The most aswome thing you can not buy!

[ZERO]

Tank busters FTW

I have edited my first post to show how much better the forums are with youtube support.

[Rated EC-10]

Back to the toy shown, I think Zero's assessment holds up decently. This would never be something you would want to be on while being shot at, but truthfully you don't want to be in an unarmored humvee that's being shot at either but they still mount guns on the things.

These things are definitely a possible force multiplier though. Given current tendency toward low density conflict and MOUT, these things could be a godsend for militaries capable of fielding them and hell on earth for insurgents.

As a commander, I can reliably expect about a 10 minute mile from infantry in full gear/packs. With slight improvement these things could do a 2 minute mile for a soldier in gear. As an insurgent, the infantry reinforcements I'm worried about that used to take 5 minutes to get there now start arriving in just over a minute.

And this is exponential, as with evenly distributed patrols the longer the time period the greater the number of reinforcements arrive per interval. Traditionally there is a greater limit to this because I have to worry about how fast I can return the now combat-exhausted troops to their assigned locations after a firefight, but with these, I can draw from a larger area and return them to it faster and with less fatigue.

Infantry are absolutely essential to urban warfare, and the biggest issue with using them is getting them where needed. This solves getting them there. Granted, an insurgent could still ambush arriving reinforcements with planning, but that's no different than now. And with these, an infantry squad would travel with much larger spacing, reducing the vulnerability of the squad overall. IED's are what they are, being on foot wouldn't make you less vulnerable than being on one of these, and depending on their construction, this could offer some protection against some lighter anti-personnel mines. Getting thrown off and breaking an arm sure beats the hell out of getting a new leg. There are some anti-personnel mines that might never get set off by these; the tracks have a larger footprint than the boot soles the soldier would have on the ground so there is reduced ground pressure; and the track crawls so there is no percussion of a foot impacting the ground.

That last part is why one of these could also make a soldier using one vastly superior at dealing with mud/snow etc. If it's built right, you could glide across without getting your feet stuck in. Like high speed snowshoes.

Now of course, the big issues are: reliability/maintainability, maintenance complexity, supply logistics, and of paramount tactical importance; does it look sexy enough?

[Paper]

Was just getting to the end of your post thinking about maintenance issues and then you mentioned it lol. Don't forget cost, already costs something like $17,000 to equip a single soldier, this thing would tack on an extra couple thousand.

[Hodgie]

Was just getting to the end of your post thinking about maintenance issues and then you mentioned it lol. Don't forget cost, already costs something like $17,000 to equip a single soldier, this thing would tack on an extra couple thousand.

And you KNOW that the soldiers would come up with some pretty inventive ways to break it.

[Rated EC-10]

Well maintenance isn't something you can tell before playing with one of the things, could be a nightmare could be easy as an AK.

Costs, of course can drop massively with mass production, and with this design certainly will. There is nothing about it that looks inherently more complex than a very light motorcycle. (Then of course you have to multiply the price back up cause it's military spending.)

Changes would be needed though, I think the wired control would need to be replaced by a stick/grip control on a post in front similar to some scooter designs. When you have to hop on and move in a hurry you don't want to go hunting for the controller. (The other option would be a wireless [jamming/hacking issues] or uniform-networked control [not perfected for production, added expenses].)

However, I think this does have a lot more potential than some of the sillier Land Warrior ideas I've seen floated. It is immensely more practical and easier to employ than the exoskeletons I've seen worked on, and would allow similar benefits for carrying heavier equipment loads. (I still think the standard pack should attach to the soldier's back by design, but I think the thing should have an attachment to mount a backpack directly to it and it likely would be in most situations.)

The M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzer was designed to be broken down into small hundred to two hundred pound loads to be carried by mules. I think this thing without a rider could take the place of a "mule" to carry heavier weapons for infantry teams, like .50 cal M2 Browning MG's and the like. That sort of use could easily precede usage of this sort of device as a personal vehicle.

[Hodgie]

I love your sig EC-10... That was an awesome epic comeback

[Christmas]

I can't take an army seriously that uses motorized surfboards to reinforce a position.

[Rated EC-10]

I can't take an army seriously that uses motorized surfboards to reinforce a position.

Excellent... your hysterical laughter will allow them to overrun you that much faster.

It's all going according to plan...

[Paper]

I do think this would be a pretty good way to transport materials, but I just don't see it working for troops going into combat, it seems too awkward.

Controlling it is definitely one of the biggest problems. And even though it could allow troops to carry heavier loads while riding it, how are they supposed to balance? I'm sure some troops could do it no problem, but I could never do anything on a skateboard/snowboard, and I'm sure there's more than a few troops who have similar board-balancing skill levels to myself.

[ZERO]

It is not as if the thing could be standard issue but what I am saying is I am sure that there would be plenty of scenarios where such a device could change the outcome and thus would be a good investment. The thing about war is that it is unpredictable, the army that adapts and takes the latest technology into account has a huge advantage. Being able to develop or anticipate new types of warfare are essential to the success of any campaign even our best games and simulators are a joke when compared to the unimaginable ways that humans can come up with to destroy one another. Think solders on skateboards sounds funny lets have a look at the past:

Unites States invests millions to develop a weapon more powerful than thousands of a single bomb put together.

Allies develop a special blend of ice called piecrete that they planed to use to build giant floating battle islands across the world.

Troops could be given a large sheet in the form of a circle that is attached via rope to a backpack and then thrown out of plains to attach a position by surprise.

Instead of standing in a long line and then attacking one individual unit in 1v1 combat regular people can be trained to hold a spear and simply stand in place with a shield and attack as one unit (Development of the phalanx, first used against Sparta)

Equip bats with explosives and lure then to key structures though the use of high frequency sound waves. Developed by Marines with a special congressional funding in WWII.

Instead of building high walls construct shorter thicker walls with angled sides to repel cannons

Get on a horse and then using a long metal stick hit other people at high speeds without getting killed.

Spy on enemy harbor by placing a clay pot upside down in water and having it held underwater by 4 rocks. User then walks around underwater for short times and also collects additional air by use of snorkel when at lower depths. (Punic wars)

Computer invented to better calculate accuracy for artillery later used to decode enemy encrypted transmissions.

A ship that can go underwater and attach bombs to the hulls of other ships (Civil War)

Putting a human in a big rocket and landing him on the moon.

Building a ship out of metal or a materiel that does not float.

Putting a flame thrower on a wooden ship.

Creating floating platforms so that ground troops can battle at see.

Developing M&M candy so pacific divisions can have candy that melts in the mouth and not in the sand.

Placing a pice of cloth around a musket ball to improve accuracy.

Using an armor plated vehicle to storm trenches

Weaponizing the gas given off when one tries to make mustard.

Using lazes like in the movie starwars to blow stuff up like missals.

Others that I can not think off the top of my head.