[Army Air Corps]

That was one of their largest WIG craft. It just skims a few feet above the surface. They had several other types (turboprop powered, turbojet powered, etc.). One of the intended roles was to move troops and heavy equipment quickly across lakes, wide rivers, and in littoral areas.

[ccmay]

These Ekranoplan things have their place, and that is for moving more high-value cargo or personnel than an airplane can carry, faster than a ship can sail. Ground-effect flight is quite efficient. If you need to carry a battalion of special forces across the Caspian sea in two hours, the Ekranoplan is just what you need.

Only a raving idiot would use these monstrosities as an offensive weapon to attack an American carrier battle group. They'd be blown to matchsticks in the harbor as soon as they got up to speed.

-ccm