Special Ops Want to Turn the C-130 Into a Seaplane. Really.
The Hercules, one of the most versatile planes in aviation history, isn't finished yet.
By Kyle Mizokami
May 21, 2021
This is the second part to Special Ops Want to Turn the C-130 Into a Seaplane. Really.
Currently, Navy SEALs, Rangers, and other units can infiltrate by mini-submarine, CV-22 Osprey, or small boat. Each vehicle has its disadvantages: mini-subs are slow, small and can only carry eight troops, while small boats are limited by range, and Ospreys can’t land on water.
A MAC, on the other hand, would have the cargo capacity of a C-130, the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft, and the ability to float like a boat.
The U.S. military hasn’t operated a seaplane in decades, since the retirement of the Martin P5M Marlin in the 1960s. Recently, there’s been a push to bring them back, spurred by Russia and China developing seaplanes of their own.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a36500235/c-130-seaplane-special-ops-amphibious-hercules-2/
