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Aviation History
1967
1967 - 1448.PDF
FLIGHT International supplement, 24 August 1967 Air-Cushion Vehicle HOVERCRAFT IN LAND WAR Part two of a discussion by COLONEL G. P. M. C. WHEELER Royal Scots Greys The first part of this two-part article, by a member of the British Defence Staff in Washington who discusses the Army's uses for ACVs, was in our July issue. OPERATIONAL USES Reconnaissance In this role it must always work in close co-opera- tion with helicopters; a helicopter/ hovercraft squadron making a well- balanced, effective reconnaissance force, as the USN proved in the Plain of Reeds operation described in this journal's January 1967 issue. (For a suggested establishment see below.) The recce hovercraft will need to be small, with a wheeled/tracked chassis and retractable sides, have an endurance of at least one battlefield day, carry a crew of three or four, be armoured, and be equipped with a quick-firing cannon and machine guns, passive night vision device and radio. (Experts versed in the current state of the art say this can never happen; this does not mean to say it will not, nor that it should not be the aim.) It must be airportable by strategic aircraft and medium heli- copters; be transportable in consider- able numbers in an Intrepid-type assault ship and able to operate under its own power from the ship's dock. It need not have chemical, biological or radiation protection, stabilisation, complex built-in guided weapon sys- tems, far infra-red detectors or any other bulky, weighty, currently fashionable, sophisticated hindrance. Weapon and Troop Deployment Vehicle A larger version of the same type of hovercraft should be designed to perform either of these roles, since both imply the provision of a mobile platform, possibly even armour protected, from which in- fantry or their supporting weapons can engage the enemy or from which they can be dismounted to engage. The infantry would operate in their own hovercraft as they would, in developed areas, operate in their own armoured personnel carriers. Present designs permit the carriage of artil- lery. Future designs should permit artillery to engage from the hover- craft, at least when settled. It might be possible to provide a platform on the troop carrier to per- mit a helicopter to "poise" on it whilst troops transferred from the hovercraft to the helicopter or vice versa. It should be possible for equipment —anti-tank weapons, howitzers, mor- tars—to be loaded into or lifted out of the hovercraft by helicopter, for redeployment, or to assist recovery when the hovercraft is confronted by insurmountable obstacles or is a casualty. Provision might also be made to permit the hovercraft to refuel and rearm quickly from a logistic heli- copter poised on the hovercraft platform; and vice versa, to permit an operational helicopter to refuel and rearm from a logistic hovercraft. Command Vehicle A similar type of craft could be equipped as a com- mand vehicle; in which case its super- structure should be designed to form a landing pad for a light observation helicopter into which a commander could transfer when he required, or from which officers attending discus- sions in the command vehicle could descend. Logistic Vehicle For economy's sake, a larger size of hovercraft than that used in the troop and weapon deployment and command vehicle role should probably be used in the logistic role. It should consist simply of a com- partment with the facility of loading from the front, the sides, or vertically from above. The floor should be equipped with weight spreaders to enable high-density loads, such as armoured vehicles, to be carried. Bulk fuels could be carried in collapsible plastic tanks from which several hovercraft (or other vehicles) could be quickly refuelled by multiple-out- put high-pressure pumps. Helicopters could either be refuelled on the In this "suggested make-up for a hovercraft-equipped armoured reconnaissance squadron, |the [abbreviations CVR (W) or (T) stand for combat vehicle, reconnaissance (wheeled) or (tracked) Armoured Reconnaissance Squadron HO Land-Rover Light helicopter Recce hovercraft CVR (W) or (T) Hovercraft Troops ' eac h ' Section 2 reccehovercraft Section 2 recce hovercraft Helicopter Troop I 4 medium armed helicopters CVR (W) or (T) Troops each 3 CVR (W) or (T) (fire support)* 1 CVR (W) or (T) (personnel)f *Fire support vehicles will be equipped with 7Jmm guns or some form af automatic cannon ^Personnel vehicle will carry 6-8 assault troops Admin Troopi 3 Stalwarts 2 hovercraft (load carrying) 1 hovercraft(recovery) 1 light armoured recovery vehicle 27
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