We told you the Marines are conducting experiments with a futuristic landing craft prototype called the Ultra Heavy Lift Amphibious Connector. Now, watch it in action. [HTML1] In this demonstration video supplied by the company Navatek, half-size and quarter-size versions of the UHAC (which is big enough to carry 3 tanks at full size) conduct impressive maneuvers. The prototypes climb sea walls, launch directly into the water over berms, and maneuver through choppy seas at speeds of up to 10 knots. Officials with the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab were in Hawaii earlier this month to conduct experiments with the UHAC…
Browsing: Boat operations
Meet the Ultra Heavy-lift Amphibious Connector, or UHAC, currently being developed by the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab as a potential replacement for the Navy’s current ship-to-shore hovercraft. The photo above is just a half-scale model: a full-scale version will sit some 34 feet high and 84 feet long. The secret behind this machine is foam tracks with captive air cells, which allow it to propel itself through the water at up to 20 knots, and then move onto land. Because it has a very low ground pressure footprint–about one pound per square inch–it can cross marsh land and mud flats…
HOBOKEN, N.J. — Residents of a community ravaged by this week’s super storm had some unexpected guests landing in one of their parks today in Sea Dragon-style. About 20 Marines and sailors left the amphibious assault ship WASP this morning and traveled to a city hit hard by Hurricane Sandy to help restore a ferry terminal that hasn’t been functional since the storm hit. The Marines were with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., which deployed Thursday in support of disaster relief efforts. After completing the work they needed to do in the harbor, the Marines and…
