Author Topic: AMTRACs, AMTANKs, Aligators, Buffalos, DUKWs, GPAs, Terrapins, & Tuna Boats (Read 27710 times)

Jeffry Fontaine · « **on:** January 27, 2012, 04:42:02 AM »

Subjects for discussion to include wheeled and tracked amphibian vehicles such as the LVT, LVTA, LVTP5, LVTP-7 (AAAV-7), and the recently cancelled EFV (aka AAVX).

While the real AMTRAC and AMTANK vehicles were rather short-lived due to their light construction, they did serve their purpose in getting the troops ashore and providing immediately available fire support until tanks could be landed.

LVT-4 showing a Jeep on the access ramp.

(image source: Olive-Drab.com via Wikipedia)

Some links:

Wikipedia - Landing Vehicle Tracked
Popular Mechanics, June 1944 - "Water Buffalo Can Fight On Land Or Sea"
Olive-Drab.com page on Amphibious Vehicles (Wheeled and Tracked)
AMTRAC.org - Assault Amphibian Vehicles of the USMC
Globalsecurity.org - Origins of the AMTRAC
Popular Science, October, 1941 - New Tools for Army Power
Google Search Results for "LVT AMTRAC"
Google Image Search Results for "LVT AMTRAC"

jcf · « **Reply #1 on:** January 27, 2012, 05:00:10 AM »

The French made extensive use of LVTs in Indochina, including versions mounting the 40mm Bofors:

http://www.airlandseaweapons.com/blog/708868-lvt-4/

Jeffry Fontaine · « **Reply #2 on:** January 27, 2012, 05:13:37 AM »

Jon,

Thanks for sharing that image. This is the first image time I have seen of that version which provided sufficient detail of the turret to actually see the thing. The addition of the two M2 Browning .50s mounted with the Bofors is a very interesting arrangement for the AMTRAC.

LemonJello · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2012, 08:11:28 AM »

Ah, the old motion-sickness inducing tuna boat...man does that beast need to be replaced. Tall and slow, two great qualities in a target. Whatever is next needs to carry a little more punch than a 40mm Mk-19 and a M2 HMG.

jcf · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2012, 04:30:42 AM »

Otay, for the non-jargon speaking folks, WTH is a 'tuna boat'?

Anyhow, the experimental hydrofoil equipped LVHX2 from the '60s.
- Jane's Surface Skimmers 1967-68

BTW I think this thread should be expanded to include the DUKW and SEEP.

Jeffry Fontaine · « **Reply #5 on:** January 28, 2012, 05:07:23 AM »

Quote from: jcf on January 28, 2012, 04:30:42 AM

BTW I think this thread should be expanded to include the DUKW and SEEP.

Suggestion accepted. Topic title changed to reflect wheeled and tracked amphibian vehicles.

jcf · « **Reply #6 on:** January 28, 2012, 05:23:31 AM »

Quote from: Jeffry Fontaine on January 28, 2012, 05:07:23 AM

Quote from: jcf on January 28, 2012, 04:30:42 AM
BTW I think this thread should be expanded to include the DUKW and SEEP.

Suggestion accepted. Topic title changed to reflect wheeled and tracked amphibian vehicles.

Thangs man, but ya still din't answer ma question: WTH is a 'tuna boat'?

LemonJello · « **Reply #7 on:** January 28, 2012, 06:17:59 AM »

Quote from: jcf on January 28, 2012, 05:23:31 AM

Thangs man, but ya still din't answer ma question: WTH is a 'tuna boat'?

The tuna boat is the LVTP-7 or AAV used predominantly by the US Marines. Don't be bringing any apricots on board, either...

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #8 on:** January 28, 2012, 06:19:01 AM »

I'll leave now.

Jeffry Fontaine · « **Reply #9 on:** January 28, 2012, 06:19:51 AM »

Quote from: jcf on January 28, 2012, 05:23:31 AM

Thangs man, but ya still din't answer ma question: WTH is a 'tuna boat'?

According to one of our members that is currently on active duty and wearing a the uniform of a United State Marine (yes, LemonJello, I am talking about you) the term "Tuna Boat" comes from the very ungainly and high profile of the LVTP-7/AAAV-7 when seen out of the water. I would have to agree that when viewed on the beach or in the motor park the vehicle does take on a profile that reminds you of a fishing boat in some ways.

Quote from: LemonJello on January 28, 2012, 06:17:59 AM

Don't be bringing any apricots on board, either...

Interesting history on Apricots and AMTRACs from the AMTRAC Library at AMTRAC.org:

Quote

From Tarawa to Saudi Arabia, Apricots and AmTracs just don't mix.

Apricots and AmTracs:
Apricots and Amtracs at Tarawa - CWO James C. Walker, USMC (Ret.)
Taste for Apricots Canned at Cua Viet - SSgt. Bob Donner (Stars and Stripes Newspaper)
Apricots on Amtracs...a bad thing! - LtCol. David L. Coggins, USMC
"No More Damn Apricots!" - Major Preston McLaughlin, USMC
Apricots, AAVs no happy pair - Cpl. Derek A. Shoemake (Submitted by: 26th MEU)

jcf · « **Reply #10 on:** January 28, 2012, 07:39:59 AM »

Thanks, oh citrony jiggly one.

ChernayaAkula · « **Reply #11 on:** January 28, 2012, 01:44:18 PM »

Kinda belongs here, since it looks like an LVTP-7 that just hatched.

An ARISGATOR, an Italian adaption of an M113 with enhanced amphibious capabilities.

SOURCE

Proud Mommy (or Daddy?) in the background, watching over the littl'un.

Weaver · « **Reply #12 on:** January 28, 2012, 06:37:02 PM »

Wasn't there a Brazillian attempt to do something similar, i.e. make an Amtrak out of an M113?

LemonJello · « **Reply #13 on:** January 28, 2012, 10:30:09 PM »

Hey, that "baby amtrac" from an M113 is pretty cool! The added nose would be tough to fabricate, but it's doable as a conversion, I'd think.

raafif · « **Reply #14 on:** February 15, 2012, 09:51:14 AM »

Quote from: Weaver on January 28, 2012, 06:37:02 PM

Wasn't there a Brazillian attempt to do something similar, i.e. make an Amtrak out of an M113?

yep, it was side-lined but they did field some M-548s with water-jets & props for civil use instead. I'll try & find a photo.

Chinese Amtrak ....

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #15 on:** February 15, 2012, 05:15:37 PM »

The outboard takes the cake!

Jeffry Fontaine · « **Reply #16 on:** February 16, 2012, 01:45:28 AM »

Quote from: GTX_Admin on February 15, 2012, 05:15:37 PM

The outboard takes the cake!

Needs three or four more to really get it moving. Maybe fast enough to pull a squad on water skis?

Jeffry Fontaine · « **Reply #17 on:** April 25, 2012, 02:08:13 PM »

Mount the turret from the Saladin or the M113 FSV on the LVT(A)-1 or LVT(A)-4 to create a slightly different fire support vehicle.

Weaver · « **Reply #18 on:** April 25, 2012, 07:30:50 PM »

Quote from: Jeffry Fontaine on April 25, 2012, 02:08:13 PM

Mount the turret from the Saladin or the M113 FSV on the LVT(A)-1 or LVT(A)-4 to create a slightly different fire support vehicle.

Good idea. You could also use the aluminium turret from the Scorpion/Scimitar: the lower weight would probably be an advantage. or another idea: how about a "super" USMC version with a Chaffee turret?

Jeffry Fontaine · « **Reply #19 on:** April 25, 2012, 11:25:04 PM »

Quote from: Weaver on April 25, 2012, 07:30:50 PM

Good idea. You could also use the aluminium turret from the Scorpion/Scimitar: the lower weight would probably be an advantage. or another idea: how about a "super" USMC version with a Chaffee turret?

I had that in mind too but did not want to overwhelm everyone with too much in one installment plus I had already hit the submit button by the time I had that inspirational moment.

Feldmarschall Zod · « **Reply #20 on:** May 05, 2012, 06:26:45 AM »

Maybe a British/Commonwealth version with a Cromwell 75mm turret,or 95mm howitzer turret from the Centaur?

Jeffry Fontaine · « **Reply #21 on:** May 20, 2012, 11:47:34 PM »

Some images from Henry Kubinsky showing various amphibious vehicles operated by 18 Company Royal Army Service Corps (AMPHIBIOUS), 18 (AMPH) Squadron Royal Corps Of Transport that some of you will find interesting.

Click on image or html above to view the images:

(Image source: 18 COY RASC & 18 SQN RCT)

Yes, that is an LVTP-5 in British Army service that the gentleman is standing on.

Another web page for 18 Company Royal Army Service Corps (AMPHIBIOUS)

upnorth · « **Reply #22 on:** May 21, 2012, 01:34:22 AM »

Something in the same vein, but from a bit further east:

A former Czech army GSP-55:

Rickshaw · « **Reply #23 on:** May 21, 2012, 10:46:59 PM »

Quote from: Gottfried von Springbrunnen on May 20, 2012, 11:47:34 PM

Some images from Henry Kubinsky showing various amphibious vehicles operated by 18 Company Royal Army Service Corps (AMPHIBIOUS), 18 (AMPH) Squadron Royal Corps Of Transport that some of you will find interesting.

Click on image or html above to view the images:

(Image source: 18 COY RASC & 18 SQN RCT)

Yes, that is an LVTP-5 in British Army service that the gentleman is standing on.

Another web page for 18 Company Royal Army Service Corps (AMPHIBIOUS)

Very interesting indeed and something which would confound some JMNs.

Weaver · « **Reply #24 on:** May 22, 2012, 12:31:49 AM »

Of course, if you want ot know about amphibious vehicles, you should be visiting Hans Rosloot's awesome site:

http://www.amphibiousvehicle.net/frame.html

AGRA · « **Reply #25 on:** May 22, 2012, 08:04:53 AM »

The Brit LVTP5 looks like its painted haze grey which often comes out as white in B&W photos. Grey, Amtrac, Brit Army? Just add jungle river and a roof load of Highlanders and Iban Border Scouts for a Borneo Confrontation scene Whif!

Cliffy B · « **Reply #26 on:** May 27, 2013, 10:27:09 AM »

Attention LVT fans!!! Squadron has 3 sets of reference manuals for the LVTs currently on sale. They're are also having a Memorial Day sale until noon Monday (5/27) which nets you another %20 off.

LVT Line Drawings: LVTA1, LVT2, LVTA2, LVTA4 (SC) - Letterman Publications
https://www.squadron.com/product-p/lpp012.htm

Model Tech Manual LVT2 and LVT(A)2 (SC) - Letterman Publications
https://www.squadron.com/product-p/lpp010.htm

Model Tech Manual LVT(A)1, LVT(A)4 and LVT(A)5 (SC) - Letterman Publications
https://www.squadron.com/product-p/lpp011.htm

If you ordered them all you'd pay a whopping $3.15!!! That's a far cry from their retail net of $17.

Logan Hartke · « **Reply #27 on:** May 27, 2013, 10:56:04 AM »

I have the line drawing set. They're quite nice and very large! :)

Cheers,

Logan

M.A.D · « **Reply #28 on:** June 02, 2013, 06:46:55 PM »

Quote from: upnorth on May 21, 2012, 01:34:22 AM

Something in the same vein, but from a bit further east:

A former Czech army GSP-55:

What a simple, but practical piece of kit the Ob'yekt 55 (GSP-55) was/is!!

M.A.D

father ennis · « **Reply #29 on:** June 04, 2013, 06:00:13 AM »

FYI, I have all those books and drawings and they are great. I can highly recommend them. They are a good read,too and have lots of pictures ,both inside and out.

jcf · « **Reply #30 on:** November 13, 2013, 03:11:25 PM »

ACV Tuna-boat, and one of the projects to replace said beast.

Both images from late mid-late '70s.

Rickshaw · « **Reply #31 on:** November 13, 2013, 03:54:53 PM »

"Tuna boat"?

I'd love to see a diagram of how the skirt was going to be stowed away or they just going to discard it after coming ashore?

jcf · « **Reply #32 on:** November 14, 2013, 01:43:28 AM »

Quote from: Rickshaw on November 13, 2013, 03:54:53 PM

"Tuna boat"?

I'd love to see a diagram of how the skirt was going to be stowed away or they just going to discard it after coming ashore?

Nickname is explained further back in the thread.

The inflatable tube skirt was to deflate and be covered by hinged panels, from what I can
ascertain it had more in common with the inflatable skirts of the Bell ACLS, than a standard
ACV skirt.

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #33 on:** November 14, 2013, 02:11:12 AM »

Hmmm...might be interesting to have an attempt at building the ACV variant shown.

Volkodav · « **Reply #34 on:** April 02, 2014, 01:17:48 PM »

AAAV-7 with that 60mm HV gun :)

Another thought, a HIMARS rockets setup, drops the rear ramp for the rocket exhaust.

NEMO or AMOS mortar turrets.

Avenger Stinger turret

Spike NLOS fitted in troop area.

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #35 on:** January 07, 2016, 02:58:22 AM »

Found online - no details:

Jeffry Fontaine · « **Reply #36 on:** January 07, 2016, 09:27:49 AM »

Dedicated Indirect fire support Tuna Boat armed with a mortar in the troop compartment. 4.2"/107mm or 120mm mortar. Signature base plate and ground mount hardware strapped to the side of the vehicle. Mortar mounted on a rotating platform in the troop compartment to fire through the access hatches on top.

***edit to add "Indirect" to my suggestion to avoid confusion with input provided by GTX.

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #37 on:** January 08, 2016, 03:00:37 AM »

More details plus colour photo of that shown above:

The LVTEX-3 mated an expiremental Navy 105mm low-recoil gun in a surplus Army M551 Sheridan tank turret. It was an attempt to explore fire support versions of the LVT-7

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #38 on:** January 11, 2017, 03:09:48 AM »

Upgraded:

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #39 on:** August 14, 2019, 02:47:47 AM »

AAVP7A1 CATFAE ( Catapult-Arunched Fuel-Air Explosive ) amphibious mine clearance vehicle:

Jeffry Fontaine · « **Reply #40 on:** May 22, 2021, 04:40:15 AM »

Replace the turret on the LVT(A)-4 or LVT(A)-5 with the turret from the Alvis Salidin Armoured Car. Something that might be an economical alternative to buying a whole new fleet of amphibious vehicles for a country that is looking for an affordable upgrade to their AMTRAC fleet.

Story · « **Reply #41 on:** December 16, 2021, 07:46:09 AM »

The demilitarized hulls with running gear and drive trains go on auction to the public. What do you make?

The Marine Corps will keep its fleet of decades-old Amphibious Assault Vehicles out of the water except in emergencies, the service announced on Wednesday.

The water ban on the AAVs makes permanent restrictions the Marines placed on the 1970s-era vintage amphibious armored personnel carriers following the AAV incident in 2020 that killed eight Marines and a sailor in a training incident off the coast of California and led to several subsequent investigations.
https://news.usni.org/2021/12/15/breaking-marines-keeping-aavs-out-of-the-water-permanently

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGLDk7VGMds


Swords to Plowshares GB Now Open!!

News:

Author Topic: AMTRACs, AMTANKs, Aligators, Buffalos, DUKWs, GPAs, Terrapins, & Tuna Boats (Read 27710 times)