Forgotten Hope Public Forum

Off-Topic => Off-Topic => Topic started by: Herc on 23-03-2010, 21:03:42

Title: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Herc on 23-03-2010, 21:03:42
I came across a site with lots of images of this mysterious ekranoplan.

I must say, its quite a unique machine

http://igor113.livejournal.com/51213.html (http://igor113.livejournal.com/51213.html)

A translation of the main text on the page:

Here are my hands and came up ekranoplana.Ya break the story about him for 3 or 4 parts: 1-ekranoplan outside (1 or 2 parts) 2-ekranoplan inside, 3-docking the craft.
In 1987, the water went Lun first ship of a series of military missile-carrying WIG weighing 400 tons was the chief designer Vladimir Kirillov. The ship was armed with three pairs of cruise missile 3M80 or 80M "Mosquito" (the NATO designation SS-N-22 Sunburn). The second "Lun" also found a missile carrier, but the outbreak conversion brought about changes, and it planned to build a rescue.
LTH:
Modification Lun
Wingspan,  44.00 m
Length,  73.80 m
Height,  19.20 m
Wing area,  550.00m2
Empty aircraft 243000 kg
Maximum takeoff 380000 kg
Type 8 turbojet engine NK-87
Thrust, kgf 8 x 13000
Maximum speed, 500 km / h
Range, 2000 km
Height of the flight on the screen, 1.5 m
Seaworthiness, 5.6 points
Crew 10
Armament: 6 IP PKR ZM-80 Mosquito

Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Paasky on 23-03-2010, 21:03:38
That thing truly is one of the most ridiculous and ugly pieces of engineering I have ever seen.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Thorondor123 on 23-03-2010, 21:03:05
That is a damn masterpiece!

To be honest, I'm actually quite disappointed. I thought this thread would be about some sea monster :P
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Fuchs on 23-03-2010, 21:03:35
Aha, this beauty again. A seaplane, genius troop transport. I believe they are also in World in Conflict, only as statics though.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: [130.Pz]S.Tiemann on 23-03-2010, 21:03:19
Only 1 pic of the inside  :-[
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Cory the Otter on 23-03-2010, 21:03:26
i love big beautiful planes!
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Zurich163 on 23-03-2010, 22:03:44
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8Nu94khHoo
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Dukat on 23-03-2010, 22:03:01
I like it. It might be no beauty in the details, but overall it is a beauty in engineering. Form is following function here.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: THeTA0123 on 23-03-2010, 22:03:13
The only thing remaining is one American patriot wich says= But our Sprooce gooce H-4 hercules is bigger! And westren! And free!

Its a lovely plane, and it had potential. But as with many very large soviet things, not used

Like the An-225
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Herc on 23-03-2010, 23:03:09
The only thing remaining is one American patriot wich says= But our Sprooce gooce H-4 hercules is bigger!

This aircraft is actuallly 8 Meters longer than the spruce goose, and 4 meters longer than a Boeing 747-400 its massive! 
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Hockeywarrior on 24-03-2010, 00:03:31
LOL it really looks like they just kept sticking jet engines on it until it flew.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: DLFReporter on 24-03-2010, 08:03:01
It has it's own elegance and as a ground effect plane it is just pure awesome. :)
I mean look at all the details. Radar dome, rocket launchers, gunner positions. And a modest payload capacity. :)
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Fuchs on 24-03-2010, 08:03:55
LOL it really looks like they just kept sticking jet engines on it until it flew.
Shame it still doesn't fly, they ran out of space.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Torenico on 24-03-2010, 09:03:49
It Looks like a Monster who came from the Deepest part of the Sea to Eat Capitalist Fanboys.

Ugly Shit.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: siben on 24-03-2010, 10:03:18
LOL it really looks like they just kept sticking jet engines on it until it flew.
Shame it still doesn't fly, they ran out of space.

What do you mean? its not an airplane, it only has to fly a few meters above the ocean using the ground effect. I think you can compare it more to a hovercraft then to a plane.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: sn00x on 24-03-2010, 11:03:29
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSYmSnpQ360&feature=player_embedded#


(http://membres.multimania.fr/dracken/Ekranoplan/photo/chrono_russe.jpg)
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: DLFReporter on 24-03-2010, 11:03:59
A nice graph of Ground Effect Planes you have there snoox. :)

Edit: I do wonder why the Lippish is displayed along the Russian fleet.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Battlefieldfan45 (CroPanzer) on 24-03-2010, 11:03:54
Russians PWN everything  8)
That had to be expensive!
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: von.small on 24-03-2010, 13:03:40
CoD MW3 will have this
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Kubador on 24-03-2010, 13:03:34
The plane in first post is a military LUN not caspian sea monster. You can see the diference in snoox's picture.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Rawhide on 24-03-2010, 19:03:40
It's so beautiful I wanna cry
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Schneider on 24-03-2010, 19:03:11
It reminds me of a cormorant, somehow...
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Herc on 25-03-2010, 00:03:17
The plane in first post is a military LUN not caspian sea monster. You can see the diference in snoox's picture.

Correct, I just went with something people were more familiar with ;D
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Mspfc Doc DuFresne on 25-03-2010, 05:03:43
Boeing has a concept for one of these too, for a 1400ton capacity long range transport, called the Boeing Pelican.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/12/Pelican-01.jpg)
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: DLFReporter on 25-03-2010, 10:03:23
1400ton capacity? They have to be kidding. Where is the sense in that, with those weightloads a flat containership still has the best efficiency.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Kubador on 25-03-2010, 13:03:58
1400ton capacity? They have to be kidding. Where is the sense in that, with those weightloads a flat containership still has the best efficiency.

But not the speed.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: siben on 25-03-2010, 13:03:24
Correct me if i am wrong, but i always tough that these things where designed for invading a country that was separated by a large ocean. Like the USA. These things would fly in very low, and very fast under the radar surprising the US. Something regular planes or boats would never be able to do. They could also bring large amounts of troops and heavy equipment in at enormous rates.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: DLFReporter on 25-03-2010, 14:03:44
But not the speed.

That is true, but trying to build an airframe for such a weight is just... let us say a bit hard to do, since the total weight of the craft would then most likely exceed 1800 tonnes. Try landing that somewhere on land as they intend to do according to the text or on a sea that isn't calm. ^^

I will only believe it, when I see it.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: FatJoe on 25-03-2010, 17:03:01
Siben, yes.. That's what the Soviet military had interest for.

These things would fly across the ocean at high speed and low height giving the Soviets an advantage of reaching their destination before the Americans could react accordingly, as well as transport Heavy Equipment like you said, like tanks and such.. or so I read some long time ago.

Since I first saw it I've been wanting to see these things alive and working. These behemoths are one of those things that underlines that eery feel of the Cold War.. The evolution of new technology.. The seeming possibility of... anything. Beautiful behemoths!

Nice find Herc!
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Mspfc Doc DuFresne on 26-03-2010, 03:03:40
Yes, 1400 ton capacity. It was designed to carry 17 M1 abrams at once. At sea level it would have traveled at 240 knots for a 10000 mile range; at altitude, 360 knots for a 6000mile range. Yes, the masses are great and the engineering challenges would have been enormous, but it does allow you to carry tremendous weights at high speeds.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: VonMudra on 26-03-2010, 06:03:16
I highly doubt that a soviet transport...thing (its not a plane or a ship...) was designed to carry american tanks.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Mspfc Doc DuFresne on 26-03-2010, 06:03:39
I highly doubt that a soviet transport...thing (its not a plane or a ship...) was designed to carry american tanks.

Boeing has a concept for one of these too, for a 1400ton capacity long range transport, called the Boeing Pelican.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/12/Pelican-01.jpg)

I don't think the Boeing one, which I was talking about, was designed to carry soviet tanks either.

I was replying to the incredulous replies of "1400 tons omg hax." I had to go back and check again myself, but that was indeed the designed transport capacity.

Mad props to the soviets for actually building the thing. Does anybody know what the carrying capacity of the ekranoplan is/was supposed to be?
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: VonMudra on 26-03-2010, 08:03:10
OOHHH, lol.  Thought you were still talking about the Caspian Sea Monster :P
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: DLFReporter on 26-03-2010, 08:03:07
I was replying to the incredulous replies of "1400 tons omg hax." I had to go back and check again myself, but that was indeed the designed transport capacity.

Mad props to the soviets for actually building the thing. Does anybody know what the carrying capacity of the ekranoplan is/was supposed to be?

280 metric tons if wiki has it right this time. Sounds credible.
About the '1400t omg hax', I'm looking at it purely from an engineering background and with insight to the problems normal transport planes face, so that weight is quite awe inspiring and as I said, I don't think they will build it.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Wasntmenl on 26-03-2010, 09:03:57
Picture is big so Ill just post a link
http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/files/2009/09/hangar-one-nasa-ames.jpg
Its russian but what is it? A kirov airship?
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: [130.Pz]S.Tiemann on 26-03-2010, 09:03:03
Um, its just an American rigid airship........
This is pre-ww2 tech  ???
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Mspfc Doc DuFresne on 26-03-2010, 09:03:59
Yeah, the navy had ...two? in the period before World war 2. You can see the emblem on the right.

We didn't like them much, they both were lost in storms iirc.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: DLFReporter on 26-03-2010, 10:03:43
Um, its just an American rigid airship........
This is pre-ww2 tech  ???

Bugger off, rigid Airships are cool. ;D
But I'm biased there, since I now live 4km from their birthplace. ^^
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Mr_Cheese on 26-03-2010, 21:03:01
Since I first saw it I've been wanting to see these things alive and working. These behemoths are one of those things that underlines that eery feel of the Cold War.. The evolution of new technology.. The seeming possibility of... anything. Beautiful behemoths!
Weirdly that's just how I feel about it too :D There's something about all the Cold War "future" technology and design that's eerily fascinating....
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: THeTA0123 on 26-03-2010, 22:03:26
Picture is big so Ill just post a link
http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/files/2009/09/hangar-one-nasa-ames.jpg
Its russian but what is it? A kirov airship?
KKIIRRROOOV REPORTING




Imagine if russia had a whole fleet of those in WW2.
The luftwaffe would send out Storch's to shoot them down
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Thorondor123 on 26-03-2010, 22:03:05
Imagine if US of A still had their flying aircraft-carriers. Few of those patrolling the the seas around Hawaii.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Herc on 26-03-2010, 23:03:38
haha yeah, i loved that idea, its what inspired the game crimson skies
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Kubador on 27-03-2010, 02:03:27
280 metric tons if wiki has it right this time. Sounds credible.
About the '1400t omg hax', I'm looking at it purely from an engineering background and with insight to the problems normal transport planes face, so that weight is quite awe inspiring and as I said, I don't think they will build it.

Well, I think that these machines will relive their times once again. If not militairly then as a civil transport. It can carry more, and eats less fuel and with oil companies reaching their supply capabilities it'a a matter of time when flying becomes transport for the rich.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: siben on 27-03-2010, 02:03:22
Euhm, regular boats are still a lot cheaper to use then these you know, and most transport is still done by boats (big boats are like the most fuel officiant way to transport stuff) so i doubt it. All these big prestige projects are a thing of the past if you ask me.
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Kubador on 27-03-2010, 02:03:42
I'm not talking about cargo transport but civil transport. People want to get to their destination fast. This could thet them relatively fast and cheap (becouse of enourmous amount of seats).
Title: Re: Caspian Sea monster in detail
Post by: Kelmola on 27-03-2010, 14:03:42
Just looking at the pictures of the "Lun" gives me an instant hard-on. That thing is just incomprehensibly cool in its brutality and straightforwardness. That monster looks like it was built by the Imperium in the year 40,000 but then fell through the Warp to our time ;) Why, oh why there are not much much more masterpieces of technological insanity like this in the world?

Though, thinking about its purpose, I would say that besides invading the US (or Sweden, or Denmark, or Iceland, or Greenland, or the UK, or Turkey, or Japan) from the sea, the Ekranoplans would have had another potential use as well, hence the SS-N-22 launchers (a ramjet-powered cruise missile is also teh win, btw) and sophisticated radars.

Namely, hunting down US carrier task forces and supply convoys in the Atlantic. While the SOSUS line extended from Greenland to UK via Iceland, submarines were not a practical option, unless one was willing to accept loss rates that would have made even Dönitz hesitate. (Capturing Iceland and Greenland would have made this easier - where the "Lun" might have come in handy too, but let's assume that would have been too difficult to pull off.) So an airstrike was the tool of choice. A strike force consisting of regular bombers - Tu-95 Bears, Tu-16 Badgers, Tu-22 Blinders, Tu-22M Backfires - would have had to fly high in order to have the range to reach mid-Atlantic. And flying high they would have been detected much more earlier and easier (well above horizon, no ground clutter to hide in). And there was the additional risk that they could have been detected and intercepted coming and going through the Iceland-UK gap. Assuming that there had been an extended-range variant of the Lun (the Wiki entry states a range of only a couple of thousand of kilometers for it, even though ekranoplans are supposed to be more fuel-efficient than regular aircraft), it could have easily passed through below radar. As a ground effect airplane, it would not have had any difficulties staying at wave height, unlike regular aircraft - and combined with high-speed missiles, would have made defending agaist them nigh-impossible. The only tricky phase of the mission would have been locating the American carriers and convoys (the Lun had its own radars, but radar horizon works both ways), but if the missions were timed to hit mid-Atlantic when a recon satellite made an overhead pass, that would have been probably enough for preliminary target designation.

Well, there's also the third option besides troop carrying and anti-shipping duties. The Sunburn (if other missiles were not fitted) could also accept a 120 kt thermonuclear warhead. So the "Lun" would also have been the perfect tool for a decapitating first strike. Makes the fictional "Red October" look archaic in comparison. Why use something as slow and vulnerable as a submarine, when you could use a sexy beast like this?