| 
  • If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.

  • You already know Dokkio is an AI-powered assistant to organize & manage your digital files & messages. Very soon, Dokkio will support Outlook as well as One Drive. Check it out today!

View
 

Flying Dutchman light assault hovercraft

Page history last edited by Michael 6 years, 11 months ago

back to the Index or the Vehicles page

 


 

Development

 

     The Flying Dutchman air-cushion vehicles were developed as a private venture by Morrow Industries, with the first prototypes being completed in 1980. They were never provided for sale, being entirely designed for use by the Morrow Project.

 

Description

 

     This air-cushion vehicle (ACV) is a light strike and fire support MARS craft, meant for employment on lakes, swamps or grassland; the hull will float even with the engines off.

     It is an open-topped vehicle; the pilot has a polycarbonate windscreen. The four crew members are the pilot (front left seat); the main gunner (gun tub), and two waist gunners. The seats have lap belts.

     There is an open-topped storage bay built into the deck, between the waist gunners' positions; more storage space is behind the pilot's seat; and some odd-shaped space is under the forward deck, to the starboard of the gun tub (this space has an access hatch). Access to the fusion generator and cooling system is via large doors at the stern.

 

Dimensions

 

Height, skirt inflated:  4.5 meters

Height, skirt deflated:  3.8 meters

Height, floating in water:  3.8 meters

Draft, floating:  0.6 meters

Width:  3.65 meters

Length:  6.1 meters over hull, 7 meters including gun pointed forward

Maximum Gross Weight:  1300 kilograms (this includes mounted weapons with their ammunition, and four crew at 100 kg each with equipment)

Maximum Cargo Weight:  200 kilograms (this includes the team equipment)

 

Construction

 

     The hull, gun tub and shields, fan shroud and air rudders are made from epoxied Resistweave® material (armor value 8); the skirts are made from 'regular' Resistweave® (armor value 7).

     Various structures not made of Resistweave® are mostly formed from 1mm thick aluminum.

      Foam-filled buoyancy tanks take up the bow space, and around the lift fan.

 

Performance

 

     The ACV operates best over calm water or flat paved surfaces, but can also travel over level ground. Its maximum speed over water or pavement is 64 kph, but normal cruising speed is best held to 50 kph. Speed over land, presuming grass, small rocks, ruts and uneven surfaces, is 50 kph maximum; best cruise is 30 kph.

     Wind conditions greatly affect all ACVs; the Flying Dutchman cannot operate in winds exceeding 43 kph -- there is extreme danger of flipping over. Top speed should be limited to 25 kph if wind speed exceeds 36 kph. In any case, the ACV is prone to side-slipping in crosswinds.

     The Flying Dutchman cannot negotiate rough water (sea state 3 or more); the skirt will lose containment and the ACV will drop into the water. On land, the craft cannot climb vertical obstacles of more than 0.6 meters height, or traverse slopes of greater than 1 in 8 grade.

     The propulsion fan can move the ACV while afloat in the water at a top speed of just 25 kph (producing quite a lot of spray and roostertail when doing so).

     When hovering at a stand still, this ACV can slowly rotate in place; as speed increases, the turn radius increases quite a lot.

     The sounds of the lift fan and propulsion fan are a bit quieter than (say) a helicopter, but still noisy. Hovering but not using the propulsion prop, the Flying Dutchman produces 70 dB (about the same as a vacuum cleaner); underway at full speed, it's about 80 decibels at 10 meters (about the same as a passenger automobile on pavement). The Flying Dutchman is very easy to see when hovering or moving -- lots of spray or dust is kicked up, along with a roostertail at even moderate speeds.

 

Propulsion

 

     A single Mk 1 fusion pack powers the Flying Dutchman. It has a maximum rating of 500 kilowatts output power; only about 200 kilowatts of that is used for propulsion. Output power is available at 24 V DC (for vehicle accessory systems), 12 V DC, 120 V AC and 240 V AC (for the motor and external accessories); outlets are available in the pilot's and gunner's cockpits, and within the engine hatch. The electric motor has a special 240 volt, 850 amp connection to the reactor. When fully-fueled, the reactor can run at full power (more than the vehicle needs to operate) for about 8 years. The reactor itself is a cylinder, 0.3 m diameter by 1 m long, and weighs 250 kg, including fuel. The Morrow Industries data plate describes it as "Electrical Generator, 500 kW". 

     The propulsion fan is driven by a 200 kilowatt electric motor -- the same as used in the Project's V150 vehicles. It weighs about 100 kg, and is an expensive -- but contemporary -- product from the 20th Century. A smaller 10 kilowatt electric motor powers the skirt inflation and lift system. The lift fan is 1.11 meters in diameter, with seven blades about 15 cm wide each; the propulsion fan is 2 meters in diameter, with three blades. Note that the motors and the lift fan are the same as used on the Gull and Quequod ACVs.

     The solid-state radiator consists of about two hundred vanes, about 10 cm by 10 cm; air is pulled in through grilles on the aft sides, and expelled through two deck vents. When the ACV is traveling at top speed, heat output from the radiator is about 400 kilowatts. The radiator cools the reactor and the electric motor; a damaged radiator can quickly bring the vehicle to a stop. If the radiator is completely destroyed or disconnected, or the air intakes are blocked, the reactor can only produce about 5 kilowatts of electrical power while remaining at safe operating temperatures. The radiator is made by Morrow Industries; an Electrical Repair or Electronics skill roll will identify the solid-state vanes as being futuristic technology.

     A pair of heavy, sealed 240 V batteries store a total of 3 kilowatt-hours of electrical power, or enough electricity to run the lift and propulsion motors at full power for a minute -- or the cabin sytems and minor accessories all night. The reactor has a built-in battery for starting from shut-down; this power can't be drained down by vehicle systems or accessories. The batteries have Morrow Industries data plates; their name is given on the plates as "Vehicle Battery, 240 Volt". An Electrical Repair or Electronics skill roll will identify the batteries as being futuristic technology.     

     Two "air rudders" are mounted behind the propulsion fan, for steering. There are no puff ports, skirt lifters, or other control-assisting systems.

 

Armament

 

     The main weapon is an Rh202 autocannon, mounted in a tub slightly offset to starboard of the centerline. The gun tub is electrically traversed and elevated by hand controls (firing is by a foot pedal); the gun can traverse left and right of center 45 degrees (but only 22.5 degrees left of center towards the port side when elevated less than 20 degrees), depress 10 degrees, and elevate 60 degrees. A periscopic optical sight, a TVS-5 night-vision scope, a spotlight (with removable IR filter), a 200 round box of linked 20mm ammunition, and a gun shield are all carried on the gun. The gun shield protects the front and right side of the ammunition box. The gun, mount and loaded ammunition weigh a total of 430 kg.

     The Autonav can control the traverse and elevation of the Rh202 mounting, along with firing the weapon (if the manual safety is released); in fact, this firing data can be provided over a radio channel from a MARS team operating a proper computer setup.

     The waist mounts will accept almost any US military "full size" pintle. The vehicle normally comes with two MAG-58 machine guns, including bipods, and a total of 2000 rounds of linked 7.62mm NATO ammunition.

 

Other Systems

 

     Normal maritime running lights (port, starboard and toplight) and twin halogen headlamps are fitted. A heated, spinning "clear view screen" is fitted to the pilot's window. There is also a double-flashing amber light on the top of the propulsion fan shroud.

     There is an electric bilge pump to remove water from the engine compartment and cockpits. The pump can drain 189 liters of water per minute.

 

  • PRC-70 radio, mounted in a power supply/amplifier/speaker frame in the pilot's cockpit. The antenna is mounted just outside of the cockpit. Included is a set of radio accessories -- handset, headset extension cable, pack frame, long and short antennas, vehicle power cable, 8 meter long doublet antenna.

  • also mounted in the pilot's cockpit is an Autonav Model A1B 

  • intercom and gas mask plugin stations for each of the four seats; there is a central filter/cooler/heater for the gas mask system

  • a chemical fire extinguisher in the generator/motor compartment, controlled from the pilot's cockpit (or by a T-handle just inside the doors to the engine compartment)

  • electrical power outlets, for 110 volt 60 Hz AC, 24 volt DC, 12 volt DC

 

Variants

 

     Members of the Project have seen drawings and slides of a version with a crew of three:  pilot (in a centerline cockpit), and two 20mm gun tubs replacing the usual waist gunner positions.

 

Maintenance

 

  • Bilge pump:  check for leaks around the bilge pump outlet, hull drain plugs, and other openings in the lower hull. Make sure the inlet is not plugged with dirt or debris.

  • Fire extinguisher:   a dry chemical fire extinguishing cylinder is installed in the motor compartment, and is controlled from the pilot's position; it should be checked and recharged if necessary.

  • Hull:  check for cracks, dents and punctures on the hull, especially after  landing or scraping over rocks, logs, wreckage, etc.

  • Skirt:  check for tears and perforations.

  • Lubrication:  the fans and rudders need regular lubrication -- say, at least every six months. Less essential but still in need of lubricating are the control clevises and pins, cables, seat moving parts, gun mount skates and swivels, etc. Gear oil and lubricating oil are needed.

  • Air Filter:   check and clean the central air filter.

  • Weapons:  service the MAG-58s and Rh202 as per the weapons' manuals.

 

Team Equipment

 

     Each team member will have a PVS-5 night vision binocular; a nylon safety harness; a life preserver vest, made of tan Resistweave®; and a PASGT helmet with black Resistweave® cover. The role kits for the crew of the Flying Dutchman will not include any "support gunner" packages (there are two MAG-58 machine guns already on the ACV).

     The team will have a trade pack, a team cold weather gear set, 2000 rounds of linked 7.62mm NATO ammunition (63 kg) for the waist guns, a pair of M19 7x50 binoculars, a 137 cm breaker bar (3 kg), a battery charger, 2 boxes of LRP rations (24 meals), an empty 20 liter capacity jerry can marked "water", 8 MP-AA batteries, a small vehicle tool set, and other team equipment up to 100 kg as the referee decides.

 

 

 

Comments (0)

You don't have permission to comment on this page.