Today in WW II: 9 Jul 1940 Battle of Calabria [Battle of Punta Stilo, the toe of Italy] fought between the Italian Royal Navy and the British/Australian Royal Navies, 30 miles [48km] east of Punta Stilo.  More ↓
9 Jul 1943 US-British invasion of Sicily begins [night of 9-10 Jul].
9 Jul 1944 British and Canadian forces capture Caen from the Germans, a critical post-D-Day objective in Normandy, France.
9 Jul 1944 US forces reach the northern end of Saipan, finding thousands of Japanese civilian men, women, and children who commit suicide by leaping off the cliffs rather than be captured.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

XM147 "Super DUKW" Amphibious Truck

The XM147 "Super DUKW" was an amphibious vehicle that evolved from the Truck, Amphibious, 2 1/2 ton, 6x6 DUKW. Several experimental versions of the 4-ton 6x6 Super DUKW were built for the U.S. Army and tested at Aberdeen Proving Ground from circa 1953 to 1957. Super DUKW was designed for the same purpose as the original DUKW, for moving cargo from ship to shore in support of over-the-beach invasions with no harbor facilities.

Just as the original DUKW was based on the GMC WWII CCKW 2 1/2-ton truck, the Super DUKW was based upon the post-WW II M135 series GMC trucks, using their engine and automatic transmission mated to a 5700-pound combined hull-frame structure (weight based on the XM147E2). The prototype XM-147 Super DUKW began testing in 1953. While never standardized, a small number of XM147 Super DUKWs remained in service for several decades and a few survived to be restored by collectors. The XM147 project was eventually cancelled, replaced by the LARC-V (Lighter, Amphibious, Resupply, Cargo, 5 ton capacity).

XM147 "Super DUKW" Specifications

Length 33.7 ft.
Width 9.0 ft.
Height 9.3 ft.
Curb Weight 19,900 lbs.
Gross Weight 27,900 lbs.
Tire Size 12.50x20
Ground Clearance 13 inches
Engine HP 155
Propeller Diameter 31 inches
Still Water speed 6.7 mph
Highway speed 48 mph
Payload 8,000 lbs

Specifications based on the XM147E3, tested in 1954 at APG.

Restored Super DUKW provided by the Blue and Gray Military Vehicle Trust, Armed Forces Day Parade, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 31 May 2001
Restored Super DUKW provided by the Blue and Gray Military Vehicle Trust, Armed Forces Day Parade, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 31 May 2001.

XM147 Super DUKW restored by Tom Buonaugurio of the Washington Area Collectors, Blue and Gray Military Vehicle Trust, 31st Annual East Coast Military Vehicle Rally held at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, MD, 6-8 May 2004 (Possibly same as vehicle above in parade?)
XM147 Super DUKW restored by Tom Buonaugurio of the Washington Area Collectors, Blue and Gray Military Vehicle Trust, 31st Annual East Coast Military Vehicle Rally held at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, MD, 6-8 May 2004 (Possibly same as vehicle above in parade?)