±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: 802
Total: 802
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Home
02: Downloads
03: Community Forums
04: Home
05: Community Forums
06: Home
07: Photo Gallery
08: Community Forums
09: Community Forums
10: Community Forums
11: Community Forums
12: Community Forums
13: Home
14: Downloads
15: Community Forums
16: Community Forums
17: Home
18: Community Forums
19: Community Forums
20: Community Forums
21: Home
22: Community Forums
23: Downloads
24: Member Screenshots
25: Community Forums
26: Member Screenshots
27: Community Forums
28: Community Forums
29: Community Forums
30: Community Forums
31: Community Forums
32: Photo Gallery
33: Photo Gallery
34: Community Forums
35: Community Forums
36: Statistics
37: Community Forums
38: Community Forums
39: Photo Gallery
40: Community Forums
41: Community Forums
42: Home
43: Community Forums
44: Downloads
45: Photo Gallery
46: Community Forums
47: Community Forums
48: Community Forums
49: Community Forums
50: Community Forums
51: Photo Gallery
52: Downloads
53: Community Forums
54: Home
55: Home
56: Photo Gallery
57: Community Forums
58: Community Forums
59: Home
60: Community Forums
61: Downloads
62: Community Forums
63: Photo Gallery
64: Photo Gallery
65: Home
66: Community Forums
67: Downloads
68: Photo Gallery
69: Downloads
70: Community Forums
71: Community Forums
72: Photo Gallery
73: Community Forums
74: Community Forums
75: Community Forums
76: Photo Gallery
77: Community Forums
78: Community Forums
79: Community Forums
80: Community Forums
81: Downloads
82: CPGlang
83: Community Forums
84: Community Forums
85: Community Forums
86: Community Forums
87: Downloads
88: Member Screenshots
89: Home
90: Community Forums
91: CPGlang
92: Community Forums
93: Photo Gallery
94: Community Forums
95: Home
96: Downloads
97: Community Forums
98: Your Account
99: Community Forums
100: Community Forums
101: CPGlang
102: Photo Gallery
103: Community Forums
104: Community Forums
105: Community Forums
106: Community Forums
107: Community Forums
108: Photo Gallery
109: Community Forums
110: Photo Gallery
111: Photo Gallery
112: Community Forums
113: Downloads
114: Community Forums
115: Downloads
116: Home
117: Community Forums
118: Community Forums
119: Home
120: Community Forums
121: Community Forums
122: Community Forums
123: Community Forums
124: Downloads
125: Community Forums
126: Community Forums
127: Home
128: Community Forums
129: Community Forums
130: Photo Gallery
131: Community Forums
132: Community Forums
133: Community Forums
134: Member Screenshots
135: Home
136: Home
137: Home
138: Community Forums
139: Home
140: Community Forums
141: Community Forums
142: Photo Gallery
143: Community Forums
144: Community Forums
145: Community Forums
146: Community Forums
147: Community Forums
148: Downloads
149: News
150: Home
151: Photo Gallery
152: Photo Gallery
153: Community Forums
154: Home
155: Community Forums
156: Home
157: Community Forums
158: Photo Gallery
159: Community Forums
160: CPGlang
161: Community Forums
162: Community Forums
163: Community Forums
164: Community Forums
165: Photo Gallery
166: Community Forums
167: Community Forums
168: Community Forums
169: Community Forums
170: News Archive
171: Home
172: Photo Gallery
173: Community Forums
174: Community Forums
175: Search
176: Home
177: Community Forums
178: Downloads
179: Community Forums
180: CPGlang
181: Community Forums
182: Downloads
183: CPGlang
184: Community Forums
185: Home
186: Member Screenshots
187: Member Screenshots
188: Photo Gallery
189: Community Forums
190: Community Forums
191: Community Forums
192: Community Forums
193: Statistics
194: Photo Gallery
195: Home
196: Home
197: Photo Gallery
198: Community Forums
199: Community Forums
200: Photo Gallery
201: Photo Gallery
202: Downloads
203: CPGlang
204: Downloads
205: Community Forums
206: Community Forums
207: Home
208: Community Forums
209: Community Forums
210: Community Forums
211: Photo Gallery
212: Statistics
213: Community Forums
214: Community Forums
215: Community Forums
216: Photo Gallery
217: Community Forums
218: Community Forums
219: Community Forums
220: Community Forums
221: Member Screenshots
222: Statistics
223: Community Forums
224: Community Forums
225: News
226: Downloads
227: Downloads
228: Community Forums
229: Community Forums
230: Community Forums
231: Community Forums
232: Community Forums
233: Photo Gallery
234: Home
235: Community Forums
236: Community Forums
237: Community Forums
238: Community Forums
239: Community Forums
240: Community Forums
241: Community Forums
242: Community Forums
243: Community Forums
244: Downloads
245: Community Forums
246: Home
247: Community Forums
248: Community Forums
249: Community Forums
250: CPGlang
251: Community Forums
252: Photo Gallery
253: Community Forums
254: Community Forums
255: Community Forums
256: Community Forums
257: Photo Gallery
258: Community Forums
259: Photo Gallery
260: Supporters
261: Community Forums
262: Home
263: Community Forums
264: Photo Gallery
265: Home
266: Photo Gallery
267: Community Forums
268: Community Forums
269: Community Forums
270: Community Forums
271: Community Forums
272: Community Forums
273: Downloads
274: Home
275: Community Forums
276: Community Forums
277: Community Forums
278: Community Forums
279: Community Forums
280: Community Forums
281: Home
282: Photo Gallery
283: Community Forums
284: Community Forums
285: Community Forums
286: Community Forums
287: Community Forums
288: Photo Gallery
289: Home
290: Community Forums
291: Community Forums
292: Photo Gallery
293: Home
294: Community Forums
295: Home
296: Photo Gallery
297: Community Forums
298: Home
299: Community Forums
300: Community Forums
301: CPGlang
302: Community Forums
303: Member Screenshots
304: Home
305: Statistics
306: Community Forums
307: Home
308: Home
309: Community Forums
310: Community Forums
311: Community Forums
312: Community Forums
313: Photo Gallery
314: Community Forums
315: Community Forums
316: Community Forums
317: Community Forums
318: Downloads
319: Community Forums
320: Home
321: Member Screenshots
322: Community Forums
323: Community Forums
324: Photo Gallery
325: Downloads
326: Home
327: Photo Gallery
328: Community Forums
329: Community Forums
330: Community Forums
331: Community Forums
332: Community Forums
333: Community Forums
334: Home
335: News Archive
336: Home
337: Community Forums
338: Community Forums
339: Community Forums
340: Community Forums
341: Community Forums
342: Photo Gallery
343: Home
344: Community Forums
345: Community Forums
346: Community Forums
347: Community Forums
348: Community Forums
349: Community Forums
350: Community Forums
351: Photo Gallery
352: Your Account
353: Downloads
354: Community Forums
355: Community Forums
356: Community Forums
357: Photo Gallery
358: Community Forums
359: Community Forums
360: Community Forums
361: Community Forums
362: Community Forums
363: Community Forums
364: Community Forums
365: Photo Gallery
366: CPGlang
367: Home
368: Downloads
369: Community Forums
370: Photo Gallery
371: Community Forums
372: Community Forums
373: Photo Gallery
374: Community Forums
375: Downloads
376: Community Forums
377: Photo Gallery
378: Community Forums
379: Photo Gallery
380: Community Forums
381: Photo Gallery
382: Community Forums
383: Community Forums
384: Community Forums
385: Community Forums
386: Home
387: News Archive
388: Photo Gallery
389: Home
390: Community Forums
391: Home
392: Photo Gallery
393: Community Forums
394: Community Forums
395: Photo Gallery
396: Photo Gallery
397: Photo Gallery
398: Community Forums
399: Community Forums
400: Member Screenshots
401: Photo Gallery
402: Statistics
403: Photo Gallery
404: Home
405: Downloads
406: Community Forums
407: Community Forums
408: Home
409: Community Forums
410: Community Forums
411: Community Forums
412: Community Forums
413: Community Forums
414: Community Forums
415: Photo Gallery
416: Community Forums
417: Community Forums
418: Community Forums
419: Community Forums
420: Community Forums
421: Photo Gallery
422: Home
423: Community Forums
424: Home
425: Community Forums
426: Home
427: Community Forums
428: Community Forums
429: Community Forums
430: Your Account
431: Home
432: Photo Gallery
433: Community Forums
434: Home
435: Community Forums
436: Community Forums
437: Home
438: Community Forums
439: Supporters
440: Community Forums
441: Community Forums
442: Community Forums
443: Home
444: Community Forums
445: Community Forums
446: Home
447: Downloads
448: Home
449: Statistics
450: Home
451: Photo Gallery
452: Community Forums
453: Home
454: Photo Gallery
455: Community Forums
456: Photo Gallery
457: Community Forums
458: Downloads
459: Community Forums
460: Community Forums
461: Community Forums
462: Community Forums
463: Community Forums
464: Community Forums
465: Member Screenshots
466: Downloads
467: Community Forums
468: Home
469: Community Forums
470: Community Forums
471: Photo Gallery
472: Downloads
473: Photo Gallery
474: Community Forums
475: Community Forums
476: Community Forums
477: Photo Gallery
478: Community Forums
479: Home
480: Downloads
481: Photo Gallery
482: Community Forums
483: Member Screenshots
484: Photo Gallery
485: Community Forums
486: Photo Gallery
487: Community Forums
488: Community Forums
489: Community Forums
490: Community Forums
491: Member Screenshots
492: Downloads
493: Downloads
494: CPGlang
495: Community Forums
496: Photo Gallery
497: Community Forums
498: Community Forums
499: Community Forums
500: Community Forums
501: Photo Gallery
502: Community Forums
503: Photo Gallery
504: Community Forums
505: Community Forums
506: Community Forums
507: Community Forums
508: Community Forums
509: Community Forums
510: Photo Gallery
511: Community Forums
512: Community Forums
513: News
514: Home
515: Community Forums
516: Photo Gallery
517: Photo Gallery
518: Community Forums
519: Community Forums
520: Community Forums
521: Photo Gallery
522: Downloads
523: Home
524: Community Forums
525: Community Forums
526: Community Forums
527: Community Forums
528: Downloads
529: Your Account
530: Photo Gallery
531: Community Forums
532: Photo Gallery
533: Home
534: Community Forums
535: Home
536: Community Forums
537: Photo Gallery
538: Photo Gallery
539: Community Forums
540: Community Forums
541: Community Forums
542: Photo Gallery
543: Community Forums
544: Community Forums
545: Community Forums
546: Supporters
547: Your Account
548: Member Screenshots
549: Community Forums
550: Community Forums
551: Downloads
552: Community Forums
553: Community Forums
554: Photo Gallery
555: Community Forums
556: Community Forums
557: Photo Gallery
558: Photo Gallery
559: Photo Gallery
560: Community Forums
561: Community Forums
562: Community Forums
563: Community Forums
564: Community Forums
565: Downloads
566: Community Forums
567: Community Forums
568: Community Forums
569: Community Forums
570: Home
571: Photo Gallery
572: Community Forums
573: Community Forums
574: Community Forums
575: Community Forums
576: Community Forums
577: Community Forums
578: Downloads
579: Photo Gallery
580: Community Forums
581: Community Forums
582: Home
583: Your Account
584: CPGlang
585: Community Forums
586: Photo Gallery
587: Community Forums
588: Community Forums
589: Photo Gallery
590: Community Forums
591: Community Forums
592: Community Forums
593: Community Forums
594: Community Forums
595: Community Forums
596: Community Forums
597: Community Forums
598: Community Forums
599: Community Forums
600: Community Forums
601: Community Forums
602: Home
603: Photo Gallery
604: Community Forums
605: News Archive
606: Home
607: Home
608: CPGlang
609: Photo Gallery
610: Community Forums
611: Home
612: Community Forums
613: Community Forums
614: Community Forums
615: Community Forums
616: Community Forums
617: Community Forums
618: Community Forums
619: Photo Gallery
620: Home
621: News
622: Home
623: Community Forums
624: Downloads
625: News
626: Community Forums
627: Community Forums
628: Community Forums
629: Community Forums
630: Photo Gallery
631: Community Forums
632: Member Screenshots
633: Community Forums
634: Photo Gallery
635: Community Forums
636: Community Forums
637: Photo Gallery
638: Community Forums
639: Community Forums
640: Community Forums
641: Community Forums
642: Community Forums
643: Community Forums
644: Community Forums
645: Photo Gallery
646: Your Account
647: Home
648: News Archive
649: CPGlang
650: Community Forums
651: Community Forums
652: Community Forums
653: Community Forums
654: Community Forums
655: Community Forums
656: Community Forums
657: Community Forums
658: Home
659: Photo Gallery
660: Community Forums
661: Community Forums
662: Community Forums
663: Member Screenshots
664: Community Forums
665: Community Forums
666: Community Forums
667: Community Forums
668: Community Forums
669: Community Forums
670: Community Forums
671: Photo Gallery
672: Community Forums
673: Community Forums
674: Community Forums
675: Community Forums
676: Community Forums
677: Home
678: Community Forums
679: Photo Gallery
680: Community Forums
681: Community Forums
682: Photo Gallery
683: Home
684: Photo Gallery
685: Community Forums
686: Community Forums
687: Community Forums
688: Community Forums
689: Community Forums
690: Photo Gallery
691: Community Forums
692: Community Forums
693: Community Forums
694: Photo Gallery
695: Community Forums
696: Community Forums
697: Photo Gallery
698: Community Forums
699: Community Forums
700: Community Forums
701: Photo Gallery
702: Photo Gallery
703: Photo Gallery
704: Photo Gallery
705: Home
706: Community Forums
707: Community Forums
708: Photo Gallery
709: Community Forums
710: Community Forums
711: Home
712: Home
713: Community Forums
714: Community Forums
715: Photo Gallery
716: Community Forums
717: Community Forums
718: Downloads
719: Community Forums
720: Photo Gallery
721: Photo Gallery
722: Community Forums
723: Photo Gallery
724: Photo Gallery
725: News
726: Community Forums
727: Photo Gallery
728: Downloads
729: Downloads
730: Community Forums
731: Community Forums
732: Community Forums
733: Home
734: News Archive
735: Community Forums
736: Community Forums
737: Community Forums
738: Photo Gallery
739: Home
740: Your Account
741: Community Forums
742: Photo Gallery
743: Community Forums
744: Downloads
745: Home
746: Community Forums
747: Home
748: Community Forums
749: Your Account
750: Community Forums
751: News
752: Community Forums
753: Community Forums
754: Photo Gallery
755: Community Forums
756: Community Forums
757: Community Forums
758: CPGlang
759: Photo Gallery
760: Home
761: Home
762: Statistics
763: Member Screenshots
764: Home
765: Home
766: Photo Gallery
767: CPGlang
768: Photo Gallery
769: Home
770: Community Forums
771: Community Forums
772: Home
773: Home
774: Community Forums
775: CPGlang
776: Community Forums
777: Photo Gallery
778: Photo Gallery
779: Community Forums
780: Community Forums
781: Community Forums
782: Community Forums
783: Home
784: Your Account
785: Community Forums
786: Photo Gallery
787: Photo Gallery
788: Community Forums
789: Community Forums
790: Downloads
791: Community Forums
792: Community Forums
793: Community Forums
794: Photo Gallery
795: Community Forums
796: Photo Gallery
797: Downloads
798: Community Forums
799: Community Forums
800: Photo Gallery
801: Photo Gallery
802: 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