Underwater Bulldozer KOMATSU D155W: The Rare Amphibious Bulldozer You Need to See

Komatsu D155W, a marvel of engineering unlike anything seen before. It's more like a submarine with a bucket: the D155W can work even when completely submerged in water - only the exhaust pipe sticks out above the surface of the water. The Komatsu D155W is controlled by a remote control due to obstructed visibility and to ensure the safety of the driver. It can be operated at a depth of up to 23 feet due to its waterproof housing, including an absolutely sealed engine.
The D155W was the worlds first commercially marketed amphibious bulldozer. Only 36 of these remarkable machines have been produced, with just 5 remaining in active service.
The D155W has an on land weight of nearly 95,000 pounds and powered by a modified version of the 6-cylinder diesel engine found in the D155A model, delivering 302 horsepower at 1,900 revolutions per minute. This bulldozer's engine is completely sealed for underwater operation. A snorkel is a device that enables the operation of an internal combustion engine under water. Exactly the same technical solution is widely used on submarines. The same applies to compressors necessary for air intake and its transportation to the motor. The high stability of the machine in water is ensured by its tracks, which boast a substantial width of more than 2 feet.
Surely the cost to build, operate, and maintain such a unique contraption negate the intended benefits. The same job be performed by a dredge or a land based excavator with a long reach boom. Perhaps the advantage lies in their small and compact size relative to large floating barges. While other companies offered similar solutions, Komatsu remains the leader in this niche, despite their underwater bulldozers being relatively scarce.
Weight: 95,000 lb (43,000 kg)
Engine power: 302 hp (222 kW)
Tracks width: 2,33 feet (71 cm)

[@edward8606]

The exhaust is not the only thing sticking out of the water, the air intake also has to be ran out of the water or the diesel engine will not run and that includes any engine

[@americansfirst1095]

Are you sure?

[@clark5486]

No shit 😮

[@DRNT940]

Maybe they use electrolysis?

[@jblob5764]

Along with the crank case and transmission ventilation tubes. It isnt "completely sealed"

[@rc123theycallme]

Dragging submerged material seems better than blindly pushing via remote.

[@markusdecimus4732]

I bet Chuck Norris drives it directly.

[@trudeausmagiclamp1472]

RIP to anyone on acid watching this on land

[@AtteR04]

What?

[@minibikemadman]

true meaning to water cooled.

[@SARCASTICLES]

I worked at a Komatsu dealer back in the 80's, this was the coolest toy they made....until the excavator that could dig UNDER itself came along. It can sit on a bridge and dig UNDER THERE. I can't remember what it was called, CC Mangum used one to dig alongside those old granite curbs in Raleigh. One dude dang near knocked the cab slam off one because of the funky joints on the boom and bucket. (We had to fix it, and he NEVER did it again.)

[@bor3549]

I could imagine a military niche for this thing.

[@markbowles2382]

If there is a need - mankind (or at least Komatsu) can fill the order and build the machine to tackle the job, extreme mechanical engineering and quality manufacturing of components as well as rigorus scrutiny of assembly methods are required to get things to perform in such conditions as the salty sea.

[@adamsherriff3450]

Awesome 👍

[@jascollinscork]

OMFG 🤯🤯🤯

[@ItDontComeEasy]

!!!WWWWWOOOOOWWWWW!!!

[@adamfrbs9259]

So if a seagull lands on the snorkel, bet that turbo sucks it and holds it right there haha.

[@peterschmidt1453]

Modern environmental regs would make it impossible to use in most nations. 10 years ago in Australia our dredging project for a wharf was planned to use an excavator with an 8 meter tower between the cabin and the tracks so it could operate in water nearly 10 meters deep. What killed the plan was environmental, a little grease might get into the water, or if a hose was to burst and hydraulic fluid got into the water. No proposed solution or mitigation was good enough so in came the barges and long reach boom shore excavators.

[@ExposingReflections]

There's environmentally friendly fluids and grease available. It's been available for the last 15 years. I believe it's all vegetable oil based, for working in sensitive environments.
Much of the forestry and logging currently requires this type of certification standard.

[@peterschmidt1453]

@@ExposingReflections Good to know there is alternatives, but getting regulators on board will always be a problem. Our engineers could not convince the regulators, and the excavator was brand new, designed for marine operation, all the hydraulics were double walled. It costs a pencil pusher nothing to say no.

[@lambert2969]

Who is the woman mocking Rapaport?

[@jblob5764]

2 feet isnt "a significant width" for tracks by any means

[@trevorkindley6480]

What in the underwater dozers is this Batman

[@paulnolan1352]

So is the operator in full diving gear or insulated from the water?.

[@MrBoots.]

It's remote control driver is on land

[@huckwild6464]

This comment made my day haha

[@oneninerniner3427]

Didn't watch or if so didn't pay attention huh?

[@major_nobody311]

Is it remotely operated?

[@robertcornelius3514]

Hey, Mom! I got a new job.

[@Look_What_You_Did]

Another view farm channel..

[@erikdanial3767]

Somebody get @WhistlingDiesel. He’s gonna lose his damn mind over this

[@markusdecimus4732]

Air intake is more important.

[@FreemanSprings]

Was the Killdozer the same model?

[@driverjamescopeland]

Okay... neat idea.... but unless you're moving material larger than 12", it's useless compared to a dredge.... and I can only imagine the maintenance $$$$

[@aggabus]

Ai voice

[@LuckyRubb3rDucky]

But why

[@aggabus]

:20 fail false phrase fondel folly