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     This air-cushion vehicle (ACV, or hovercraft) is meant for employment on lakes, swamps, snow, ice or grassland; the hull will float in water even with the engines off. A small turret mounting a 20mm cannon is fitted near the bow, slightly offset to the right; MAG-58 machineguns are fitted on pintle mounts on each side.

     This is a light strike and fire support hovercraft meant for MARS teams. It is an ideal "hit and run" vehicle, weather and terrain conditions permitting.

     It's an open vehicle; there is no cabin and most of the crew are exposed to the elements and somewhat exposed to gunfire and explosions. The four crew members are the pilot (front left seat); the main gunner (turret), and two wing gunners. There are four storage bays, two of which have fold-down jump seats.

     Given the limited cargo capacity, this Project vehicle is more dependent on other teams, depots or bases for support. Also, like the XR311 and the Commando Scout, it should not be operated in areas with dangerous levels of radioactive fallout or other contamination.

Dimensions

Height, skirt inflated:  3.7 meters

Height, skirt deflated:  3 meters

Height, floating in water:  2.4 meters

Draft, floating:  0.6 meters

Width:  3.66 meters

Length:  6.1 meters

Maximum Gross Weight:  4000 kilograms

Crew Weight:  500 kilograms, with field gear and role kits aboard

Maximum Cargo Weight:  850 kilograms

Bare Weight:  2640 kilograms, with no crew, no cargo (but including 110 kg of MAG-58 guns, mounts, and their armor shields)

Construction

     The hull, fan shroud and air rudders are made from epoxied layers of Resistweave™ material; the skirts are made from 'regular' Resistweave™. The windshields for the pilot and main gunner are made from ballistic plexiglas; the KUKA Rh202 turret and the gun shields for the wing gunners are made from armor steel.

     All the seats (including the two jumpseats) have lap and shoulder belts.

Performance

     The Flying Dutchman operates best over calm water or flat paved surfaces, but can also travel over level ground. It's maximum speed over water or pavement is 100 kph, but normal cruising speed is best held to 60 kph. Speed over land, presuming grass, small rocks, ruts and uneven surfaces, is 60 kph maximum; best cruise is 35 kph.

     Wind conditions greatly affect all hovercraft; the Quequod cannot operate in winds exceeding 50 kph -- there is extreme danger of flipping over. Top speed should be limited to 25 kph if wind speed exceeds 40 kph. In any case, the hovercraft 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 hovercraft will drop into the water. On land, the craft cannot cross vertical obstacles of more than 0.5 meters height, or traverse slopes of greater than 1 in 5 grade.

     When afloat (lift engine off) the water level is roughly a meter below the main "deck" level. The propulsion fan can move the vehicle 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 hovercraft 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. 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.

Systems and Propulsion

     A single Morrow Industries Mk I fusion generator powers the Flying Dutchman. Two Project vehicle batteries provide power for starting the generator, and as backup in case of damage.

     The propulsion fan is driven by a 200 kilowatt electric motor -- the same as used in the Project's V150 vehicles. Three 10 kilowatt electric motors power the skirt inflation and lift system. The lift fans are each 1.2 meters in diameter; the propulsion fan is 2.4 meters in diameter, with three blades.

     Normal small craft running lights (port, starboard and toplight) and twin halogen headlamps are fitted.

     Two "air rudders" are mounted behind the propulsion fan, for steering.

Protection Level

     The epoxy-Resistweave™ hull is equivalent armor to 7mm of RHA steel armor. Armor value 14.

     The wing gunners' shields, and the KUKA turret, are 7mm thick RHA steel. Armor value 14.

Equipment Carried

• PRC-70 radio, mounted in a power supply/amplifier/speaker frame at the main gunner's position

• a hull-mounted antenna is fitted on the deck behind the KUKA turret
  

• two PVS-5C night vision goggles, with stowage boxes next to the pilot's and main gunner's positions
  

• intercom plugin stations near each of the four regular seats

• two chemical fire extinguishers, behind the pilot's and main gunner's positions

• four life preserver vests, adult size, tan Resistweave™, mass 1 kg (armor value 9, same over coverall)
  

• Autonav Model A1B

• a bilge pump, capable of draining 189 liters of water per minute. It can be switched on from the pilot's position.
  

• two 5 liter water tanks.

• One (the "dirty" tank) fills from the outside; a washable ceramic filter connects from that tank to the 'clean' tank; the filter can treat 10 liters of water per hour. Keep in mind that the filter will not remove chemical contaminants, viruses, and other small things. A single GHT water tap is fitted behind the main gunner's seat,feeding from the 'clean' water tank. There is a single spare filter; the filter in use should be swapped at regular intervals, or when the local water supply is known to be contaminated, and the dirty filter washed thoroughly with clean water.

• electrical power outlets, for 110 V AC and 24 V DC, in the pilot's and main gunner's positions, and in the two rear storage bays
  

• one MP rechargeable "radio battery"

• eight MP-AA rechargeable "camera batteries"

• a battery recharger, can hold one camera battery and one radio battery simultaneously

• Rh202 autocannon in a KUKA E6-II-A1 turret (as used on the Wiesel 1). It feeds from two magazines (60 rounds on left and 100 rounds on the right, all outside the turret), and can switch between magazines. The turret can be elevated from -10° to +45°, and traversed 110° left and right; elevation and traverse are manual, and the gunner aims the weapon via a Zeiss PERI-Z16 sight (capable of x2 and x6 magnification). The turret has a hatch, and thus the gunner is the only crew member who can stay out of the rain (or the spray from the fans).
  

• two MAG-58 machineguns, and two spare barrels. The guns, and their armor shields, are mounted on swinging elbow pintles. Each armor shield weighs 24 kg; each wing gun mount weighs 10 kg, each two-part swing arm weighs 10 kg, and each gun weighs 10.85 kg empty (in case the team wishes to leave them off).
  

• M21 rifle with 12 loaded magazines (240 rounds), four ammo pouches, and sling (no bipod, suppressor or telescopic sight provided). This rifle is carried in a scabbard mounted on the back of the pilot's seat.
  

The following items are carried in the storage bays; they total 653 kg in mass against the "cargo" total:

• four team member's survival gear, cold weather kit and CBR gear; total mass 118 kg
  

• radio accessories include a packframe, H-250/U handset, CX-10791 extension cable for handset or helmet, long and short tactical antennas, vehicle power cable, and an 8-meter long doublet antenna (AS-2975, 2.4 kg including ground rod, halyards and wire ropes). Mass, about 7 kg.
  

• a large Morrow Project Med Kit in a shoulder bag, mass 4 kg including bag.

• ration pack, mass 21 kg  

• a #3 "aid bag" with three zippered pockets. It contains a minor surgical field instrument set, EMT shears, 24 field dressings (0.1 kg each), compresses, gauze, band-aids, sunburn cream, two tourniquets, a splint, and other minor stuff. Mass, 4 kg. Game effects:   the use of First Aid skill allows this set to be used for the treatment of 12 minor or major wounds. It's not much use in case of amputations or massive blood loss.

• demolition kit, with an M183 demo charge (pre-primed), a 304 meter roll of primercord, five M2A1 delay detonators, one M1 mechanical delay detonator, one M60 fuze igniter. Mass, 21.1 kg

• team cold weather gear set (dome tent, etc.). Mass, ~10 kg
  

• one trade pack, mass 15 kg

• TK-1001G electrical tool kit, mass 2.5 kg

• small tool and spare parts kit, mass 5 kg

• two 20 meter rolls of 5 cm wide duct tape

• vehicle operation and repair manual

• 400 rounds of 20mm ammunition, mass 172 kg
  

• 2400 rounds of linked 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition. 1 round in 10 is a tracer. Mass, 140 kg.
  

• 920 rounds of 7.62x51mm NATO Match ball ammunition. Mass, 31 kg.
  

• 2880 rounds of 9mm Parabellum ammunition. Mass, 52 kg.
  

• 1640 rounds of 5.56mm NATO ball ammunition. Mass, 31.3 kg.
  

• two ARMBRUST-300 anti-tank rockets, total 6.3 kg
  

• two M18A1 claymore mines. Mass total, 3.2 kg
  

• four 2.5m by 2.5m Resistweave™ tarps, with bungie cords and straps -- to cover the storage bays. Each tarp weighs 5 kg.