Avast there me hearties.....! Capn. Biglorryblog has a saucy sea tale for you..."I say Captain....what's that strange craft on the starboard bow?"..."For goodness sake number one have you been at the rum again?" Word reaches me that those wacky Italians have been at it again having completed an unusual sea-journey with an experimental amphibious vehicle based on the Iveco Daily 4x4. According to the official PR blurb: "
The Daily amphibian (does that mean you take one a day with a glass of water?) benefits from a series of modifications carried out by Milan-born engineer Maurizio Zanisi, which includes the fitment of an internally welded steel hull, a waterjet propulsion system and the mounting of supplementary fuel tanks with a total capacity of 300 litres. Apparently this gave it sufficient range to guarantee a successful sea crossing without the need to refuel. For you all you BLB readers that are fact freaks I can also tell you that the Iveco Terramare is capable of a top speed on the road of 100 km/h and a wind-blowing 10 km/h in the water.
Accompanying Zanisi behind the wheel of this unique vehicle was Roberto Cibrario, Iveco Senior Vice President Special Vehicles. Now there's a man with faith in his product. Look lively there shipmates!!!! And click through here for another "nautical motor"!
And who amongst my Anorak 'Navy' can tell me what this is..and more importantly what iconic US army truck it was based upon?
Brian,
It's a DUKW, based on the GMC 2.5 tonner of which some 560,000 were built during WW2 in either 6x4 or 6x6 configuration. 20,000 DUKWs were built. The one pictured is obviously a 6x6. Were all DUKWs 6x6, anybody?
Best wishes,
Roy.
the last truck is an amphibious version of duce and a half. see m35
the last truck is an amphibious version of duce and a half. see m35 and also DUKW
Those DUKW's are awesome -- in the Wisconsin Dells they have GREAT tours that you can go on, while riding in a modified DUKW! The ones (They have a whole fleet used for tours) used for the "Wisconsin Ducks" were not actually used in the war itself, but were used by a military somewhere. Obviously, they modify the DUKWs used in tours by putting seats in them, like on a school bus. The tours are great, the area is beautiful, and the drivers are REALLY nice. When I went on a tour as a kid, they actually let me sit at the controls and try out the machine. Plus the drivers make the entrances into the water fun. I would recommend it to anyone. Their website: http://www.wisconsinducktours.com/