The famous amphibious machine known universally as the DUKW owed its existence to World War 2 conditions when frequently ships were unable to dock and unload their cargos because of a lack of serviceable port facilities.
A collaborative project between the US Army and the vehicle manufacturer General Motors saw the design of a machine based on a very widely used GM all-purpose miltary truck. A pilot model was built, but senior army staff refused to commission it for operational use.
Two days later, the Secretary of State for War reported to the US President that “Two nights ago on Cape Cod an army truck went to sea and rescued some men from a stranded naval vessel”. Their use was guaranteed and their reputation began to grow.
The final version was commissioned on 24 April 1942 and 38 days later, the first operational prototype was driven and launched into the sea for the first time. The machines were first used operationally for the 1943 Sicily landings in which 90% of all supplies came ashore in DUKWs.
Their triumphant highlight was, however, in the Normandy landings in 1944 when over 40% of all beach-over supplies were carried by DUKWs. They continued to play a significant role in various amphibious assaults throughout the Pacific and Asian campaigns of World War 2. When manufacture ceased in 1946 nearly 23,500 DUKWs had been built and commissioned.
Since then entrepreneurs have been scouring the world looking for serviceable machines for the leisure market. Now the chances of finding a suitable machine for conversion to passenger-carrying leisure use are remote.
Nevertheless, the brilliance of the iconic design of the original DUKW design remains, with just the right blend of characteristics for road and water use in this hybrid amphibious machine.
Regularly users of these valuable machines agree on one point - there is no satisfactory replacement for the original DUKW!
Until now - The SeaHorse
However, not long afterwards, a very urgent requirement for a machine with the DUKWs capabilities was demanded by the Allies planning the D-day landings in northern France.
Demonstration trials were successfully concluded when, fortuitously, a US Coast Guard patrol boat ran around on a sandbank off shore in a 60-knot wind with heavy rain and pounding surf. Conventional surf rescue boats could not be launched because of the conditions, but two DUKWs effected the rapid rescue of the stranded men.
After the war, thousands of DUKWs were decommissioned, which led to many diversified uses, mainly being operated as civilian rescue units - with many successful examples of flash flood rescues around the world.
They have been used for underwater recovery, providing a stable diving and access platform, bridge inspection and repair work, surveying, river and rough terrain transport.
In London, immediately post war, an enterprising ex-marine used one for several years to give children mudlarking on the beaches at low tide, thrilling Thames rides for 6d (2p today). Much later the first commercial tour started in Norfolk, which led to many city based tours which started up in the mid-1990’s, such as Boston Duck Tours.
