DUKW Design
The basic GMC model CCKW-353 truck chassis served as the foundation for the Duck. Added to that was a centrally controlled tire pressure system, a 25 inch propeller, a rudder, bilge pumps, and a watertight steel hull. With a crew of 2, it is powered by a GMC Model 270, in-line, 6 cylinder, overhead valve, four cycle, 270 cu in, 91.5 hp gasoline engine coupled with a constant mesh 5-speed forward/1-speed reverse manual transmission and a 2-speed transfer case.
The DUKW takes its name from an abbreviation of the Army's method of identifying vehicles by year and type. The DUKW takes its name from the following:
D = built in 1942
U = amphibious 2-1/2 ton truck
K = front wheel drive
W = rear wheel drive
Though coincidental, the abbreviation DUKW (called by the GI's,"Duck") was an excellent description of the vehicle. The DUKW saw action in all theaters of World War II and Korea as a ship-to-shore transporter of soldiers and supplies. DUKWs proved to be critical to the even flow of supplies from ship to shore. The initial intent was to develop a lighter vehicle that could ferry supplies from ships anchored offshore and drive right up over the beach to support the supply lines.
It is equipped with an integral watertight hull designed in such a way that the truck chassis and drive units are attached to and in the body of the hull. The stripped truck body was wrapped with a steel built hull. A gear box was added to the truck drive train, and propeller, which provided propulsion on the water. For land operation, the vehicle utilizes its six driving wheels and steering-gear assembly. In the water it is propelled with a water propeller. The payload capacity on land was just over 5,000 pounds. On water, it's known to carry in excess of 40 equipped soldiers, and the speed was governed to 50 mile an hour on land, and just over 6 mile an hour on water.
A GMC 269.5 cubic inch, in-line, overhead valve, six-cylinder engine powered the DUCK, and a five-speed manual transmission gave it a maximum land speed of 50 miles per hour. A 25-inch diameter propeller, driven by the three lower gears, provided amphibious mobility, giving the DUKW a maximum water speed of 6.4 miles per hour. A permanent rudder provided steering in the water. The first DUKW operations occurred in the Pacific in March 1943; use in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) followed.
The DUKW is capable of carrying a 2 1/2 ton payload over land or water. It is equipped with a GMC 270 cubic inch 6 cylinder gasoline engine. It has a 5 speed transmission with a 2 speed transfer case. This gives a total of 10 forward speeds and 2 in reverse. It has 6 wheel drive, a water propeller and a 10 ton winch. All or any of these can be run separately or together in any combination. Top speed on land is 50 to 55 mph while on the water top speed is only 6 mph (land miles per hour not knots). It also has a tire inflation system with a 2 cylinder air compressor and air storage tank. This allows the driver to inflate or deflate any one or all six tires at the same time from the dashboard. The dashboard also has a tire pressure gauge so that air pressure can be monitored. The front brake lines are protected in steel conduit with barbed wire cutters on the outside. The DUKW weighs 7 1/2 tons empty and is 31 feet long.
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