Two days ago there was an accident in the Philadelphia area involving a duck boat, the kind that drives on land and then can function as a boat in the water, and a barge. The duck boat was apparently disabled due to an engine fire or failure and was struck by the barge. Thirty five people were rescued. Two died.I learned that duck tours began by using military surplus DUKWs. The DUKW (pronounced "duck" with a silent "w") was a six-wheel-drive amphibious truck that was designed by General Motors Corporation during World War II for transporting goods and troops over land and water and for use approaching and crossing beaches in amphibious attacks.
The designation of DUKW was not a military acronym – the name came from the model naming terminology used by GMC:
the D meant a vehicle designed in 1942,
the U meant "utility (amphibious)",
the K meant all-wheel drive, and
the W meant two powered rear axles.
The first duck tour company was started in 1946, one year after World War II ended.
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