Amphibious Jeeps
Amphibious Jeeps were a totally different
animal. In 1941 the US National Defense Research Committee had begun
plans on working on a quarter ton amphibian jeep dubbed the QMC-4 Truck
Light Amphibian. Marmon Herrington was the engineer who took on this
project with the assistance of several naval architects, Sparkman and
Stephens Inc and the Ford Motor Company. Many of the initial tests were
run at Stephens Institute in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Work progressed quickly and by 1942 the US National Defense Research
Committee showcased a fully functional amphibious jeep, not in New
Jersey though, on the Huron River in Dearborn, Michigan. A number of
decorated and high ranking army soldiers witnessed the demonstration and
praised the amphibious jeep. Orders started to be taken. Between 1942
and 1943 Ford manufactured almost 13,000 amphibians, called the GPA. The
�A� stood for amphibious. The overall design was decent, but it had its
problems of its own.
This vehicle is also known as a seep, (sea jeep). It was capable of
carrying five people, including a crew of two. It was truly an amazing
vehicle and was know to travel at 10 knots in the water.
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