Home >> Hobbies >> Other Hobbies

Historical Combat Rubber Raiding Crafts

Inflatable military or combat boats have been in existence since ancient times. While historically they were used as assault craft by armies or large groups of soldiers, in the second half of the 20th century and beyond, their function has changed to support small groups of specialized soldiers. Since the invention of vulcanized rubber in 1838, combat rubber raiding craft have typically been made of durable rubber filled with pressurized gas.

Historical Origins of Inflatable Combat Craft
- The first precursors to the modern rubber combat craft were attack boats made of inflated animal skins. The ancient Assyrians used greased animal skins which they continuously inflated while ferrying troops across rivers. There are records of ancient Chinese soldiers using similar boats. Individual Roman legionnaires were even issued leather bags that could be inflated to help them stay afloat during river crossings. The Duke of Wellington is believed to be the first military leader to use actual vulcanized rubber boats in combat, during the Napoleonic wars in the 1830s.
Early 20th Century Rubber Combat Craft
- A German boat builder appears to have been the first in the 20th century to invent rubber combat boats; they were in use in the German army during World War I. The French navy began using inflatable rubber combat boats in 1937, made by Zodiac, a company that would later set the standard for modern combat rubber raiding craft. The United States navy also used rubber boats during World War II.
Later 20th Century Rubber Combat Craft
- During the Vietnam War, rubber combat craft in various forms were used by American military forces for multiple purposes. The United Kingdom's elite force, the Special Boat Service, later used rubber combat craft for small unit operations, as did American special forces groups like the Navy Seals. These small craft could be deployed from submarines, warships and even dropped from helicopters. They had small outboard engines but could also be paddled when stealth was required.
Modern Rubber Combat Craft
- The famous F470 CRRC (Combat Rubber Raiding Craft) made by Zodiac, has been updated for small unit operations. Typically this boat is used by small groups of United States Navy Seals and Force Recon Marines as well as special forces from other countries. The newest models of combat rubber raiding craft require only one soldier to inflate the boat through the use of a SCUBA tank, are lighter but also stronger than previous models, have more powerful engines and are safer to operate than previous models.

Other Hobbies