Amphibious alternative to the Pinz?

[GenevaPinz]

No, no, no. You're all on the wrong track!
Amphibious alternative to the pinz? Already in USA?
This is what Audiocontr is looking for:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Russian-BTR60-P ... 1958541643

Funnily, performance-wise this would be the best vehicle in the list so far. They are reasonably fast on-road and were designed for assault landings, so they are fast in water as well and won't be limited to very calm waters.
With the same sort of capabilities, from the same origin but in a smaller format compared to the BTR-60 family, the BRDM-2 would be a good (better) choice, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVRIujY1Iw4

[audiocontr]

On Supacats

I researched these last night as well. Watched the video with the inflatable side bags for buoyancy. On the VERY short list

Where did you see the video with the side bags? I had heard that they had been used, but never seen any. Supposedly to help the freeboard. I have seen them with the old Series LRs back in the '60s.
The Supacats aren't known as the best of swimmers, but they do weigh almost 4x that of any of the ATVs. Payload restrictions on land vs water don't help when the driver doesn't remember and trys swimming with 2600 lbs of payload instead of 900. The movie " Run silent, Run Deep" comes to mind.
They do require training to drive correctly... they do love to porpoise on the road at speed if you don't play attention to road conditions. An "E" ride

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeI4ErCkKn4

i love the hardtop version at the end.

[TechMOGogy]

i love the hardtop version at the end.

One for sale it looks like
http://www.allterrainvehiclesolutions.c ... riant.html

[audiocontr]

i love the hardtop version at the end.

One for sale it looks like
http://www.allterrainvehiclesolutions.c ... riant.html

If you have to ask how much - you cant afford it. One of 4 known in existence!

[63rover]

A Land Rover Defender with the side flotation crossed the Baring Strait from Siberia to Alaska a few years back. They were driving from England to Tierra del Fuego.

http://www.capetocape.org.uk/

[Thorinbushmill]

Saw a Schwimmwagen at NW Mogfest last year.

...he wouldn't go drive it through the river though.

[David Dunn]

I missed the question on the M656… let me say it is just a tad shorter the the FDT.

As far as an APC, I’d rather have a SDP 6x6 Pandur. Gee, at least hold true to something at least loosely related to the Pinz.

The Supacat is somewhat related to a Pinz…. Well, to my Pinz, through marriage. Something like what you'd see in Kentucky
( We'll see how many members we have in Kentucky in the following flaming posts) And to be sure, Yeap, I'm going to hell

After 1:25 you’ll get your Pinz fix too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlgyCB_Ogvo


On the links, those would be a soft top. They have glass windshields and a canvas top, and the one I have has canvas doors and side panels. And as you add more framework, they lose swimming abilities. iirc The full hardtops do not swim at all.

Saw a Schwimmwagen at NW Mogfest last year.

...he wouldn't go drive it through the river though.

Sharp looking rig. I don't blame him not to swim it.

I'd like to swim one of my Cats one time only, just to have done it.
In Cal, they want it boat licensed and Coast Guard inspected and approved. Yeah, like I'm going to do that
Next, they'll want to want to place a "snow tax" to be able to drive it on the snow with tracks.
Probably shouldn't say that.. some legislator will read that and try to push a law through.

[totaljoint]

Does anyone know why surplus French Panhard VBL amphibians are not available?
Do they have laws prohibiting sale of military vehicles like the Japanese?
http://www.primeportal.net/apc/jean_thomas_rembert/vbl/

[GenevaPinz]

Does anyone know why surplus French Panhard VBL amphibians are not available?
Do they have laws prohibiting sale of military vehicles like the Japanese?
http://www.primeportal.net/apc/jean_thomas_rembert/vbl/

That's a very good question!! VBLs would be the right size for a civilian utilisation.
I browsed french websites and forums and found some leads from guys either with the French army or even one who claimed to work for Panhard-Levassor, but no definite answer.
It seems they are still used and modernized by Panhard for the French army.
Also, as per French law, it seems all vehicles with gun mounts / armor are considered as weaponry so they cannot be sold to civilians like Peugeot P4s, at least not without the buyer obtaining a license to purchase and detain military-grade weapons... they were also suggesting that the many french ex-colonies in Africa would be candidates for the sale of second hand VBLs in bulk long before they end up being sold to civilians.
Finally, they few guys that had experience driving them were not impressed and qualified them as heavy (over 4 tons, i.e. about 9000 lbs) and underpowered with limited visibility, the latter being probably to be expected with any armored vehicle.