<![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme" - Gizmodo Comments]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme" - Gizmodo Comments]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> I'm guessing the top deck is off-limits to personnel unless they want to see if they blend?

Maxwells_Nylon_Hammer

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> @pernicious: There are definitely other fans for lift.
Sure, you can't sink it while it's 'on land', but, throw a little FOD through the fans and it's as good as sunk.

@xpeak: Pressure mines, probably not. Acoustic mines, maybe. But, if a mine did happen to go off it would surely eff up the plenum skirts. Besides, when these are called in, they come in in set 'lanes' that have been cleared before any type of amphibious operation begins.

@jimbosmithy: "several" LCACs.. closer to 'only three'. And, "deploy fairly quickly" is subjective. They're quick compared to LCU/LCM launches, sure, but the prima-donna crews still take their time. As far as 'eggs in one basket', no. An LHD is only ONE ship in an ARG/ESG; other amphibious ships in the group would carry other LCACs/landing craft as needed.

TheDeadPuppet

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> @four12: winner of the award for best usage of Red Alert 1 game music

Wonder what would happen if you stood to close to the fans in the back....

VENAT0R

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> @Kaiser-Machead: ROFL

aelver

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> It's only useful if they have a ship it can launch out of. Several LCACs fit inside an LHD model naval ship and can all deploy fairly quickly. It's also a case of all your eggs in one basket.

As for all the silly knife or RPG taking it out, did you not see the mini-guns on the thing? Good luck getting close enough.

jimbosmithy

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> @xpeak: Mines rely on pressure to set them off, if this is a true hovercraft it just would pass over the mines without setting them off

Numb-Nuts619

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> @Munch: Just put the fans in reverse!

Numb-Nuts619

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> would mines work against these? or would the air cushion protect from any shrapnel getting into the rotor blades keep this beast aloft?

xpeak

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> These things just sit around doing nothing these days. You can see them in google maps Here.

leaknoil

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> @TheDeadPuppet: i know that on the LCACs there are 4 main engines, 2 for lift,2 for thrust. i only see two in these pics, maybe they can save man hours that way. and for all who say its easy to sink this craft, think about how hard it is to sink something that goes ON LAND

pernicious

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> Well, "with similar boats from the US Navy" (assuming they're talking about LCACs) the man-hours for maintainence must be outrageous. That probably means the Zubr will be down for a year for each day they fly.

TheDeadPuppet

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> In Russia, Hovercraft rides you!

robbyburty

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> Hmmm. That video didn't look like 30kts of headway to me, but I could be wrong. I did notice that it doesn't appear to be a true hovercraft. If you notice, it looks like the air cushion can't get it completely off the surface.

Thirdly and more importantly, did anyone notice that the tank that appears in the first few seconds of the video (the one that fires its main gun) looks a lot like a Panzer V? Take a look at how square the turret is.

Oldbrass

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> @russdanger:
it's not as if the US isn't trying. collectively small penis combined with being bested by russia. ouch.

willyolio

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> Another vechicle the Russians has that scared the USA was the Ekranoplan:

+ Watch video

[en.wikipedia.org]

twilight-arc

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]>

+ Watch video

four12

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> @WD40: James Bond can blow anything up with his wrist watch, so that is no mean feat ;)

twilight-arc

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> @Darrone: So... where are you going to fire your RPG from? In a rowboat as the Zubr goes past you at 30 knots?

You know how hard it is to actually *hit* something with an RPG? The answer is "very".

four12

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> Surprised no one said it yet so I'll give it a go.

In Russia, the ship blows wind.

Sorry, couldn't think of anything better.

sartoman

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> Russians seem to be obsessed with proving that they can make things BIGGER. The Typhoon Submarine, the Tsar Pushka, the Tsar Bomba.

Their collective penis must be very small.

russdanger

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> Nothing compared with the Soviet Ekranoplan [en.wikipedia.org]

With film at 11:00


+ Watch video

geschmidtt

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> Soviet military kit is an interesting subject. They started out with the right idea: don't go for expensive, cutting edge, high performance stuff (like those Porsche tanks they beat in 41-45), because it's for war, not racing on a clean, dry track. Thus they came up with stuff like the AK-47: nothing fancy, just effective, reliable, and so cheap you could out-produce your opponent with them, which was the key to victory in WWII.

During the downward slide of the USSR though, their military-industrial complex (they call it the "steel eaters") caught the same bug as western militaries and went for all this crazy, exotic, hi-tech kit, like the above.

Thrubeingcool

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> The first picture brings to mind:

Thumbtack sweepers.

workingonyourinvoice

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> @Petrogk: i dunno, the Russians have had a pretty bad time keeping their sea vessels afloat lately. besides, RPG's are a little sharper than knives.

OG512

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> @jsewell: They don't hover on a standstill.

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> Thinking about how a hovercraft works, I'm pretty sure they don't displace tonnage. Unless they've sunk.

jsewell

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> I'm not for this as a military vehicle, but the skirt could probably take bullets without ripping, do you have any idea what kind of force it has to endure to support the weight of the craft itself and contain the air cushion.
Taking a knife to it would be like taking a toothpick to a 2'' thick solid piece of steel


Petrogk

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> It's not just über - it's Zubr!

Snicker

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> The dalek-head inspired minigun wins me over.

TheAdAgency

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> This ALSO, will kill the hell out of you!

Amazing!

Faslane

faslane

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> @WD40: Not when I've got him tied to one of those propellers, he can't! Then, plenty of time for a bit of monologue-ing, Kill Bond, then off to world domination!

FredicvsMaximvs

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> who needs the stealth ship, all ya need is 1 dude with a sword or large knife

phantam

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> dude ... stealth ship from yesterday? ... A BUM WITH A LARGE KNIFE would take this bitch out...

phantam

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> @LA_Longhorn: no need to buy a vowel, it's "bison" in English.

B

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> I'm guessing that all the stoners hang out by the back of the hovercraft. Who needs a Glade tube when you have 3 monsterous fucking exhaust fans. That's also the place to be after a night of cheap beer and White Castle.

Munch the BanNail

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> Zubr?

I'd like to buy a vowel please, Pat...

LA_Longhorn

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> @Darrone: I agree, if you knock out those propellers, they'll be hovering in the Pacific on a big Douche Bag! Litterally!

OG512

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> So, all you need to take it out is a speargun, then?

jswilson64

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> I like the first picture.

"Oh mother of God it's self aware! Get the fuck outta here!!"

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> 150 tons it is, the Zubr is 150 tons easier to sink

WD40

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> @FredicvsMaximvs: James Bond can blow up this hovercraft with his wrist watch...

WD40

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> @Darrone: @Lupison: Who cares? I'm talkin' 'bout an 11 on the Evil Arch Nemesis style-o-meter. Just look at it!

Of course, I always did like old-school Volvos. ;)

Besides, I doubt that taking out one or even two of the fans would cause it to steer poorly - probably just slow it down.

FredicvsMaximvs

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> Does it have reverse, or do you just fire the cannons and go flying backward?

Munch the BanNail

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> POP!

PDSM

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> The Stealth US ship from yesterday would kick this in the balls and run away before anyone knew what happend.

Lupison

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> Yea, but it takes like 1 RPG to take out its propulsion. Or at least force it into constant right-hand turns.

Darrone

]]> <![CDATA[Russia's Zubr Hovercraft May Finally Justify Use Of "Xtreme"]]> Holy shit! Someday when I get to be James Bond's arch-nemesis, I'm totally making this into my portable fortress.

FredicvsMaximvs

]]>