Mel Tisdale
I assume that the foam paddles can cope with having a short log or pointed stake trapped between them whwn the track leaves the drive wheel as part of its operation.
BigGoofyGuy
I think that is way cool. It would be neat to see a smaller version for civilian use.
Jay Finke
M I C..K E Y.. Mouse. .. This looks way too fragile, and susceptible to rip currents,winds or like Mel T mentioned debris in its path, land or water. Bet it looked good on paper though.
Tom Bimble
This thing looks like a grade school science project... Any 3rd world country would have taken it out before it got out...of the water! Looks like another U.S. bridge to nowhere.
the.other.will
There's no reason to think this vehicle will be any more vulnerable to debris, currents, or winds than existing vehicles of the same size. The piece implies the air-foam cells lower the ground pressure. That comes from the width of the tracks, not the cells. What would be the result of separating the propulsion on land from the propulsion on water from flotation? In other words, a very large amphibious tractor to transport other vehicles from ship to shore?
Stephen N Russell
resembles WW1 tank from side., Apps for Rescue, MedEvac, Tug, Tow, Dozer, Fire Support, CP
Snake Oil Baron
They probably will do a fair amount of testing under different conditions before ordering a hundred thousand of them.
Shane Berg
Frighteningly large. Seems to be a couple skeptics in here that think a small log is going to stop this from landing on a beach... im not sure you realize how big 42 ft (13 m) long, 26 ft (8 m) wide, and 17 ft (5 m) high is or that as the article stated, this is the HALF SIZE version. unless your mounting the beaches off the coast of BC i doubt your going to find a twig thats going to stop an 84ft long 52ft wide 34ft tall MONSTER.
I could see this machine backing into a beach or sitting out in the water with a tank/artillery pointed up the wrong way and just laying waste before landing. Im not sure a 3rd world country is going to deal with an modern tank sitting a couple KMs off their shore, likely with a miniature carrier/dessy sitting behind that.
Wizodd
Third-world countries can and do use first-world weapons.
I'd wonder about it's vulnerability to explosive projectiles rather than obstcles.
Jay Finke
@theotherwill " There's no reason to think this vehicle will be any more vulnerable to debris, currents, or winds than existing vehicles of the same size '' unless you account for drag and lack of propulsion, and just a splash of poor design. . so yes it's the same as any other ship on land.