TRAFFICABILITY TESTS WITH THE MARSH SCREW AMPHIBIAN ON COARSE-GRAINED AND FINE-GRAINED SOILS

Abstract : The Marsh Screw Amphibian is of interest in the Army's mobility research program because of its unusual concept of locomotion which is based on the Archimedean screw. It moves by means of two counterrotating rotors which give forward and backward thrust to the ve;icle. When both rotors are made to turn in the same direction, the vehicle will move laterally; however, there is no provision for steering when the vehicle is moving laterally. Trafficability tests with the Marsh Screw were performed to determine its performance on three soil types: sand, clay, and silt. Repetitivepass tests and speed tests were conducted on clay and sand; towing tests on clay, silt, and sand; slope-climbing tests on sand; and obstacle tests on silt. For comparison, tests with an M29C weasel were conducted and performance cruves from previous test programs were utilized.