What does DUKW
stand for? DUKW is a manufacturer's
code used by the General Motors Corporation to identify the
different vehicles in their range. In this case it works as
follows;
D = Date 1942 - the first year of manufacture.
U = Amphibian.
K = Drive to all wheels.
W= Dual rear axles.
The similarity with Duck is purely fortuitous.
When was the first tank battle?
The very first battle involving tanks took place on the
Somme on 15 September 1916. About thirty British Mark I tanks attacked German positions
between the villages of Flers and Courcelette. The first really successful tank
battle was near Cambrai on 20 November 1917 when some 300 British Mark IV tanks
created a major break in the German Hindenburg Line and nearly reached Cambrai
itself. The first battle between two opposing tanks took place near the village
of Cachy on 24 April 1918. The German A7V tank Nixe (Lt Biltz), engaged three
British Mark IV tanks, damaged two but was knocked out by the third
(2/Lt Frank Mitchell).
Why are tanks called tanks?
Many people claim to have coined this word, for many
different reasons. The Tank Museum favours the claim of Albert Stern, secretary
to the Admiralty Landships Committee. Since it was agreed that the term Landship
was too descriptive, alternatives were sought. Bearing in mind its appearance
most suggestions were for things like water tanks, such as cistern, but they
finally settled on Water Carrier. Aware of the military penchant for initials
Albert Stern did not relish being secretary to the W. C. Committee so he
claims to have chosen TANK instead.
