I'll also ask over at some other specialized forums, and sum up here, but have you guys seen any other uses of AATV's in the military? Other than recreation? Most of my books are packed away, so I can't get to my U.S. military vehicle history books, but I seem to remember there were a few prototypes and test vehicles...but nothing in actual use, other than the 8x8.
My other interest and hobby is historic military vehicles, it'd be great to be able to tie these two hobbies together....
The Brits and other commonwealth troops use the Supacat. The U.S. used the Gamma Goat years ago. The M113 and the Bradley Cavalry vehicle were amphibious as well. The Russkies have a wide variety of wheeled and tracked amphib machines.
In terms of smaller machines, I think you are correct that the Attex tank trainers were the only recreational amphibs pressed into military service (of sorts).
Also include the KID 8x8 that was designed for the US to use in Vietnam. Although they never officially got a government contract several hundred were still made and perhaps a few actually used in Vietnam.
Land Tamer has developed a couple of different machines (some autonomous) for the military as well.
http://www.vintagemilitarytrucks.com..._Goat_Page.htm
The Gama Goat was just like a huge Sur-Trek. It did swim but not very well.
Banned
Hustler made a military use AATV too. Here's a picture of it in the background behind the Attex 8x8. Also, if you look at this Hustler brochure (in the left hand green margin, the third paragraph up from the bottom) you'll see that Hustler mentions that their AATV was selected as a combat vehicle simulator for the US Army.
http://www.6x6world.com/images/brochures/Hustler-3.jpg
"Looks like you have a problem with your 4 wheeler........you're missin' two wheels there"
Good eyes! I completely missed that background 6x6!Originally Posted by jpswift1
Enlarging it a bit, I see that it has a hoop style roll cage, probably a radio and antenna mount, and no body band that I can see. Does anyone have any more info on this 6x6? Pics, brochures, etc? Where'd the original pic come from. I do know of one guy that would have known about this...but sadly, he's passed on, and the info with him.
Also, to specify, I was thinking more of the civilian versions pressed into military service - not so much the Gama Goats, TerraStar, Mehli, etc. I do know, and have some pics around here, that the Coot, and the Trackster were also tested and possibly used in field trials.
The M48 and later M60 series U.S. tanks, as well as the M114, and M113 all steered with sticks. Same set up as Hustler, Max, Attex, etc., I went into the Army in 1987 and was amazed that I already had years of tank experience under my belt by growing up with amphibs. Obviously the M60s were much larger vehicles. The Bradleys and M1 series had a set up similar to what Argo uses with the yoke/steering system.
The demands of military operations invariably render commercial vehicles unsuitable for use "as is". By the time you allow for waterproofing, armament and commo gear, one has exceeded civilian requirements by light years/mass (and we won't even get into military procurement "gold plating"). Vehicle with some degree of origin in Real World designs that you can probably find images of with a little Google-fu include: Chenowth Fast Attack or Advanced Light Strike Vehicle (based, roughly, on their established off-road racing designs), the AAI "Barr Car", the "XR-311", the Teledyne Continental Motors FAV and, the USMC experiments with an M151-based FAV Anyone with time on M151 gunjeeps or M151C recoiless rifle jeeps in a combat environment can attest to how unsuitable such an inadequate series of vehicles the M151s were "outside the wire".
Last edited by Tankguy; 12-03-2013 at 03:03 PM.
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