Dictionary definition of “Kangaroo Duck”

Kangaroo Duck

n. the conveyance of an inflatable boat by means of the underside of a helicopter. Also K-Duck. Subjects: English, Aviation, Military, Nautical

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Citations: 2000 Jack Dorsey Virginian-Pilot and Ledger-Star (Norfolk, Virginia) (July 13) “Report Cites Early Release Of Boat In Seal Mishap” p. A1: The plan called for a pair of MH-60 helicopters to drop two rubber boats into the water, followed by eight SEALs. They were to have rendezvoused with the Little Creek-based coastal patrol craft Monsoon to continue their infiltration of a beach. SEALS term the type of maneuver the “Kangaroo Duck,” or “K-Duck,” procedure. It was developed as a rapid insertion method from that class of helicopters while they hover low over the water. 2001 Air Force Instruction 16-1202: Pararescue Operations, Techniques, And Procedures (May 3) (in United States Air Force) p. 110: Kangaroo Duck (K-Duck) Operations. K-Duck operations are used when cargo space in the H-60 cannot support a T-Duck or the mission requires such speed and surprise that an already inflated CRRC is necessary.…The CRRC is then cradled to the belly of the H-60 by attaching the harness to the 4000-pound rappelling rings on the H/FRIES-bar. The team is carried inside the H-60 cabin.…These procedures are for delivering a fully inflated CRRC and a team (approximately eight people) during day or night operations. Once the H-60 is at 5 KIAS and 10 feet, the shear strap of the harness is cut, the CRRC is deployed and the team exits the helicopter. 2006 Steve Colby Rotor & Wing (June 15) “Military Spin: A Military View of Katrina’s Lessons” vol. 40, no. 6,: Some rescue scenarios would have benefited from tethered or “kangaroo duck” operations, in which a motorized, inflatable raft is quickly deployed with rescue swimmers. 2006 Alicia Eakin WALB-TV (Albany, Georgia) (Oct. 13) “Moody improves search and rescue”: “For Katrina, with all the water rescues that we had and all the flooding, we saw that there was a lack of capability to send a fully inflated zodiac boat with supplies and equipment,” says Lt. Col. Lee Pera, Deputy Commander of the 347th Rescue Group. So they resurrected an old practice, known as Kangaroo Duck or K-Duck. Here they will strap a fully inflated zodiac to the bottom of the HH-60 Rescue Helicopter instead of bundling it in the chopper’s cabin.

Posted 18 Oct 06 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

then “duck” means “boat”?

by suki 19 Oct 06, 0236 GMT