[Military Martial Plane] Author: FriedrichLau
DUKW, also known as "Duck", is a six-wheeled amphibious transport vehicle used by the US military during World War II . It can be used to carry out personnel and materials transportation work. With its excellent carrying capacity and beach landing ability, it can transport necessary weapons and ammunition to Allied soldiers nailed to the beach by the defensive firepower during combat.
▲DUKW side view and top view
"DUKW" is derived from the naming convention of the manufacturer's general GMC, where D represents the car designed in 1942, U represents light truck, K represents full drive, and W represents dual rear axle drive. The vehicle is upgraded from a GMC-based CCKW six-wheeled military truck, which retains the original car's cockpit while adding a watertight body and propeller thruster.
▲GMC-AFKWX Military Card
At first, this silly-looking transport vehicle was not favored by the US military. By chance, one day, a US Coast Guard patrol boat was stranded and moved on the shallows near Provincetown, Massachusetts. At this time, the sea was strong and the wind speed reached 60 nautical miles per hour, accompanied by sudden rain and heavy waves, which made the rescue ships unable to get close. At this time, a test-type DUKW happened to be nearby. It successfully completed the rescue of seven crew members on the boat, which also made the US military realize that this unsightly amphibious transport vehicle can continue to prove its strength in English Channel .
▲DUKW's transmission system configuration diagram
▲An P-38 fighter jet transported by two DUKWs
Under no load state, the DUKW weighs 6.5 tons, the vehicle is 31 feet long and 8.2 feet wide, the carport is 8.8 feet high when unfolded, and 7.7 feet high after being put down. It uses a GMC 270 inline six-cylinder engine, and the speed can reach 50 mph on land and 5.5 knots when driving on water. In addition, as an innovation, the driver of the car can drive at high speed on different road surfaces by adjusting the tire pressure. During World War II, a total of 21,137 transport vehicles were produced, and one quarter of them installed a .50-caliber Browning machine gun to enhance firepower. The United States also provided 2,000, 535 and 586 DUKWs to the United Kingdom, Australia and the Soviet Union through the lease bill .
▲DUKW
▲DUKW
▲DUKW
DUKW's first appearance was in Guadalcanal Island Battle on Pacific battlefield , and then participated as a vehicle for the landing force. The Allied Army landing operation in Sicily . In addition, this type of transport vehicle has participated in the Allied Army landing operation in Normandy , the Scheld River Battle and the "Stolen Operation" of forced crossing Rhine . Its footprints are spread across various battlefields during World War II,
▲On June 16, 1944, King George VI, accompanied by Admiral Ramsey and Sir Cunningham, took a DUKW to inspect the beachhead of Normandy
▲In June 1944, the first US Navy 543 landing ship unloaded in Loebnitz near Normandy
After the end of World War II, many The retired DUKW was purchased by a travel company and rejuvenated its second spring in its career. To this day, the newly painted DUKW can still be seen attracting tourists in many ports and riverside cities in the United States. Among them, the first tourism company nicknamed "Duck Tourism" using DUKW as a tourist bus was founded in 1946. It was founded by Mel Flach in Xingdell, Wisconsin. The company is called "The Duck of Original Wisconsin" and is still in operation today.
▲ Atlanta, Georgia tourist car modified from DUKW
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