twin sedge
Shrugbot Seaplane Suggestion #53
Multi-Role Combat Seaplane
In the 1990s, AVPRO- a company formed by individuals from multiple different aircraft companies in the UK - entered a contractual agreement with the Defense Research Agency to propose various types of promising military vehicles. One of these was the Marauder Multi-Role Combat Seaplane.
The Marauder was intended to become the basis of English naval combat. It is an unusual seaplane - with the ability to fly in the ground effect, which radically increases combat range with the added benefit of being hidden from both radar and sonar.
En route to a target, a task force of Marauders (spearheaded by an AE&WC Marauder) would travel in the ground effect over seas and rivers. Refueling would be conducted from standard ships due to the craft’s ability to land on water. And when the enemy was close or the flight was over the ground, the Marauders could soar into the sky like ordinary planes. As a result, an aircraft carrier or runway is effectively not needed. However, the craft still retained conventional landing gear to allow for land operation.
While some of AVPRO’s proposals were actually combat tested (mostly weapons/attachments) a functional Marauder was never built. Thus, the Marauder remained a glimpse into the potential future of amphibious aircraft.
Purpose
- Target Strike
- Reconnaissance
Stats
Engines: 2x Jet Engine (Type unknown, no afterburners)
Speed: 485 Knots
Combat Range (in ground effect) ~1200 nmi
Crew: 2
Sources:
SPF: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/avpro-projects.316/
Statistics: https://youroker.livejournal.com/30056.html
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