Ekranoplan

Basic Information

An ekranoplan is a vehicle resembling an aircraft but with shorter "wings. It supports itself above the ground using the ground effect. It was developed in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. One particular model was dubbed the "Caspian Sea Monster" by American intelligence.

Soviet experiments mainly focused on their use as fast attack craft to deliver anti-shipping missiles (a sort of highly advanced torpedo boat) but didn't progress all that far before the end of the Cold War and the collapse of WarPac. Subsequent interest has been very limited.

Sources

Bibliography

1. Riding the Caspian Sea Monster - BBC story with videos

2. Wikipedia entry

Game and Story Use

• In an Alternate History or other setting with large, flat terrain (whether calm oceans or otherwise), ekranoplans could become standard transport vehicles, for both military and civilian purposes.
• The erkranoplan missile boat might potentially inspire another "jeune ecole" style diversion in naval doctrine.