Quote:
Originally Posted by bobcat
well since snowmobiles were invented for commando teams operating in arctic regions(i forget exactly which country the target was in) it makes sense that at least one military is trying to field an improved model. especially since the majority of likely combat theatres in the near future are in mountainous regions where snowmobiles would be an invaluable asset.
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Not Really
The M29 Weasel came from the work of British inventor Geoffrey Pyke in support of his proposals to attack Axis forces and industrial installations in Norway. Pyke's plan to hamper the German atomic weapons development became "Project Plough" for which he proposed a fast light mechanised device that would transport small groups of commando troops of the 1st Special Service Force across snow.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M29_Weasel
Snow machines are actually much earlier than that, Joseph-Armand Bombardier began designing machines in 1920, and Igor Sikorsky built one as early as 1910. The frist recorded US patent is in 1916.
It was not till after WWII that many nations starting using snow machines for their militaries.
The Gas-Electric Hybrid-Drive Light Over Snow Vehicle, is less about making a machine for use in future conflicts as it is making machine for use in patrols in Canada's High Arctic. Canada needs keep Russian, Danes and even US from trying to exploit OUR resources in the North. As sited in Canada First Defence Strategy Paper
This machine will allow us to go future using less gas, which is hard to come on a frozen ice pack.
The commercial aspects to this to a good as many Canadians own snow machines.
I also would thank the government fo keep the R&D funds in Canada by letting McGill U do alot of engineering research.