±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: HighestAce
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6648

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

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