|
Come along for the most unusual tour you'll ever take. DC
Ducks is the most exciting way to see Washington. Climb aboard an authentic,
fully restored 1942 "Duck" and let the adventure begin! From Union Station,
waddle down to the mall where you'll see the awe inspiring monuments and
fabulous Smithsonian Museums. Then at the Potomac River you'll splash down
for a whole different look at the nation's capital. From the land to the
water, it's ALL IN THE SAME VEHICLE! Ducks come from DUKW, a military
acronym that designated the vehicle as amphibious military personnel
carriers. D Stands for the year it was designated, 1942; U for its
amphibious nature; K for its all-wheel drive; and W for its dual rear axles.
DUKW's were created following the attack on Pearl Harbor as
a means to transport supplies from ships to areas that did not have port
facilities. Nearly 90% of all supplies came in by DUKW on the vital second
and third days of the invasion. D-Day brought a force of 2000 DUKW's to the
Normandy coasts. The fleet was an essential element in the strategic
surprise of the enemy which assumed the Allies needed a port to make an
effective landing. DUKW's are standard 2 1/2 ton GM trucks in a water-tight
shell with an added propeller.
Considered to be one of the most successful amphibious vehicles ever made,
there were ultimately over 21,000 produced by a work force consisting mainly
of women working in the war effort. After the war, the Army left many of the
craft in the towns and villages where they had operated, so the DUKW's can
still be found in different countries around the world. This fully narrated
tours include one hour tour on land and 30 minutes on the water.
|
View
