Amphibious GMC 353 DUKW
GAS50214

Complete kit of the Amphibious GMC 353 DUKW in 1/48th scale

The kit contains:

• Resin parts
• A brass photo-etched board
• Brass rods to make the wheels mobile if desired
• Assembly instructions with parts list and color photos: Download instructions

You can also contact us to have this model assembled and painted with the camouflage of your choice.

Click here for availability and price.

History of the Amphibious GMC 353 DUKW

The American army, in 1942, appealed to the National Defense Research Committee in order to have an amphibious vehicle, capable of moving as easily on the sea as on land. The first prototype is built by General Motor Company and it has 6 driving wheels, as well as a propeller to move through water. The first test took place on June 3, 1942 in Milford, Michigan. The U.S Army adopted it immediately. This machine can transport up to 25 soldiers and a large quantity of various equipment.

The first intensive military use of the DUKW was in 1943 during Operation Husky in Sicily. The GMC DUKW 353 was very useful for the Normandy landings, thanks to its good maneuverability, for example, for shuttling between transport ships and the beach or for crossing rivers. Very quickly, after exploits at sea, the troops baptized him DUCK, a name he lived up to.

According to military terminology of the time, DUKW meant:
- D: year 1942 (first manufactured)
- U: amphibious vehicle
- K: all wheels are driven
- W: a set of double wheels at the rear

In 1942, 2,000 examples were produced, a year later an additional 4,053 vehicles were built. For the year 1944, a total of 17,369 copies were produced in two years. In 1945, 21,247 new DUKWs were produced.