Standardized in
February, 1943, yet rarely seen in combat photos, the 1/4-ton amphibian truck
was Ford Motor Car Company's dual-use version of the omnipresent jeep. Nicknamed
the "seep," this little truck had many of the characteristics of the
jeep, only wrapped in a waterproof hull. It
could carry a crew of four or a payload of 800 pounds (including driver and assistant),
reach 55 mph on land and a more leisurely 5.5 mph on water. Towing capactiy was
1,000 pounds, just like the jeep. Development
of the vehicle began following Pearl Harbor, in the new Office for Scientific
Research and Development. The designer, Rod Stephens, was a designer and builder
of racing yachts, one of which won the Americas Cup in 1937! He and his team went
on to design the DUKW. In
plastic, this vehicle is represented by the early 1/35 Tamiya kit, as well as
a 1/72 version from Academy. Scott
Taylor provided these excellent views of the seep "Ike's Invasion Taxi"
at the World War II Vehicle Museum in Hubbard, Ohio. |