Marines new Ultra Heavy-Lift Amphibious Connector (UHAC) swimming caterpillar
140711-N-UD469-576 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 11, 2014) A half-scale ultra heavy-lift amphibious connector (UHAC), an amphibious connector prototype created by Navatek Ltd. and the Office of Naval Research, embarks the amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47) for the first time. The Marine Corps Warfighting lab sponsored this UHAC demonstration during the at-sea phase of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise 2014. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Amanda R. Gray/Released)
The Devils showed off a half-sized prototype of its Ultra Heavy-lift Amphibious Connector (UHAC) last week during Rim of the Pacific exercises in Hawaii, running it from the Navy’s amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore to the beaches of Marine Corps Training Area Bellows on Oahu.
“Showcasing the UHAC during RIMPAC is a big deal,” Dave George of the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, which developed the UHAC with funding from the Office of Naval Research, said in a press release. “This is a great way to let people know that this new technology is being developed.”
140711-M-QH615-007 MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII (July 11, 2014) The ultra heavy-lift amphibious connector (UHAC), a prototype amphibious vehicle, runs over uneven terrain on its way to shore during a Marine Corps Warfighting Experiment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron S. Patterson/Released)
The full-sized UHAC should be able to carry at least three tanks and a HMMVW, which is three-times the load of a LCAC hovercraft. The UHAC is supposed to be faster (25 knots) than current amtracs, but slower than an LCAC. However it is supposed to be able to scale 16-foot high sea walls.
At least, that’s what they are saying…
Lets roll that beautiful bean footage