Hi
Whilst searching for photos of guntrucks ive come across loads of different types ranging from simple armoured boxes to Vietnam m54/m113 combination but this one from Iraq has to be the strangest, it looks like a boat.



Just kidding i know it is a boat but what type is it and whats it doing in the middle of Iraq, looks to me like the old pbr riverine boat.
Maybe should be posted over on the warship forum.

cheers
peter

Well, you have the famous Euphrates river in Iraq. So that's probably where they use it. We call it Elfurat in arabic.

Well, you have to admit, there is a certain psychological value to having the boat on the trailer for convoy duty. :-) When you get attacked, and the enemy sees you shooting an M2 at them from a boat, they will know for sure your are f*&^%$g insane, and probably will run like hell. Even better yet, if the enemy is peering over a sand dune and they dont see the truck pulling the boat, but they see some guys riding in a boat in the middle of the desert, they will probably think they have smoked too much hash and just let it go by thinking it is a mirage! LMAO

Nope... not a PBR... It's some sort of other one

Dude....that's happened to me...whoa...


whoa.

Cuhail

I think I have figured out what kind of boat that is. After looking for a while, the only thing that comes remotely close to this boat is this picture ----> http://www.tf116.org/iraq/River2.jpg

Apparently, the marines are using this for river patrol. I cant find any other info on the type of boat it is , who makes it, specs, etc. Would be an interesting one to scratch build though.

Looks Pretty Damn Close to me.......

This small craft shown in this picture is called a Riverine Assault Craft (RAC), manufactured by Swiftships. The RAC was fielded in the Small Craft Company of Headquarters Battalion, Second Marine Division to meet the requirement for Marines to perform high speed riverine operations in support of CINC South, and has since been used in OIF and in trainng Navy Riverine Squadrons. The RAC has a crew of four Marines and can transport 10-15 combat-loaded Marines in up to Sea State Condition 2. The missions that can be assigned to RACs include: armed escort; command, control, and communications; transport; armed reconnaissance; and pursuit/interception.

Specs for the boat are:
Length: 35 feet (10.66 meters)
Beam: 9 feet, 2 inches (2.79 meters)
Draft: 30" (8" on plane) (66.04cm)
Displacement, empty: 13,600 pounds (6,174kg)
Displacement full load: 16,400 pounds (7,455 kilograms)
Speed: 43mph (68.8 km/hr) (31mph (49.6 km/hr) cruise)
Acceleration from Cruise to 40mph: 10 sec
Range: 400 miles (640 kilometers)
Fuel Endurance: 8 hours
Power: Twin 300hp Cummins diesel engines driving Hamilton 271 waterjets
Crew: 4 to 5

Hey, thanks for reviving this and adding the information about this boat. More over, welcome to the Big A. Now, for extra credit, you wouldnt by chance have some detailed pictures of this thing, would ya???? Id love to scratch build one of these.

Gary

Howdy...

I also second the "Welcome" to the site, and very much appreciate the information and the clarification your post accomplished.

And, for the record, I also second the request for any supporting pics you might be aware of about this particular boat.

Tread.