SPECIAL OPERATIONS
Comments (5)
Our Navy should go big into the amphibious plane idea. I mean they should think of transferring a lot of 7th Fleet ship operations to seaplane operations. Starting with the Herk On Water model, update to current tech, and stretched body, to build Marine "shoot-n-scoot" rapid haulers to move around Twenty times faster than LAWs are able to. Then build fleets of cruise missile/AA missile/mine/torpedo trucks to directly go after ships and subs, and defend against jets sent to attack them. Also build tankers, AWACS, EW versions and command & control planes to direct UCAVs into combat. Also build as supply planes, search & rescue, and recon, etc... The Seaplane Tender (may be semisubmersible to let the seaplane swim aboard), with accompanying LHA light carrier and LPD, tankers, and frigates and cheap AIP subs for escorts, becomes the new battle group a safe distance away as its fleet of seaplanes and aerial tankers cover the longer ranges to the battlefield
L. Bowen at 12:43 PM
The best way for this to work is to copy what China, Russia, and Japan have done with their seaplanes, and that is to purpose-build an amphibian with a boat hull that resembles a whale's belly, not modify a MC-130J by adding huge floats or pontoons.
When the MC-130J lands and if one pontoon breaks, then how is the MC-130J going to balance and land on water? But if SOCOM wants armor protection from ground fire and sea mines, and a stepping platform for divers, the pontoon idea seems feasible, but note that no one else used this concept of landing on large belly pontoons. How is the amphibian MC-130J supposed to land on a runway with large pontoons even if the wheels are tucked inside the two massive pontoons?
I guess SOCOM should take it from experience and follow those countries who have achieved this before and that is to make the amphibian plane mimic nature with a whale's belly fuselage, not a Pelican wearing huge pontoon feet.
Bring back the H-4 Hercules. The Spruce Goose had a successful test flight, so no redesign is needed!
Patrick Harris at 4:40 PMChina already has the AG600.
Tim at 5:57 PM
Bring back the Tradewind!
GKV at 11:59 AM