So the mystery is solved (sort of).
Those amphibious oyster-harvesting trucks that I saw in Brittany are probably not purpose-built but are likely to be modified LARCs - that is, "Lighter, Amphibious, Resupply Cargo" originally built for the US forces in the fifties and sixties. Correspondent D Powell writes:
It turns out that Searles Sea Tours also runs a LARC-XV known as 'Wiley the Wash Monster' on trips out of Hunstanton.
And here's a smaller LARC-V being unloaded from its very big brother, the LARC-LX:
The LARC-LX was also known as the BARC (Barge Amphibious Resupply Cargo) - read more about it at this excellent site all about amphibious vehicles. Here it is again, in full seagoing mode:
Neither of these pictures really conveys the scale of the LARC-LX, so here's a video which does...
Those amphibious oyster-harvesting trucks that I saw in Brittany are probably not purpose-built but are likely to be modified LARCs - that is, "Lighter, Amphibious, Resupply Cargo" originally built for the US forces in the fifties and sixties. Correspondent D Powell writes:
"They came in three sizes: LARC-V (5 ton, 1 engine) LARX-XV (15 ton, 2 engines) and LARC-LX (60 ton, 4 engines). The French fishermen's trucks [are] either the 5 or 15 ton models. There were also at least two of these (probably 5-tonners) operating 'Duck Tours' type services on Jersey, these were the only passenger vehicles requiring certification under the island's P30 Oversize Vehicle regulations."Thanks, D! (any advance on D?). Don't forget that those tonnage ratings refer to payload, not overall weights.
It turns out that Searles Sea Tours also runs a LARC-XV known as 'Wiley the Wash Monster' on trips out of Hunstanton.
And here's a smaller LARC-V being unloaded from its very big brother, the LARC-LX:
The LARC-LX was also known as the BARC (Barge Amphibious Resupply Cargo) - read more about it at this excellent site all about amphibious vehicles. Here it is again, in full seagoing mode:
Neither of these pictures really conveys the scale of the LARC-LX, so here's a video which does...
The poor car in question is an NSU 1000 Coupe.
The LARC-LX/BARC really is huge: 19m long and 8.1m wide, with a loadspace area of 4.2 x 12.5m. It weighs 92 tonnes dry, but then it has a payload of 60 tons - and an 'emergency' payload of 100 tons!) Surprisingly, it can manage 12mph even fully laden - but then, it does have four 310hp engines.
If you want to buy a BARC (and let's face it, who wouldn't want to?) there are a few for sale, including a couple here, at a reasonable-sounding £50,000, and this one, at a less attractive $345,000 - oh, and it's in Louisiana. Still, there's a lot of metal in a BARC, and you wouldn't let a little thing like the Atlantic get in your way, would you?
You could also visit the sensibly-named BuyADuck, which specialises in amphibious trucks of all types.
And finally, here's another video of the monster in (rather slow) action:
Comments (1)
Hello Toby
Just to put the record straight it is Dave, but being in IT I get used to using the one initial and surname to confuse spammers name and address harvesting software. but I will put this right in future
Posted by Dave Powell | August 28, 2008 10:11 PM
Posted on August 28, 2008 22:11