fills me with the urge to put U shaped hydrofoils on the front and rear tread axles, so they can flip down/up over the ends, then stick waterjets on it. That would get you a stupidly high speed assault connector that's amphibious.
 
When did a Landing Craft become a "connector"?

While I suspect this craft will be substantially cheaper to operate than an LCAC as far as fuel consumption is concerned I am also sure it will be considerably slower. What will that do to the Marines' over-the-horizon amphibious doctrine?
 
Kadija_Man said:
When did a Landing Craft become a "connector"?

While I suspect this craft will be substantially cheaper to operate than an LCAC as far as fuel consumption is concerned I am also sure it will be considerably slower. What will that do to the Marines' over-the-horizon amphibious doctrine?
Click to expand...


The "connector" term is pretty tied in with seabasing -- the idea that your primary logistical base is afloat rather than on land. I don't think of connectors as being inherently amphibious; most high-speed connector concepts are based around transporting materials from the sea base to the shore via some sort of port facility, even if that facility is austere and possibly transient (like a pontoon causeway).
 
http://blogs.militarytimes.com/battle-rattle/2014/03/19/landing-craft-uhac/
 
US Marines testing Ultra Heavy Lift Amphibious Connector UHAC at RIMPAC 2014

Published on Jul 11, 2014

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index....
The Ultra Heavy-Lift Amphibious Connector (UHAC) begins to rotate on the beach, July 9, at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows on Oahu, Hawaii during a Marine Corps Advanced Warfighting Experiment. The AWE is the culmination of a decade of progressive experimentation conducted by the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL) where they are testing potential future technologies, solutions and concepts to future Marine Air Ground Task Force challenges. The AWE is taking part during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014. Lt. Col. Don Gordon, the current technology officer at MCWL, said the UHAC is one of those experimental technologies that displays a possible capability of being able to insert Marines in areas where current technology wouldn't be able to insert them based on current systems that are fielded. The UHAC prototype is a ship-to-shore connector and is half the size of the intended machine. Currently, the UHAC travels at four knots using a track system with floatation-like pads that propels itself through different terrain.

http://youtu.be/MImmBQIL4HU
 

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