How It Works-Amazing Vehicles

© US Nav y; Dorn ier; R inspeed

Zero emissions

Rinspeed stripped the Toyota

engine from the Lotus Elise and

replaced it with three electric

motors and six rechargeable

lithium-ion batteries.

Grille gills

When the sQuba fl oats on

the water’s surface, the

driver can open louvres in

the grille to direct water fl ow

toward the rear propellers.

Owned by the US Marine Corps, the

Amphibious Assault Vehicle (A AV) is a ship-to-

shore troop transporter and fully armed

combat vehicle. The AAV weighs close to 30

tons and can carr y 21 combat-ready Marines

and a crew of three. The amphibious tanks

launch from the sea-level well decks of

assault ships and roar through the water at

ten knots (18.5 kilometres/11.5 miles per hour)

powered by two rear water jets. The jets are

mixed-fl ow, reversible pumps that propel

52,990 litres (14,000 gallons) of water per

minute. In addition to the jets, the A AV gets

some propulsion from its spinning tracks. The

A AV rides low in the water and can fi re its

.50-calibre machine gun and 40-millimetre

(1.6-inch) grenade launcher on both land or

sea. It makes a seamless transition from

ocean to shore and carries enough fuel to haul

4,535 kilograms (10,000 pounds) of cargo as far

as 480 kilometres (300 miles) inland.

The fi rst to land and the fi rst to fi ght

Amphibious

Assault Vehicle

sQuba

Crew: 2

Length: 3.7m (12.4ft)

Width: 1.9m (6.3ft)

Height: 1.1m (3.6ft)

Empty weight: 920kg (2,028lb)

Max land speed:

120km/h (75mph)

Max underwater speed:

2.9km/h (1.8mph)

The statistics...

Fire power

The turret is armed with

a .50-calibre machine

gun and 40mm (1.6in)

grenade launcher.

Fast tracks

The all-terrain tracks can

manoeuvre through thick sand at

speeds up to 72km/h (45mph).

Body armour

The welded

aluminium

exterior of the

AAV is armoured

to withstand

small arms fi re.

Battle ready

The rear hatch opens to

deploy a battalion of

combat-ready Marines.

Amphibious

Assault Vehicle

Crew: 3

Length: 7. 9 m (2 6 f t)

Width: 3.3m (10.8ft)

Height: 3.3m (10.8ft)

Weight: 29.1 tons

Max land speed:

72km/h (45mph)

Max water speed:

13.1km/h (8.2mph)

The statistics...

Smokescreen

The AAV can also

fi re smoke grenades

from two four-tube

grenade launchers.

Turret

The gunner’s turret fi ts

one soldier and can rotate

a full 360 degrees.

DID YOU KNOW? Sir Richard Branson has proposed an amphibious limo service for Virgin Airlines’ first-class passengers