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XM-147 Super DUKW
The duck took the plunge three times with 14 club members aboard each time following the last club meeting. Click the picture to see the wide screen version. Surrounded by all the pretty white boats, the duck actually looks like an alligator among swans. Check out the Super DUKW Chronicles.
Tom Buonaugurio
surplusyes@comcast.net
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Wessex Saker
This British Wessex Saker Light Strike Vehicle (LSV) was one of several built during the Desert Storm era for the Special Air Service (SAS). Like most LSVs and other similar "buggies" the Saker is powered by a Volkswagen flat 4 cylinder 1.6 liter, air cooled, petrol engine. It utilizes classic VW running gear of 4/1 manual trans-axel with a torsion bar twin beam front axel. Brakes are disc all around backing up 30x9.50R15LT Yokohama studded "Mud Digger" tyres on five spoke aluminum off-road rims. The frame is all tubular steel covered with aluminum diamond plate body panels and wings (fenders). The head section of the roll bar has a machine gun mount as does the passenger dash bar. The wind screen can fold forward by removing four pins and the top roll cage section.
The electrical system was designed for either 12 or 24 volt, using two small Exide RE1 batteries mounted centre line forward of the foot wells. Lucas electric (Price of Darkness) 12 volt turn indicators and headlights are standard. All instruments, switches and indicators are housed in a simple "job box" to the right of the steering wheel. Seating is Puritanical OD canvass pads on metal frames with little adjustment, seat belts are Willans 3-point racing harnesses of baby blue webbing? No rearview mirrors of any kind are installed making it difficult to see behind. A simple on board fire suppression system is present to quell a possible engine fire. The fuel cell is stainless steel fixed between the cabin and engine. Stowage is Spartan with stretch metal bins on either side of seating, a deck over the engine and flat wings and bonnet. In all a unique piece of British SAS kit that is historically significant, fun to drive and definitely not your Grandfathers jeep!
Seated in the Saker is Robbie Skipper, son of Rick Skipper of Khaki Corps Imports.
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