±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: cgsimpson
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6645

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 789
Total: 789
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Home
03: Community Forums
04: Community Forums
05: Community Forums
06: Community Forums
07: Community Forums
08: Community Forums
09: Community Forums
10: Community Forums
11: Community Forums
12: Home
13: Community Forums
14: Your Account
15: Community Forums
16: Community Forums
17: Community Forums
18: Community Forums
19: Community Forums
20: Community Forums
21: Community Forums
22: Community Forums
23: Community Forums
24: Photo Gallery
25: Community Forums
26: Photo Gallery
27: Community Forums
28: Community Forums
29: Home
30: Photo Gallery
31: Community Forums
32: Photo Gallery
33: Community Forums
34: Community Forums
35: Community Forums
36: Community Forums
37: Community Forums
38: Community Forums
39: News
40: Community Forums
41: Community Forums
42: Community Forums
43: Community Forums
44: Photo Gallery
45: Community Forums
46: Community Forums
47: Home
48: News
49: Photo Gallery
50: Downloads
51: News Archive
52: Photo Gallery
53: Statistics
54: Community Forums
55: Community Forums
56: CPGlang
57: Home
58: Photo Gallery
59: Community Forums
60: Downloads
61: Community Forums
62: Community Forums
63: Community Forums
64: Downloads
65: Community Forums
66: Community Forums
67: Member Screenshots
68: Community Forums
69: Community Forums
70: Community Forums
71: Photo Gallery
72: Photo Gallery
73: Community Forums
74: Community Forums
75: Community Forums
76: Community Forums
77: Home
78: Home
79: Community Forums
80: Photo Gallery
81: Community Forums
82: Photo Gallery
83: Photo Gallery
84: Community Forums
85: Home
86: Community Forums
87: Community Forums
88: Downloads
89: Community Forums
90: Community Forums
91: Community Forums
92: Community Forums
93: Community Forums
94: Community Forums
95: Community Forums
96: Community Forums
97: Community Forums
98: Photo Gallery
99: Community Forums
100: CPGlang
101: Photo Gallery
102: Community Forums
103: Community Forums
104: Home
105: Community Forums
106: Community Forums
107: Photo Gallery
108: Statistics
109: Community Forums
110: Community Forums
111: Community Forums
112: Community Forums
113: Community Forums
114: Community Forums
115: Community Forums
116: Home
117: Photo Gallery
118: Community Forums
119: Downloads
120: Community Forums
121: Community Forums
122: Community Forums
123: Home
124: Your Account
125: Photo Gallery
126: Home
127: Community Forums
128: Community Forums
129: News
130: Community Forums
131: Community Forums
132: Photo Gallery
133: Community Forums
134: CPGlang
135: Statistics
136: Community Forums
137: Community Forums
138: Community Forums
139: Downloads
140: Community Forums
141: Home
142: Photo Gallery
143: Photo Gallery
144: Downloads
145: Photo Gallery
146: News Archive
147: Photo Gallery
148: News
149: Photo Gallery
150: Community Forums
151: Community Forums
152: Photo Gallery
153: Community Forums
154: Community Forums
155: Community Forums
156: Community Forums
157: Community Forums
158: Downloads
159: Photo Gallery
160: Community Forums
161: Community Forums
162: Your Account
163: Community Forums
164: Community Forums
165: Community Forums
166: Community Forums
167: Downloads
168: Community Forums
169: Community Forums
170: CPGlang
171: Photo Gallery
172: Community Forums
173: Community Forums
174: Community Forums
175: Photo Gallery
176: Photo Gallery
177: Community Forums
178: Photo Gallery
179: Community Forums
180: Community Forums
181: Photo Gallery
182: Community Forums
183: Community Forums
184: Community Forums
185: Home
186: Home
187: Community Forums
188: Community Forums
189: Community Forums
190: Community Forums
191: Community Forums
192: Home
193: Photo Gallery
194: Community Forums
195: Community Forums
196: Community Forums
197: Downloads
198: Community Forums
199: Community Forums
200: Community Forums
201: Photo Gallery
202: Downloads
203: Home
204: Community Forums
205: Community Forums
206: Photo Gallery
207: Home
208: Community Forums
209: CPGlang
210: Community Forums
211: Community Forums
212: Downloads
213: Community Forums
214: Community Forums
215: Home
216: Community Forums
217: Community Forums
218: News Archive
219: Community Forums
220: Downloads
221: Home
222: Home
223: Community Forums
224: Community Forums
225: Community Forums
226: News
227: Community Forums
228: Community Forums
229: Photo Gallery
230: Community Forums
231: Community Forums
232: Community Forums
233: Community Forums
234: News Archive
235: Community Forums
236: Community Forums
237: Community Forums
238: Community Forums
239: Community Forums
240: Community Forums
241: News
242: Community Forums
243: Community Forums
244: Photo Gallery
245: Home
246: Community Forums
247: Photo Gallery
248: Community Forums
249: Photo Gallery
250: Community Forums
251: Photo Gallery
252: Photo Gallery
253: CPGlang
254: Community Forums
255: Community Forums
256: Community Forums
257: Community Forums
258: CPGlang
259: Community Forums
260: Community Forums
261: Community Forums
262: Home
263: Photo Gallery
264: Community Forums
265: Member Screenshots
266: Community Forums
267: Community Forums
268: Community Forums
269: Community Forums
270: Community Forums
271: Downloads
272: CPGlang
273: Community Forums
274: Home
275: Home
276: Photo Gallery
277: Community Forums
278: Photo Gallery
279: Photo Gallery
280: Home
281: Community Forums
282: Community Forums
283: Member Screenshots
284: Community Forums
285: Community Forums
286: Community Forums
287: Community Forums
288: Home
289: Home
290: Home
291: Community Forums
292: Community Forums
293: Community Forums
294: Community Forums
295: Community Forums
296: Photo Gallery
297: Member Screenshots
298: Photo Gallery
299: Home
300: Community Forums
301: Downloads
302: Community Forums
303: Downloads
304: Community Forums
305: Photo Gallery
306: Downloads
307: Community Forums
308: Community Forums
309: Community Forums
310: Downloads
311: Community Forums
312: Photo Gallery
313: Photo Gallery
314: Community Forums
315: Photo Gallery
316: Community Forums
317: Statistics
318: Community Forums
319: Community Forums
320: Community Forums
321: Community Forums
322: Community Forums
323: Community Forums
324: Community Forums
325: Community Forums
326: Community Forums
327: Community Forums
328: Community Forums
329: Community Forums
330: Community Forums
331: Community Forums
332: Home
333: Community Forums
334: Statistics
335: Community Forums
336: Community Forums
337: Community Forums
338: Community Forums
339: Community Forums
340: Community Forums
341: Photo Gallery
342: Community Forums
343: Home
344: Home
345: Photo Gallery
346: Community Forums
347: Community Forums
348: Photo Gallery
349: CPGlang
350: Photo Gallery
351: Home
352: Community Forums
353: News Archive
354: Photo Gallery
355: Community Forums
356: Community Forums
357: Photo Gallery
358: Home
359: Home
360: Community Forums
361: Photo Gallery
362: Home
363: Community Forums
364: Community Forums
365: Downloads
366: Community Forums
367: Community Forums
368: Downloads
369: Community Forums
370: Home
371: Search
372: Community Forums
373: Community Forums
374: Community Forums
375: Photo Gallery
376: Community Forums
377: Community Forums
378: Community Forums
379: Photo Gallery
380: Community Forums
381: Community Forums
382: Community Forums
383: Downloads
384: Home
385: Community Forums
386: Community Forums
387: Community Forums
388: Community Forums
389: Home
390: Community Forums
391: Community Forums
392: Community Forums
393: Photo Gallery
394: Photo Gallery
395: Community Forums
396: Community Forums
397: Community Forums
398: Community Forums
399: Photo Gallery
400: Home
401: Home
402: Community Forums
403: Community Forums
404: Photo Gallery
405: Community Forums
406: Photo Gallery
407: Community Forums
408: Community Forums
409: Community Forums
410: Photo Gallery
411: Community Forums
412: Community Forums
413: Photo Gallery
414: Community Forums
415: Community Forums
416: Home
417: Photo Gallery
418: Community Forums
419: Community Forums
420: CPGlang
421: Community Forums
422: Home
423: News Archive
424: Community Forums
425: Community Forums
426: Community Forums
427: Community Forums
428: Photo Gallery
429: Community Forums
430: Photo Gallery
431: Community Forums
432: Community Forums
433: Photo Gallery
434: Your Account
435: Photo Gallery
436: Your Account
437: Home
438: Community Forums
439: Community Forums
440: Photo Gallery
441: Community Forums
442: Community Forums
443: Photo Gallery
444: Photo Gallery
445: Member Screenshots
446: Community Forums
447: Photo Gallery
448: Photo Gallery
449: Community Forums
450: Community Forums
451: Downloads
452: Community Forums
453: Community Forums
454: Community Forums
455: Home
456: Downloads
457: Photo Gallery
458: Community Forums
459: Community Forums
460: Downloads
461: Community Forums
462: Home
463: Community Forums
464: Photo Gallery
465: Photo Gallery
466: Community Forums
467: Community Forums
468: Community Forums
469: Community Forums
470: Community Forums
471: Community Forums
472: Community Forums
473: Photo Gallery
474: News Archive
475: Photo Gallery
476: Photo Gallery
477: Community Forums
478: Community Forums
479: Community Forums
480: Community Forums
481: Community Forums
482: Community Forums
483: Community Forums
484: Home
485: Community Forums
486: Community Forums
487: Community Forums
488: Photo Gallery
489: CPGlang
490: CPGlang
491: Community Forums
492: Community Forums
493: Community Forums
494: Photo Gallery
495: Community Forums
496: Community Forums
497: Community Forums
498: Community Forums
499: Your Account
500: Community Forums
501: Community Forums
502: Home
503: Member Screenshots
504: Community Forums
505: Photo Gallery
506: Community Forums
507: Community Forums
508: Community Forums
509: Community Forums
510: Community Forums
511: Community Forums
512: Community Forums
513: Community Forums
514: Photo Gallery
515: Community Forums
516: Community Forums
517: Community Forums
518: Community Forums
519: Community Forums
520: CPGlang
521: Community Forums
522: Community Forums
523: Photo Gallery
524: Photo Gallery
525: Community Forums
526: Photo Gallery
527: Home
528: Community Forums
529: Photo Gallery
530: Community Forums
531: Downloads
532: Home
533: Community Forums
534: Photo Gallery
535: Community Forums
536: Community Forums
537: Community Forums
538: Photo Gallery
539: CPGlang
540: Community Forums
541: Community Forums
542: Community Forums
543: Community Forums
544: Downloads
545: Community Forums
546: Community Forums
547: Community Forums
548: Community Forums
549: Community Forums
550: Photo Gallery
551: Community Forums
552: Community Forums
553: Photo Gallery
554: Community Forums
555: Community Forums
556: Community Forums
557: Community Forums
558: Downloads
559: Community Forums
560: Downloads
561: Community Forums
562: Community Forums
563: Your Account
564: Photo Gallery
565: Community Forums
566: Community Forums
567: Member Screenshots
568: Community Forums
569: Community Forums
570: Community Forums
571: Community Forums
572: Community Forums
573: Community Forums
574: Community Forums
575: Photo Gallery
576: Community Forums
577: Community Forums
578: Downloads
579: Community Forums
580: Community Forums
581: Community Forums
582: Community Forums
583: Photo Gallery
584: Community Forums
585: Community Forums
586: Home
587: Community Forums
588: Downloads
589: Home
590: Photo Gallery
591: Photo Gallery
592: Community Forums
593: Home
594: Community Forums
595: Photo Gallery
596: Community Forums
597: Home
598: Community Forums
599: Community Forums
600: Downloads
601: Photo Gallery
602: Community Forums
603: Community Forums
604: Photo Gallery
605: Community Forums
606: Community Forums
607: Photo Gallery
608: Community Forums
609: Community Forums
610: Home
611: Community Forums
612: CPGlang
613: Photo Gallery
614: Community Forums
615: Community Forums
616: Community Forums
617: Community Forums
618: News Archive
619: Community Forums
620: Community Forums
621: Photo Gallery
622: Community Forums
623: Photo Gallery
624: Community Forums
625: Community Forums
626: Photo Gallery
627: Community Forums
628: Photo Gallery
629: Home
630: Community Forums
631: Member Screenshots
632: Community Forums
633: Home
634: Community Forums
635: Community Forums
636: Community Forums
637: Home
638: Your Account
639: Community Forums
640: Community Forums
641: Community Forums
642: Photo Gallery
643: Community Forums
644: News
645: Community Forums
646: Community Forums
647: Home
648: Home
649: Community Forums
650: Community Forums
651: Community Forums
652: Photo Gallery
653: Community Forums
654: Community Forums
655: Downloads
656: Community Forums
657: Photo Gallery
658: Community Forums
659: Community Forums
660: Community Forums
661: Photo Gallery
662: Community Forums
663: Home
664: Community Forums
665: CPGlang
666: Community Forums
667: Photo Gallery
668: Community Forums
669: Community Forums
670: Photo Gallery
671: Community Forums
672: Home
673: Photo Gallery
674: Community Forums
675: Community Forums
676: Community Forums
677: Community Forums
678: Photo Gallery
679: Community Forums
680: Community Forums
681: Community Forums
682: Community Forums
683: Community Forums
684: Community Forums
685: Community Forums
686: Community Forums
687: Community Forums
688: Community Forums
689: Community Forums
690: Photo Gallery
691: Community Forums
692: Photo Gallery
693: Community Forums
694: Community Forums
695: Member Screenshots
696: Community Forums
697: Community Forums
698: Photo Gallery
699: Community Forums
700: Community Forums
701: Community Forums
702: Photo Gallery
703: Community Forums
704: Community Forums
705: Community Forums
706: Community Forums
707: Community Forums
708: Photo Gallery
709: Community Forums
710: Community Forums
711: Community Forums
712: Photo Gallery
713: Community Forums
714: Photo Gallery
715: Community Forums
716: Community Forums
717: Member Screenshots
718: Your Account
719: Photo Gallery
720: Community Forums
721: Community Forums
722: Photo Gallery
723: CPGlang
724: Community Forums
725: Community Forums
726: Community Forums
727: Community Forums
728: Home
729: Community Forums
730: Community Forums
731: Your Account
732: Photo Gallery
733: Community Forums
734: Community Forums
735: Community Forums
736: Community Forums
737: Photo Gallery
738: Community Forums
739: Home
740: Community Forums
741: Community Forums
742: Your Account
743: Community Forums
744: Community Forums
745: Home
746: Community Forums
747: Home
748: Community Forums
749: Home
750: Photo Gallery
751: Home
752: Community Forums
753: Community Forums
754: Photo Gallery
755: Community Forums
756: Community Forums
757: Community Forums
758: Community Forums
759: Community Forums
760: Photo Gallery
761: Photo Gallery
762: Community Forums
763: Community Forums
764: Home
765: Your Account
766: Photo Gallery
767: Home
768: Photo Gallery
769: Community Forums
770: Community Forums
771: Photo Gallery
772: Home
773: Photo Gallery
774: Community Forums
775: Community Forums
776: Photo Gallery
777: Community Forums
778: Community Forums
779: Photo Gallery
780: Community Forums
781: Community Forums
782: Community Forums
783: Community Forums
784: Community Forums
785: Photo Gallery
786: Community Forums
787: Community Forums
788: Photo Gallery
789: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
Anyone ever seen these Hovercraft in SEA?
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
SFC_Jeff_Button
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1311
Location: Ft Hood, TX
PostPosted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 9:39 pm
Post subject: Anyone ever seen these Hovercraft in SEA?

[img][/img][img][/img][img][/img][img][/img][img][/img]
The plaque says these were used in SEA. Albeit only three, but I was curious to see if anyone had first hand experiance or witnessed this item in action? I climbed under the rubber cushion to take the belly shots. I was surprised to see that only the edge cushion is what holds these up. I didn't exactly know what was underneath or how it worked, but I was rather surprised, I thought there would be additional "cushions in the middle some where.

_________________
SFC Jeff Button "High Angle Hell"
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Photo Gallery
Doug_Kibbey
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 10:20 pm
Post subject: Re: Anyone ever seen these Hovercraft in SEA?

Probably one of the three vehicles tested as part of the "39th Cavalry Platoon"..."so beset by maint. problems the test ended inconclusively."

D. Starry-"Armored Combat in Vietnam"

I did not witness any of their action...before my time.
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
SFC_Jeff_Button
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1311
Location: Ft Hood, TX
PostPosted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 10:31 pm
Post subject: Re: Anyone ever seen these Hovercraft in SEA?

Thats a quote by D.Starry? Would you know the area of operations that the 39th was in?

_________________
SFC Jeff Button "High Angle Hell"
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Photo Gallery
Jens_O_Mehner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 511
Location: Giessen, Germany
PostPosted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 11:09 pm
Post subject: Re: Anyone ever seen these Hovercraft in SEA?

Hmm,

isn't that also known as the PACV in Navy service? Google PACV and you should come up with further info, there's also a chapter in one of the Squadron Viet Nam volumes, possibly "Riverine", but I'm not sure.

I'll upload some photos of USN PACVs in Viet Nam tomorrow.

Cheers,

Jens O.
Back to top
View user's profile
Doug_Kibbey
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 12:46 am
Post subject: Re: Anyone ever seen these Hovercraft in SEA?

- SFC_Jeff_Button
Thats a quote by D.Starry? Would you know the area of operations that the 39th was in?


Yep, Starry (footnote on page 142). They operated, briefly, in the Delta (MR IV)....as you would expect. I've seen some film of these operations on occasion...comes around on TV now and again.
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Jens_O_Mehner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 511
Location: Giessen, Germany
PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:43 am
Post subject: Re: Anyone ever seen these Hovercraft in SEA?

OK,

here are some photos of the USN PACVs in use in Viet Nam, some details are different from the SK-5.






The images are either from NARA or Corbis, CRAFT syndrom kicking in again, I'm afraid. Crying or Very sad

Cheers,

Jens O.
Back to top
View user's profile
Maple_Leaf_Eh
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 517

PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 6:40 pm
Post subject: Re: Anyone ever seen these Hovercraft in SEA?

- Jens_O_Mehner
OK,

.... CRAFT syndrome kicking in again, I'm afraid.

Cheers,

Jens O.


CRAFT syndrome? Is that from sniffing too much styrene plastic model glue?
Back to top
View user's profile
sapper141
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 09, 2006
Posts: 46

PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 11:43 pm
Post subject: Re: Anyone ever seen these Hovercraft in SEA?

Hi Guys
I guess I should stop lurking and participate. Jeff the vehicle you are showing here is I do believe the army version of the Navy's PACV known as the AACV (Army Air Cushion Vehicle). I'd love to see more pics of this thing as there wasn't alot of them even used in Veitnam. It was sort of experimental like the PACV.
Just my 2 Canuck cents
Back to top
View user's profile
Roy_A_Lingle
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1997
Location: El Paso & Ft Bliss, Texas
PostPosted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:19 am
Post subject: Re: Anyone ever seen these Hovercraft in SEA?

Hi Folks!

There was an article in Armor Magazine that listed a lot of details about the Army test. The unit had a lot of problems with NO spare parts and mine damage. I will try to remember to check my files and see if I can find that article.

Sgt, Scouts Out! Smile

_________________
"You can never have too much reconnaissance."
General G.S. Patton Jr.
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Neil_Baumgardner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3942
Location: Arlington, VA
PostPosted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:36 am
Post subject: Re: Anyone ever seen these Hovercraft in SEA?

Do you remember the month/year? It may be online.

Neil
Back to top
View user's profile
Doug_Kibbey
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 12:38 pm
Post subject: Re: Anyone ever seen these Hovercraft in SEA?

Here is a webpage on the 39th Cavalry Platoon-Air Cushion, with pics.

I believe the name was a contrived, unofficial nickname because they were attached to the 3rd Bde., 9th Infantry Division...hence, the 39 Cavalry, which, while unofficial, is how history records them.

Click Here:
www.gingerb.com/vietna...am_acv.htm

"ACV #901 was taken out-of-service when an ARVN soldier tragically went through the lift fan with his equipment"

....Eeeeewwwwww! Shocked

(this vehicle is pictured, after, in view #2 at the website)

Relation to PACV(Navy):
" The Army ACVs differed from the three US Navy PACVs in that they were an improved design better suited to support infantry operations. The ACVs were designed with flat decks to carry 12 troops, more powerful engines, and twin machinegun turrets in a wider cabin. Both the US Navy's PACVs and the Army's ACVs had been civilian craft manufactured by the British Hovercraft Company in England and refitted for military use in the USA by Bell Aerosystems. Although the Army test concluded that the ACVs were successful in their combat roles, their initial purchase price of $1,000,000 and subsequent high maintenance costs did not warrant further expansion of the fleet."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
C_Sherman
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 590

PostPosted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:39 pm
Post subject: Re: Anyone ever seen these Hovercraft in SEA?

- Maple_Leaf_Eh
- Jens_O_Mehner
OK,

.... CRAFT syndrome kicking in again, I'm afraid.

Cheers,

Jens O.


CRAFT syndrome? Is that from sniffing too much styrene plastic model glue?


C = Can't
R = Remember
A = A
F = $^%&**#
T = Thing

It's a memory disorder. Normally age-related, but sometimes caused by stress, fatigue and lack of sleep, or simple too-damn-many-irons-in-the-fire. Often found in military folks, or those with past military experience or affiliation. A related and more common syndrome is known as CRS.

C = Can't
R = Remember
S = $%&*

HTH!
C

_________________
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it
will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
-Herm Albright

Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc!
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Jens_O_Mehner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 511
Location: Giessen, Germany
PostPosted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 10:14 pm
Post subject: Re: Anyone ever seen these Hovercraft in SEA?

Well Chuck,

you nailed it down Wink I claim all of the above reasons (OK, I'll tread lightly on the age thing) plus glue fumes plus all the engine oil and hydraulic fluid fumes I was exposed to when working in AOAP...

Cheers,

Jens O.
(often too busy right-clicking and saving to note the source)
Back to top
View user's profile
Roy_A_Lingle
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1997
Location: El Paso & Ft Bliss, Texas
PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 2:28 am
Post subject: Re: Anyone ever seen these Hovercraft in SEA?

Hi Folks!

Follow up spot report.

The article I was thinking about is titled "Cavaltry Afloat: The 39th Cavalry Platoon in the Mekong Delta" by Captain Kevin Keaveney, Armor Magazine July-August 1993.

Until I had read that article, I never knew the Army had tried air cushion combat vehicles.

Some notes from the article.

Late 1960s, three Army SK-5 Air Cushion Vehicles (ACV) were evaluated as weapon platforms in the Mekong Delta of South Vietnam.

Navy test ran from 1966 to 1969 under Patrol Air Cushion Vehicle (PACV) Division 107, later Coastal "Division 17 with three SK-5s.

Major Donald G. Moore first platoon commander
Staff Sergeant Ronald Crosby was first platoon sergeant

Vehicles manned by 11D cavalry scouts for Ft. Knox
(My note: today 11Ds are called 19Ds.)

unit formed in January 1968 at Aberdeen Proving Ground

1st Army SK-5 rolled off the production line in February 1968
Two versions, a weapons-heavy version known as Assault Air Cushion Vehicle (AACV) (two build) and a logistical verion, the Transport Air Cushion Vehicle (TACV) (one build).

Differed from the earlier Navy SK-5s
Passenger windows replace with an armored crew compartment.
Non-load bearing decks replaced with weight-bearing decks.
Carried 1,000 pounds of armor which some crews removed later to save weigth.

Each ACV could carry 13 infantry soldiers at a time.
Weight 8.5 tons, could be airlifted by CH-53 which was used to recover damaged ACVs a number of times, like after the soldier fell into the lift fans.

Armament, originally two M2 HB .50 cal.s on the ACVs. The TACV had a third M2. Two side door M-60 machine guns. On the front left deck was a M5 40-mm grenade launcher.

August 1970, ACVs replaced one M2 HB with a GAU-2 minigun.
The TACV front door M2 was replace with twin M-60 mount.

First mission, after Tet, was on June 7, 1968. Ceased combat operations on August 31, 1970.

As reported in another post, the platoon was part of the 3rd Brigade of the 9th ID. When the 9th ID left Vietnam, the 3rd BCT along with the 39th Cavalry Platoon was placed under the operational control of the 25th ID.

One ACV lost to mine, or possible a dud 500 pound bomb, on January 9, 1970. Of 17 personnel on board, 14 were hurt and all but one guickly returned to duty.
August 3, 1970 second ACV destroyed by, possible a command detonated, mine. Major Barry F. Garham, SP5s Kent C. Wolf and Larry Joe Meador KIA, others seriously wounded, to include SP4s Jack Kavanagh and Tommy Macauley.
Third Vehicle returned to the states, that should be the one Jeff has photos of.


Mission ready rate of 55.7 percent. Not Operationally Ready for Supply rate of 21.5 percent. manintenace rate of 1.14 hours for every hour of operation.

Larger unit plans,
USARV requested 12 ACVs for a MTOE Cavalry troop of 124 troops and ten SK-5s and two SK-6s. Nothing came of this request.

Epilogue
There is little documentation on the 39th in Army or Bell arachives. Only about 100 people actually served in the unit, and the overall impact of the three ACVs on the Army was slight. Locating former unit members was nearly impossible. Jack Kavanagh, the only one to be found, graciously provide this time and memorabilia to help record the unit's history.

Footnotes

During its existence there were several titles for the Army ACV unit: Air Cushion Vehicle Test Unit, 9th ID, Armor Paltoon Air Cushioned (Provisional), and Air Cushion Vehicle Unit.

Armor on the ACV roughly equal to the protection of a M113.

Spot report!
Sgt, Scouts Out! Smile

_________________
"You can never have too much reconnaissance."
General G.S. Patton Jr.
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Roy_A_Lingle
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1997
Location: El Paso & Ft Bliss, Texas
PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:43 am
Post subject: Re: Anyone ever seen these Hovercraft in SEA?

Hi Neil! Hi Folks!

- Neil_Baumgardner
Do you remember the month/year? It may be online.

Neil


Sorry, the on line copies only go back to the last two issues of 1994. The article I have a copy of was in the July-August issue of 1993. It sure would be nice if the staff at the magazine could find the time to upload ever issue of the magazine. I guess between limited or no funds and limited staff, we are lucky to have the few issues that are there now.

Sgt, Scouts Out! Smile

_________________
"You can never have too much reconnaissance."
General G.S. Patton Jr.
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 2
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2  Next



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum