Korean War: DUKW Amphibious Truck

During World War II, it became apparent that there was a need for amphibious transport that could both ferry men to the beaches and shuttle supplies back and forth.

The DUKW (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 in WW2. It excelled at approaching and crossing beaches in amphibious warfare attacks.

The driver could adjust the tyre pressure from within the cab, to allow for versatile terrain adaptability. Unique at the time of its development, this feature has since become standard on US amphibious vehicles.

The name DUKW comes from General Motors Corporation model nomenclature:

D, Designed in 1942

U, Utility

K, All-wheel drive

W, Dual-tandem rear axles

World War II