DUKW
The DUKW (GMC type nomenclature, colloquially known as Duck) is a six-wheel-drive amphibious modification of the 2+1⁄2-ton CCKW trucks used by the U.S. military during World War II and the Korean War.
| DUKW | |
|---|---|
A DUKW in use by American troops in France | |
| Type | Amphibious transport |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | GMC Truck and Coach Chevrolet |
| Produced | 1942–1945 |
| No. built | 21,147 |
| Specifications (Yellow, 1942) | |
| Mass | 13,600 lb (6,200 kg) empty |
| Length | 31 ft (9.45 m) |
| Width | 8 ft (2.44 m) |
| Height | 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) with top up 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) minimum |
| Crew | 1 |
Main armament | Ring mount for .50in (12.7mm) M2 Browning machine gun fitted to one out of four DUKWs |
| Engine | GMC Model 270 91 hp (68 kW) |
| Payload capacity | 5,000 lb (2,300 kg) or 24 troops |
| Suspension | Live axles on leaf springs |
Operational range | 400 mi (640 km) on road |
| Maximum speed | 50 mph (80 km/h) on road, 6.4 mph (6 kn; 10 km/h) in water |
Designed by a partnership under military auspices of Sparkman & Stephens and General Motors Corporation (GMC), the DUKW was used for the transportation of goods and troops over land and water. Excelling at approaching and crossing beaches in amphibious warfare attacks, it was intended only to last long enough to meet the demands of combat. Surviving DUKWs have since found popularity as tourist craft in marine environments.
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