Abstract: A beating assembly for a submersible motor/propeller unit for a water vehicle consists of a radial bearing assembly and a thrust bearing assembly associated with a propeller and an axle. The radial and thrust bearing assemblies are comprised of bearing components, preferably made of a hard material to provide "hard-on-hard" bearing surfaces, and a resilient backing means, preferably rubber, positioned behind the stationary bearing component. The "hard-on-hard" bearing surfaces increase the load capacity and operating life of the bearings, and the resilient backing means allows the propeller to be displaced under high impact shock loads and to transfer the shock loads to shock snubber locations between the rotor and the stator. The combination of "hard-on-hard" bearings with the resilient backing means provides control of the centering of the propeller on the shaft and longer operating life for the propeller unit, as well as increased capability to survive high shock loads.