Antarctic Snow Cruiser
Vehicle intended to facilitate transport in Antarctica / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Antarctic Snow Cruiser was a vehicle designed (1937–39) under the direction of Thomas Poulter, intended to facilitate transport in Antarctica during the United States Antarctic Service Expedition (1939–41).[1] The Snow Cruiser was also known as "The Penguin," "Penguin 1" or "Turtle"[2] in some published material.
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Antarctic Snow Cruiser | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Armour Institute of Technology |
Also called | The Penguin, Penguin 1, Turtle |
Production | 1937–1939 |
Model years | 1939; 85 years ago (1939) |
Assembly | United States: Chicago, Illinois |
Designer | Thomas Poulter |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Class 9 |
Layout | Longitudinal front-engine, four-wheel drive |
Powertrain | |
Engine | Two 11.0 L (672 cu in) Cummins H-6 diesel engines |
Electric motor | Four 56kW electric motors |
Power output | 112 kW (152 PS) each |
Dimensions | |
Length | 669 in (17.0 m) |
Width | 239 in (6.1 m) |
Height | Wheels extended: 192 in (4.9 m) Wheels retracted: 144 in (3.7 m) |
Curb weight | 75,000 lb (34,000 kg) |
Poulter had been second in command of Byrd's Second Antarctic Expedition, launched in 1934. From his time in the Antarctic, Poulter had devised several innovative features. The massive Snow Cruiser generally failed to operate as hoped under the difficult conditions (the tires, notably smooth to avoid becoming snow encrusted, did not grip the ice) and was eventually abandoned in Antarctica. Rediscovered under a deep layer of snow in 1958, it later disappeared again due to shifting ice conditions. Its whereabouts have been unknown since then.