DUKW amphibious landing craft 1:56 (28mm)

The DUKW (also called ‘Ducks’) is an amphibious landing craft developed by the United States Army during World War II.

The original DUKW was designed to deliver cargo from ships at sea directly to the shore. The DUKW was equipped with a hull pump that could move 260 gallons of water a minute! It also came with a hand pump that could move 50 gallons a minute. It could climb a 60% grade and broach an 18-inch high obstacle. It had a range of 220 miles on land and 50 miles in water. It could carry a cargo load of 5,350 lbs., and hold 25 fully equipped troops.

The DUKW ‘s first action came with Operation Husky (invasion of Sicily, November 1943). It was also seen during D-Day, where 2000 were committed in action, Operation Anvil-Dragoon. Other notable operations include the landings in the south of France, the Battle of the Scheldt – the capture of Antwerp, Operation Veritable – the battle of the Reichswald, north-western Holland, and Operation Plunder – the crossing of the Rhine.

The British forces received around 2000 of these and the Australians fighting in New Guinea, 535. The Soviet Union also received 589 of them, for river fording operations and in the marshy Pripet area. The Free French also operated many DUKWs during operation Anvil Dragoon (landings in Provence) and later on. The DUKWs were found vital in most submerged or (voluntary) inundated areas, in Holland and western Germany.

In the Pacific, the first commitment came with the USMC reinforcements at Guadalcanal. DUKWs were massively employed during nearly all island assaults conducted until the end of the war, and the whole Philippines campaign.

Both the DUKW and LCVP were considered to be two of the most important pieces of equipment developed for the war effort.

Source:

The Complete DUKW Historical Reference by David Doyle

War History Online