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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 1113.PDF
Air-Cushion Vehicles FLIGHT International supplement, 28 March 1963 ACVs FOR THE ARMY PART FOUR: LIKELY CHARACTERISTICS TABULATED By Major A. J. D. Hughes, RE IT will be recalled that in part three of this series Maj Hughes concluded by saying "Some possible 'guidelines' to likely military requirements for these three ACVs having been discussed, and broad technical features out lined, it may be beneficial to suggest the actual military characteristics required for each craft. These would normally be decided by the War Office after consideration had been given to what is technically possible and tactically desirable." He now brings the series to a close by setting out these characteristics in detail in the table below. ROLE LOAD MOBILITY MANOEUVRABILITY Logistic Supply ACV To provide rapid transport of supplies and light vehicles to battle groups from the support area when conventional routes are denied. Priorities: Load Cross-country mobility (including rivers) Speed Range Reliability Supplies for a battle group, including ammunition, petrol, oil and lubricants,and rations. Essential: Re-supply of light combat vehicle capability (^--ton vehicles and trailers) Desirable: Re-supply of light armoured personnel carriers. of the following Overland Obstacles: Clearance heights:— DesiraMe: 8ft Highly desirable: 6ft Essential: 4ft. The craft is not required to negotiate mountains, forests or built-up areas. Gradients: The craft should be capable of negotiating gradients as follows:— Desirable: I in 3. Highly desirable: I in 5. Essential: I in 8. A reduction in speed is acceptable for tackling gradients. Overwater The craft must be capable of crossing rivers and lakes and should have sufficient clearance to climb a roughly dozed ramp out of the water. Buoyancy: The craft must be able to float. Turning (overland) Insufficient knowledge of overland man oeuvrability is available to decide radii of turns. The minumim possible radii should be designed for—possibly of the order of lOOydat I5kt overland. Hovering turns are required for close manceuvring. of turn at 60kt, 500yd: Turning (oversea) Desirable: radius at 20kt. 150yd. Cross-s/opes The craft should be capable of maintaining its course across transverse slopes of the order of I in 8. Braking The best possible braking performance overland is needed, employing the skids or skis—possibly of the order of 50yd from 30kt. Assault Craft ACV To provide rapid transport to assaulting units from ship to shore and to re-supply those units to a limited extent inland. Priorities: Load Sea capability Speed Range Cross-country mobility Reliability Essential: 25 fully equipped men plus one s-ton truck, one £-ton trailer (both loaded) and one ton of support weapons and ammunition. Desirable: As above, but with the capa bility of carrying a light armoured personnel carrier. Oversea The craft should be able to negotiate seas up to the following states:— Essential: Beaufort scale 4 (ll-I6kt) and wave heights up to 5ft. Surf up to 7ft. Desirable: Beaufort scale 5 (17-21 kt) and wave heights up to 8?ft with surf up to I2ft. Buoyancy: The craft must be able to operate as a displacement vessel. Overwater inland As for the Logistic Supply ACV. Overland Obstacles: Clearance of following heights: Desirable: 7ft. Highly desirable: 6ft. Essential: 4ft. The craft is not required to negotiate mountains, forests or built-up areas. Gradients: The following capability is required:— Desirable: i in 5. Essential: I in 9. A reduction in speed is acceptable Turning (oversea) Provided the craft is easily manoeuvred from ship to shore at high speed and has a turning capability to avoid other craft, no firm turning radii are specified. Turning overland) As for the Logistic Supply craft. Cross-slopes The craft should be capable of maintaining its course across transverse slopes of the order of I in 9. Braking This ts not 3o critical as for the Logistic Supply vehicle as the overland movement is of secondary importance, but sufficient power must be made available for control and braking. Tank-carrier ACV To provide rapid carriage of main battle tanks to and between battle areas from a main base. Priorities: Load Ocean-going capability Cross-country mobility Range Speed Reliability Each load tactical, i.e., a troop of three tanks minimum over the maximum required range. Large numbers of wheeled vehicles as an alternative load carried two abreast, e.g., 20 or more armoured personnel carriers. Ocean-going The craft should be capable of negotiating seas as follows:— Desirable: Beaufort scale 7 (28-33kt) and wave heights up to 16ft. Essential: Beaufort scale 6 (2l-27kt) and wave heights up to 12ft. Buoyancy: The craft must be able to float in worse sea states, preferably up to force 12, and to operate as a displacement vessel. Overland Obstacles: The following clearances are needed for this very large craft: Desirable: I Oft. Highly desirable: 8ft. Essential: 6ft. This will allow passage over most man-made obstacles and minor clefts, river banks, etc. The craft is not required to negotiate mountains, forests or built-up areas. Gradients: The following capability is required:— Desirable: I in 7. Essential: I in 10. A reduction in speed is acceptable. Turning The route chosen for the craft should not be unduly limited by its turning capability at speed. A reduction in speed to aid steering is acceptable provided the average speed for the journey is not affected. Hovering turns are desirable for close manoeuvring. Cross-slopes The craft should be capable of maintaining its course across transverse gradients of the order of 1 in 10. Braking Sufficient propulsion power must be available for braking, but these craft will only normally use pre-recced routes and unplanned sudden stops will not be normally required.
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