THE TURTLE
(November 1962)
Mobility of ground forces and particularly the individual foot soldier has always been a problem for the military. Today, with limited or 'brushfire" conflicts possible in the present political climate, there is an even greater need to relieve some of the man-packing burden of both infantry- men or indigenous personnel and at the same time facilitate the movement of supplies in areas where adverse environmental and terrain conditions pose difficult problems.
In an effort to combat these problems, Studebaker Corporation's Applied Research Division has come up with a three-wheeled, self -propelled cargo carrier designed to assist the foot soldier in transporting supplies and equipment in front-line areas. In rear areas, the vehicle could be used in transporting materials and stores at depots and direct support units.
Known as the Turtle, the 400- pound cargo hauler was displayed for the first time at the recent annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) in Washington, D.C. The Turtle is one of several products Studebaker is building for Defense Department appraisal under its "Mobility" program Instituted last year by Sherwood H. Egbert, company president.
Demonstrated at several Army posts, the Turtle proved that it was as much at home on water as on land. The buoyancy of the expanded Royalite body and the rapidly increasing displacement of the vehicle toward the top permits the Turtle to float with a full load and still maintain an eight-inch freeboard above the water table while maintaining a two mile per hour swimming capability in the water.
The Turtle is small - measuring only 72 inches in length, 35 1/2 inches in width and 35 inches in height - which permits it to operate on any type of terrain, whether in the jungle, on a mountain or the tundra and snow of Arctic wastelands. Its large cargo capacity - nominally 600 pounds through 1,000 pounds can be accommodated in most situations - makes it usable as a litter bearer as well as a transporter for crew - served weapons, ammunition, rations, communication equipment or other front-line supplies.
Operated by a 5.5 horsepower, four-cycle gasoline engine, manufactured by Onan Division, driving through a hydrostatic transmission, the vehicle will operate at a normal three to four miles per hour under load. An eight horsepower, two-cycle engine also is available for the Turtle. The large "Terra Tires" provide excellent off-road mobility with a 60 percent forward slope and 40 percent side slope. The vehicle is stopped by placing the transmission in neutral position. It also is capable of operating for five hours on a tank of gasoline.
Very conceivably, the Turtle also could be extremely useful as a tool and equipment carrier for missile bases and as a tool, ammunition and supply carrier for advance combat air fields for reconnaissance posts.
The Turtle's ability to operate in mud, water and on steep grades and side slopes also makes it a natural for many jobs in the field of civil engineering. One attraction is its ability to replace a half-a-dozen unskilled laborers to cut costs, keep construction on schedule and, in some instances, get the job done when enough labor is not available.
(November 1962)
Mobility of ground forces and particularly the individual foot soldier has always been a problem for the military. Today, with limited or 'brushfire" conflicts possible in the present political climate, there is an even greater need to relieve some of the man-packing burden of both infantry- men or indigenous personnel and at the same time facilitate the movement of supplies in areas where adverse environmental and terrain conditions pose difficult problems.
In an effort to combat these problems, Studebaker Corporation's Applied Research Division has come up with a three-wheeled, self -propelled cargo carrier designed to assist the foot soldier in transporting supplies and equipment in front-line areas. In rear areas, the vehicle could be used in transporting materials and stores at depots and direct support units.
Known as the Turtle, the 400- pound cargo hauler was displayed for the first time at the recent annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) in Washington, D.C. The Turtle is one of several products Studebaker is building for Defense Department appraisal under its "Mobility" program Instituted last year by Sherwood H. Egbert, company president.
Demonstrated at several Army posts, the Turtle proved that it was as much at home on water as on land. The buoyancy of the expanded Royalite body and the rapidly increasing displacement of the vehicle toward the top permits the Turtle to float with a full load and still maintain an eight-inch freeboard above the water table while maintaining a two mile per hour swimming capability in the water.
The Turtle is small - measuring only 72 inches in length, 35 1/2 inches in width and 35 inches in height - which permits it to operate on any type of terrain, whether in the jungle, on a mountain or the tundra and snow of Arctic wastelands. Its large cargo capacity - nominally 600 pounds through 1,000 pounds can be accommodated in most situations - makes it usable as a litter bearer as well as a transporter for crew - served weapons, ammunition, rations, communication equipment or other front-line supplies.
Operated by a 5.5 horsepower, four-cycle gasoline engine, manufactured by Onan Division, driving through a hydrostatic transmission, the vehicle will operate at a normal three to four miles per hour under load. An eight horsepower, two-cycle engine also is available for the Turtle. The large "Terra Tires" provide excellent off-road mobility with a 60 percent forward slope and 40 percent side slope. The vehicle is stopped by placing the transmission in neutral position. It also is capable of operating for five hours on a tank of gasoline.
Very conceivably, the Turtle also could be extremely useful as a tool and equipment carrier for missile bases and as a tool, ammunition and supply carrier for advance combat air fields for reconnaissance posts.
The Turtle's ability to operate in mud, water and on steep grades and side slopes also makes it a natural for many jobs in the field of civil engineering. One attraction is its ability to replace a half-a-dozen unskilled laborers to cut costs, keep construction on schedule and, in some instances, get the job done when enough labor is not available.
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