Amphibious Vehicles
DUKW
The
38-foot DUKW was designed for the U.S. Army to carry men and supplies from
offshore ships and across a beach. The term “DUKW” is a manufacturer's
code designation. It translates to “D” for 1942, “U” for utility
vehicle, “K” for front-wheel drive,
and “W” for two rear-drive axles. The nickname "Duck" grew out
of this code and the amphibious capability of the craft. The DUKWs acquired
from the U.S. Army were constructed
of sheet steel. The
following modifications were made by the Coast Guard: installation of an
aluminum alloy cover over the driver's area and extending aft
over the forward part of the cargo space; a self-bailing cockpit in
the after part of the cargo space; a walkway along each side of the cover; towing bitts and tow rail; and navigational lights. In 1948
the Coast Guard constructed additional units at the Coast Guard Yard, Curtis
Bay, MD. These had aluminum bodies and incorporated the experience
learned from using the Army
model. DUKWs were most useful in flood relief. However, the craft suffered from high maintenance casts, rapid deterioration due
to salt water, and a lack of watertight subdivisions. All of the vehicles
had been disposed of by 30 September 1970.
| Official Coast Guard Imagery (click on thumbnail for High resolution image) | Caption/Historical Information |
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DUKW in the surf |
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DUKW landing on the beach |
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DUKW out of water |
LARC
The 35-Foot Land
Amphibious Rescue Craft was designed for the U.S. Army to carry men
and supplies from offshore ships to the beach or to an inland area.
It can carry a maximum load of five tons
on either land or water The Coast Guard used the LARC primarily for
shallow-water flood-relief rescue and as a platform for underwater searches.
The amphibian was constructed of aluminum. It was fitted with four
low-pressure tires that permitted it to travel over soft surfaces,
such as sand or mud. It could ascend
and descend grades of up to 60 degrees. Due to the extremely high maintenance cost associated with these
amphibians, LARCs were used only when the task could not be accomplished by
another type of craft. The vehicles, which were stationed along the Atlantic
coast from
| Official Coast Guard Imagery (click on thumbnail for High resolution image) | Caption/Historical Information |
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LARC underway |
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LARC landing on the beach |
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LARC out of water |