- The Killer W.H.A.L.E. is a G.I. Joe vehicle from the A Real American Hero series.
The Killer W.H.A.L.E. (Warrior: Hovering Assault Launching Envoy) is the Joe's multipurpose hovercraft for amphibious operations. With a hull plated with nylon micromesh/titanium-alloy armor, it is deployed by G.I. Joe in offshore, over the beach (OTB), and inshore (e.g. rivers, marshland, and swamps) engagements.
Features[]
The Killer W.H.A.L.E. has a crew complement of four (pilot and navigator/gunner on the flying bridge + 2 turret gunners), but also serves as a landing craft whose cabin accommodates a 4-man insertion team who (dis)embark through the bow door and ramp. It can traverse water fully loaded at 35 knots with an operational range of 240 nmi; it only moves OTB at 25 mph. The aft dual fans' rudders are capable of pivoting almost 180°, providing agile steering. The steel mesh/nylon composite skirt can absorb up to light machine gun damage. The skirt can be repaired using onboard (specialized) duct tape. The W.H.A.L.E. only weighs 8.5 tons and can be loaded by ship crane, but consumes a lot of fuel and is unfit for long-term engagement. Luckily, the forward hold has room for extra fuel bladders, and the craft can be replenished at sea (RAS). It is powered by twin high-output SC5-HO diesel engines.
The W.H.A.L.E.'s cabin is topped by twin “crow's-nest” turrets, each mounted with a 1.75in .50 caliber “Thrasher” anti-aircraft machine gun. The craft's primary armaments—controlled by the navigator/gunner—include 2 forward-firing 105mm “Pounder” cannons and 2 quad-SAM box launchers that fire short-range, anti-ship/armor missiles. The W.H.A.L.E. also has limited ASW capability thanks to its aft-starboard ramped rack that releases SD-30 depth charges with a 100-lb. high explosive charge and pressure-sensitive detonator.
The W.H.A.L.E.'s forward hold can launch a 1-man reconnaissance jet sled that can attain a max. speed of 25 knots and range of 30 nmi. The jet sled is impeller-driven and maintains communication by using a “Miniwatt”-type, low-frequency directional radio. Aft-port between the gearbox and fans stows a lightweight HL-66 scooter for OTB surveillance.
Fiction[]
Comics continuity[]
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Animated continuity[]
The Killer W.H.A.L.E. from the A Real American Hero animated continuity.
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Toys[]
Toy editions[]
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Re-uses/re-makes[]
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Notes[]
- According to the toy box W.H.A.L.E. is an acronym for "Warrior: Hovering Assault Launching Envoy." According to issue #28 of the comic, W.H.A.L.E. is an acronym for "Waterborne Hovercraft Assault Landing Experimental."
External links[]
Footnotes[]
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