Editing Amphibious vehicle (section)

===Unarmored===
==== Cycles ====
{{main|Amphibious cycle}}
[[File:Amfibiefiets Amphibious bicycle.jpg|thumb|right|Amphibious bike 'Cyclomer', Paris, 1932]]

An amphibious cycle is a [[human-powered vehicle]] capable of operation on both land and water. "Saidullah's Bicycle"<ref>{{cite news |title=Grassroots inventions |last=Shourie |first=D. |date=17 February 2006 |newspaper=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |location=[[Chandigarh]], India}}</ref> uses four rectangular air filled floats for buoyancy, and is propelled using two fan blades which are attached to the spokes. Moraga's "Cyclo Amphibious"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US3606856A/en |title=Cyclo Amphibious (US Patent 3,606,856) |last=Moraga |first=Ernesto Octavio |date=21 September 1971 |website=[[Google Patents]] |access-date=13 May 2018}}</ref> uses a simple tricycle frame to support three floaters which provide both the floatation and thrust. The wings on the powered wheels propel the vehicle in a similar way to a [[paddle wheel]].

The SBK Engineering Shuttle-Bike consists of two inflatable floats with straps that allow the carrying of a bicycle with a passenger. The ensemble, when deflated, fits in a backpack for carrying by the cyclist.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gizmag.com/go/2505/ |title=Shuttle-Bike - convert a bike to a pedal-power boat |first=Mike |last=Hanlon |date=4 June 2004 |website=Gizmag |access-date=13 May 2018}}</ref>

Several amphibious cycles have been created by engineering students as university projects.

Gibbs Sports Amphibians Inc. introduced a motorized version of the amphibious cycle that resembles a jet ski on water and motorcycle on land. The model can reach up to 80&nbsp;mph by land and 45&nbsp;mph by water.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americanindust.com/amphibian-motorcycle |title=Motorcycle Innovations: Introducing the Amphibious Motorcycle |date=20 November 2015 |website=American Industrial |access-date=9 August 2016}}</ref>

==== ATVs ====
{{main|Amphibious ATV}}
[[File:Amphibious-8x8.jpg|thumb|300px|Land Tamer amphibious 8x8 remote access vehicle]]

Amongst the smallest non-air-cushioned amphibious vehicles are amphibious ATVs (all-terrain vehicles). These saw significant popularity in North America during the 1960s and early 1970s. Typically an amphibious ATV (AATV) is a small, lightweight, off-highway vehicle, constructed from an integral hard plastic or fibreglass bodytub, fitted with six (sometimes eight) driven wheels, with low pressure, balloon tires. With no suspension (other than what the tires offer) and no steering wheels, directional control is accomplished through skid-steering{{Snd}}just as on a tracked vehicle{{Snd}}either by braking the wheels on the side in the direction of the desired turn or by applying more throttle to the wheels on the opposite side. Most contemporary designs use garden tractor type engines, that will provide roughly 25&nbsp;mph (40&nbsp;km/h) top speed on land.

Constructed this way, an AATV will float with ample freeboard and is capable of traversing swamps, ponds, and streams as well as dry land. On land these units have high grip and great off-road ability, that can be further enhanced with an optional set of tracks that can be mounted directly onto the wheels. Although the spinning action of the tires is enough to propel the vehicle through the water{{Snd}}albeit slowly{{Snd}}outboard motors can be added for extended water use.

In October 2013, Gibbs Amphibians introduced the long-awaited Quadski, the first amphibious vehicle capable of traveling 45&nbsp;mph on land or water. The Quadski was developed using Gibbs' High-Speed Amphibian technology, which Gibbs originally developed for the Aquada, an amphibious car, which the company has still not produced because of regulatory issues.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fastamphibians.com/attorneys-new-classification-needed-for-high-speed-amphibians/ |title=Attorneys: New Classification Needed for High Speed Amphibians |first=Bryan |last=Laviolette |date=14 February 2012 |website=Fast Amphibians |access-date=13 May 2018}}</ref>

==== Cars ====
{{Main|Amphibious automobile}}
[[Amphibious automobile]]s have been conceived from ca. 1900; however, the [[Second World War]] significantly stimulated their development. Two of the most significant amphibious cars to date were developed during World War II. The most proliferous was the German ''[[Schwimmwagen]]'', a small jeep-like [[4x4]] vehicle designed by the [[Porsche]] engineering firm in 1942 and widely used in [[World War II]]. The amphibious bodywork was designed by [[Erwin Komenda]], the firm's body construction designer, using the engine and drive train of the ''[[Volkswagen Kübelwagen|Kübelwagen]]''. An amphibious version of the [[Willys MB]] jeep, the [[Ford GPA]] or'' 'Seep' ''(short for ''Sea jeep'') was developed during World War II as well. A specially modified GPA, called [[Half-Safe]], was driven and sailed around the world by Australian [[Ben Carlin]] in the 1950s.

One of the most capable post-war amphibious off-roaders was the German [[Amphi-Ranger]], that featured a hull made of seawater-resistant [[Birmabright|AlMg2]] aluminium alloy. Extensively engineered, this costly vehicle was proven seaworthy at a [[Beaufort scale|Gale force]] 10 storm off the North Sea coast (Pohl, 1998). Only about 100 were built{{Snd}}those who own one have found it capable of crossing the English Channel almost effortlessly.

Purely recreational amphibian cars include the 1960s [[Amphicar]] and the contemporary [[Gibbs Aquada]]. With almost 4,000 pieces built, the Amphicar is still the most successfully produced civilian amphibious car to date. The Gibbs Aquada stands out due to its capability of high-speed planing on water. Gibbs built fifty Aquadas in the early 2000s after it was developed by a team assembled by founder Alan Gibbs before the company's engine supplier, Rover, was unable to continue providing engines. Gibbs and new partner Neil Jenkins reconstituted the company and are now seeking U.S. regulatory approval for the Aquada.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2010/07/carboat-stalled-gibbs-to-launch-amphibious-atv/ |title=With Car/Boat Stalled, Gibbs to Launch Amphibious ATV |first=Bryan |last=Laviolette |date=2 July 2010 |website=The Detroit Bureau |access-date=13 May 2018}}</ref>

In 2010, a Southern California-based company named [[WaterCar]] set the Guinness World Record for Fastest Amphibious Vehicle, with their prototype, The Python, which reached top land speeds of 204&nbsp;km/h (127&nbsp;mph) and water speeds of 96&nbsp;km/h (60&nbsp;mph; 52 knots).<ref>{{cite web |title=Fastest amphibious car |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-amphibious-car |website=Guinness World Records}}</ref> Since then, the company launched their first commercial vehicle, The Panther, which has been featured on ABC's ''[[The Bachelor (U.S. TV series)|The Bachelor]]'' as well as USA's ''[[Royal Pains]]''. The WaterCar can do 80&nbsp;mph (129&nbsp;km/h) on land, and 44&nbsp;mph (38 knots; 71&nbsp;km/h) on sea, and can transition from land to sea in less than 15 seconds.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/watercar-panther-amphibious-off-road-vehicle-sets-sail-202554676.html |last1=Lloyd |first1=Alex |title=WaterCar Panther, the amphibious off-road vehicle sets sail |date=27 June 2013 |website=Yahoo! Autos |access-date=27 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701030104/https://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/watercar-panther-amphibious-off-road-vehicle-sets-sail-202554676.html |archive-date=1 July 2013}}</ref> Since its release, WaterCar has been popular in the Middle East, selling to the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, with six additional vehicles being sold to the Crown Prince of Dubai. The WaterCar has also been sold to tech enthusiasts and residents of Silicon Valley.<ref>{{cite news |last=England-Nelson |first=Jordan |title=Amphibious WaterCar is a pricey, fast boat, too |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2022770851_autowatercarxml.html |date=27 January 2014 |newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]] |access-date=13 May 2018}}</ref>

Other amphibious cars include the US [[Hydra Spyder]] and the Spira4u.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spira4u.com/aboutus.html |title=About Us |website=Spira4u.com |access-date=13 May 2018}}</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="160px">
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-721-0372-13A, Frankreich, Offiziere in Schwimmkübel.jpg|[[Volkswagen Schwimmwagen|VW Schwimmwagen]] in June 1944
File:"Drozd" amphibious vehicle during the "Armiya 2020" exhibition (front view).jpg|"Drozd" amphibious vehicle during the "[[Army (International Military-Technical Forum)|Armiya 2020]]"
File:PICT6224 1 AMPHIBIOUS LAND ROVER 1.jpg|A [[Land Rover Series|Land Rover]] with inflatable floats to create a vehicle that will swim much like an improvised raft
File:WaterCar Panther at High Speeds.jpg|[[Panther (amphibious vehicle)|Water Car Panther]] driving at High Speeds on Lake Havasu, AZ.
</gallery>

==== Buses ====
[[Amfibus]] amphibious buses made by Dutch Amphibious Transport (DAT) in [[Nijmegen]], Netherlands are used to operate tours of [[Amsterdam]], [[Rotterdam]] and [[Lübeck]], under the ''Splashtours'' brand. The buses have a [[Volvo]] chassis and carry 43 passengers. The operation started in 2010 in [[Katendrecht]], Rotterdam, was copied in Amsterdam in 2011 but suspended in 2012 after technical problems, and then relaunched in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dutchamsterdam.nl/406-amphibious-bus-canal-tours-amsterdam|title=Splashtours: Amphibious bus ride through the canals of Amsterdam|date=26 June 2018}}</ref> A tour of Lübeck was launched in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.splashtour-luebeck.de/EN/Splashtours-bus/|title = Splashtour Lübeck - Splashtours bus}}</ref> In 2010 it was tested as a replacement for the [[Renfrew Ferry|ferry]] at Renfrew, Scotland, but not adopted.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newatlas.com/stagecoach-amphibious-bus-amfibus/14130/|title = Britain's first amphibious bus nearly becomes a submarine|date = 11 February 2010}}</ref> A similar service, using different vehicles, operates in [[Porto]].

<gallery widths="200px" heights="160px">
File:Splashtour 'Amfibus' amphibious bus, An der Untertrave, Lübeck, 12 August 2020.jpg|Splashtour 'Amfibus' amphibious bus, An der Untertrave, Lübeck, 12 August 2020
File:Amphibious bus on Thames river.jpg|upright|Amphibious tour bus{{Snd}}a converted [[DUKW]]{{Snd}}on Thames river in London near Lambeth Bridge.
</gallery>

====Boats====
Some amphibious vehicles, rather than being designed for land transport with the ability to cross water, are designed as water-transport vehicles with the ability to travel on land. The distinction is that the vehicles are designed to be high performing on water, with the land transport ability added to give additional functionality, rather than being the main function. [[Sealegs Amphibious Craft]] are an example of this, which are a range of aluminium three-wheeled fabricated boats (mostly [[Rigid-hulled inflatable boat|RIBs]]) designed and manufactured in [[Auckland, New Zealand]] since 2005. These craft can travel up to 39 knots on water, but travel at only 7.5&nbsp;km/h on land, showing the preference for water performance in design. Various versions of this type of amphibious boat design have been produced, including the French [[Iguana Yachts|Iguana Yacht]], an amphibious [[motorboat]] featuring all-terrain [[Continuous track|tracks]] (covered in the "Tracked" section below).

Recently,{{When|date=June 2021}} Gibbs Amphibians has developed a new type of amphibian, one capable of high speeds on both land and water. The vehicles use a patented hydraulic system to raise the wheels into the wheel wells, allowing the vehicles to plane on water. These vehicles can transition between land and water modes in about five seconds. The first Gibbs fast amphibian is the [[Gibbs Quadski|Quadski]], introduced in October 2012. It went on sale in January 2013.{{Promotion inline|date=June 2021}}

<gallery widths="200px" heights="160px">
File:Berky Amphi King Typ 6450.jpg|alt=This amphibious boat 'amphi king' is used for maintaining waterways, like freeing them from water plants|Amphibious boat used for water maintenance
File:Катер-амфибия Sealegs в России2..jpg|[[Sealegs Amphibious Craft]]
</gallery>

=====Oyster boats=====
[[File:Oyster boat, Gorey.JPG|thumb|Oyster boat in the harbour at [[Gorey, Jersey]]]]

Since 1977, several boat builders in Brittany have built specialized amphibious vehicles for use in the area's [[mussel]] and [[oyster farming]] occupations. The boats are made of aluminium, are relatively flat-bottomed, and have three, four, or six wheels, depending on the size of the boat. When the tide is out the boats can run on the tidal flats using their wheels. When the tide is in, they use a propeller to move through the water. Oyster farmers in [[Jersey]] make use of similar boats. Currently, ''Constructions Maritimes du Vivier Amphibie'' has a range of models.<ref>{{cite web  |url=http://cmv-amphibie.com/en/ |title=Our projects |website=CMV Amphibie |access-date=13 May 2018}}</ref>

====Cargo====
===== Trucks and barges =====
[[File:Almost a duck - geograph.org.uk - 6121934.jpg|thumb|Amphibious vehicle used by coastguard]]
{{See also|Duck tours}}

With more than 20,000 units produced, the [[DUKW]] was the most successful amphibious truck of [[World War II]]. This {{convert|31|ft|m|adj=on}} [[6x6]] truck was used to establish and supply beachheads. It was designed as a wartime project by [[Sparkman & Stephens]], a [[yacht]] design firm who also designed the hull for the [[Ford GPA|Ford GPA 'Seep']]. Britain developed the [[Terrapin (amphibious vehicle)|Terrapin]] [[8x8]] amphibious cargo carrier which was used by [[79th Armoured Division]] during the Walcheren campaign. While offering greater capacity than the DUKW, ease of operation favoured the DUKW. An improved version of the Terrapin never got beyond prototype stage. During the war, Germany produced the ''[[Landwasserschlepper]]''. In the 1950s, the Soviets developed the [[GAZ-46]], [[BAV 485]], and [[PTS (amphibious vehicle)|PTS]].

During the [[Vietnam War]], the [[United States Army|US Army]] used the amphibious articulated [[Gama Goat]] and the larger [[M520 Goer]] truck-series to move supplies through the canals and [[Paddy field|rice paddies]] of [[Southeast Asia]]. The latter was based on a 1950s civil construction vehicle and became the US Army's standard heavy tactical truck before its replacement by the [[HEMTT]]. Although the vehicles' wheels were mounted without suspension or steering action, and land speeds over 20&nbsp;mph (32&nbsp;km/h) were ill-advised, its articulated design provided it with good maneuverability and helped it to keep all four wheels firmly in touch with uneven ground. Coupled with its amphibious capability, in the Vietnam War, the [[M520 Goer]] developed a reputation of being able to go where other trucks could not.

For taking vehicles and supplies onto the beaches the US used the 1950s designed [[LARC-V]] and the huge [[LARC-LX]] which could carry 60 tons of cargo.

The [[British Army]] used the 6x6 wheeled [[Alvis Stalwart]] as their amphibious cargo carrier. In the water [[vectored thrust]] water-jet propulsion units drove it along at about 6 knots.

The [[M3 Amphibious Rig]] can be used as a ferry or as a floating bridge for trucks and heavy combat vehicles.

Gibbs has also developed other types of fast amphibians including the Phibian, a {{convert|30|ft|m|adj=on}} amphibian that is aimed at first responder market, and the Humdinga, a {{convert|21|ft|m|adj=on}} amphibian that is capable of traversing extreme terrain.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fastamphibians.com/gibbs-launches-30-foot-phibian-high-speed-amphibian/ |title=Gibbs Launches 30-foot Phibian High Speed Amphibian |first=Bryan |last=Laviolette |date=9 February 2012 |website=Fast Amphibians |access-date=13 May 2018}}</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="160px">
File:DUKW.image2.army.jpg|A [[DUKW]] during [[World War II]]
File:Alvis Stalwart W&P2011.JPG|A British [[Alvis Stalwart]]
File:LARC V vehicle.JPEG|A [[LARC-V]] 5-ton U.S. amphibious cargo vehicle
</gallery>