The Sikorsky Aircraft Gunboat

[kach22i]

I found this piece of history by accident, heck of a river boat - a floating tank.

http://www.sikorskyarchives.com/boat2.html

The ASPB was delivered to the U. S. Navy at the end of 1969, but never saw operational use because the war ended. However the ASPB was used by the Special Forces to train for riverine warfare until 1980 when it was taken out of service.

[yipster]

think there may be funding speeding a aramid wide track tank on to the water? ;-P

[kach22i]

Lots of armored vehicles can "ski" though the water with planing shields and waterjets if that's your point. I would not want to be in one with rough water or when the power goes out though. Amphibious tanks are even scarier.

Then there is this:

http://www.ultralightnews.com/sunfun2001/paraski.htm

[yipster]

hi katch22i, interesting vehicle but not what i meant
instead of plane, ski or waterjet its possible to drive over the water with caterpillars as a tank allready has
it does take a fast sprint into the water Modern paddlewheels
but than riding the water on belts -as on a snowscooter or tank- seem to perform rather well
and in times of war we should not think of (motor) failure or the configuration sure would sink

[safewalrus]

Transfer that beastie to the anti-pirate post! that'd stop a few!!!

[Man Overboard]

Hear hear!!

[marshmat]

Question: Does the 700 SRX snowmobile float when at rest? I understand, though, that Bombardier designs the engines of their snowmobiles to be able to survive sudden submersion in water at zero degrees C, while turning 8,000 rpm. Are snowmobilers really that nuts?
I'll stick with boats....

[Man Overboard]

Matt,
They have water skipping contests(Snowmobile) up there on Ontario don't they?
I have a friend that photographs the contest around here. I went with her to shoot a snowcross event. I can tell you that the waterskip contest are a lot safer than the snowcross contest. The snowmobiles actually ride fairly nice out on water. You do have to keep the speed up though, or they sink. You then have to pull the snowmobile and the driver out of the water. The snowmobile is usually ready to go after turning the motor over a few times. The driver, well sometimes it takes a while to warm up. I don't know who to give credit to for this photo, but anyway here is an example of a track on water, for those not familiar. This one is a little overpowered; you have to keep the snowmobile a little more level if you expect to round a buoy.

[Mychael]

I don't have any photos to show but I recall watching the British motoring show "Top Gear". They were somewhere (Finland, I think) were guys race across water in four wheel drive cars with really large tires and extreme paddle type tread pattern. Same principle you enter at some speed and hope the fire doesn't go out half way across.

Mychael

[StianM]

Originally Posted by Mychael

I don't have any photos to show but I recall watching the British motoring show "Top Gear". They were somewhere (Finland, I think) were guys race across water in four wheel drive cars with really large tires and extreme paddle type tread pattern. Same principle you enter at some speed and hope the fire doesn't go out half way across.

Mychael

It's big on iceland I think and is called formula offroad if I'm not mistaken