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Is an M548 Really Amphibious?

Terra1936

Terra1936

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I cannot find a single photo of a M548 swimming? The operators manual says to keep it away from water? Every site describes it as amphibious? Anyone with real experience or photos? Thanks!
 
M813rc

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I have a DVD copy of an early 1960s Army film where they test various vehicles, including an M548. The video includes the M548, a Gama Goat, and an M656 8x8 all swimming in a lake. I'll see if I can dig it out and get the title, I imagine it is on the interweb somewhere.

Cheers
 
BKubu

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I had a video of my old M548A1 "swimming" (video taken by the previous owner), although I cannot locate it. With that said, the A1s were not supposed to do so as they had one of the bilge pumps deleted (the vehicle has two). The older M548s had two bilge pumps. Apparently, one pump won't keep up for very long with the water seeping in so the swimming had better be quick! Still, I never wanted to swim the vehicles I had...to expensive to possibly sink.
 
Guyfang

Guyfang

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We had a variant of the M548, that was a HAWK Missile transporter, Launcher. 10 bilge pumps would not have kept it afloat, do to the extra weight.

Towards the end of this clip, about 2.16 minuets, is a shot of one going over a Army floating bridge. Looks like early 70's, probable REFORGER here in Germany.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOYaFo6G_4w
 
BKubu

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snowtrac nome said:
the one up here swam for a short time before it sunk on a swollen river. I do remember de watering the engine.
Click to expand...
That was the one that I had a video of swimming! :grin: It entered at a fairly steep angle as I recall (which is not what is recommended), water splashed up the windshield, and then the vehicle floated and propelled itself across a small body of water. It, then, climbed up the far bank.
 
Terra1936

Terra1936

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BKubu said:
That was the one that I had a video of swimming! :grin: It entered at a fairly steep angle as I recall (which is not what is recommended), water splashed up the windshield, and then the vehicle floated and propelled itself across a small body of water. It, then, climbed up the far bank.
Click to expand...
Seems to be like Big Foot. Everyone has seen but no real photos! :-D
 
montaillou

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Last edited:
Mullaney

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SCSG-G4 said:
The knuckle heads did not realize the bilge pumps only run when the engine is running.
Click to expand...
.
Thanks @SCSG-G4

Who says you should READ THE TM's? Like maybe in the -10 where it tells you that the bilge pumps operate only when the engine is running? Was that important?

CRITICAL INFORMATION can be found in those crusty old books...
.
 
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