Tuesday 10th November 1942

The first GMC amphibious truck, dubbed the “DUKW”, was completed. The six-wheel-drive amphibious modification of the 2-ton capacity CCKW trucks was used by the U.S. military in World War II. Designed by a partnership under military auspices of Sparkman & Stephens and General Motors Corporation (GMC), the DUKW was used for the transportation of goods and troops over land and water. Excelling at approaching and crossing beaches in amphibious warfare attacks, it was intended only to last long enough to meet the demands of combat. Surviving DUKWs have since found popularity as tourist craft in marine environments.