Seaforth and Canadian veterans and girl on DUKW amphibious vehicle in a veteran's parade in Holland, 1995. In the rear is the Hotel Arco. On rear: "Holland 1995" in ink. Decal: Foto T.W. Hogendijk, Amsterdam The DUKW (colloquially known as Duck) is a six-wheel-drive modification of the 2-ton capacity "deuce" trucks used by the U.S. military in World War II. This amphibious truck, designed by a partnership under military auspices of Sparkman & Stephens and General Motors Corporation (GMC) for transporting goods and troops over land and water, and approaching and crossing beaches in amphibious attacks. Designed only to last long enough to meet the demands of combat, DUKWs were later used as tourist craft in marine environments. Canada received approximately 800 vehicles.