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Other titles:INVASION EQUIPMENT TRIALS [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: Basic instructional film about the DUKW.
Description: I. Reel one. Introduction, origin of the DUKW, and basic performance and handling characteristics. Trainees learn convoy driving, and the vital importance of proper tyre pressure on different surfaces - this is demonstrated by two vehicles climbing soft dunes, as one with low tyre pressure successfully negotiates the obstacle, whilst the other digs in and becomes stuck. The bogged down vehicle is then recovered with winch and anchor line. "Next time this crew will watch their tyre pressure more carefully."
II. Reel two. Method of increasing tyre pressure when DUKW passes from sand to a hard road surface. Necessary precautions before entering the water. Steerage. Method of anchoring in case of engine failure, and anchor recovery. Landing technique. Importance of elementary navigational skills - making good a course for wind and tide, 'rules of the road', etc - and regular servicing and lubrication checks.
III. Reel three. Precautions to be observed when taking on cargo from an offshore freighter. Cargo capacity of a DUKW, and proper distribution of the load. Method of unloading - DUKW equipped with an A-frame lifts off heavy cargo, while hog-troughs are used for small items. Distribution of stretchers when carrying casualties. Demonstration of DUKW being lifted directly onto a ship's deck to minimise handling of the wounded. Sequence showing, by successive jump-cuts, the organisation of a DUKW Company of fifty vehicles, with truck, wrecker, jeep and aqua-jeep. Film ends with an 'action sequence', showing DUKWs bound for Guadalcanal, and coming ashore in the Solomon Islands - DUKWs are particularly useful in the coral waters of the Pacific. DUKWs are to be fitted with a device for changing tyre pressure while on the move, and other improvements are on the way. "Supplies must go through, and the DUKW is breaking the bottleneck."
Alternative Title:INVASION EQUIPMENT TRIALS [Allocated Series Title]
Production Details: United States War Department (Production sponsor)
Signal Corps Photographic Center Services (Production company)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords: transport, United States military - amphibious: DUKW (object name)
transport, United States military - amphibious: amphibious jeep (object name)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 3
Footage: 2074 ft; Running time: 23 mins