📌 Willys MB Jeep 4x4 ¼ ton Command Reconnaissance Truck, City of Norwich Aviation Museum.

1941-1945 WILLYS MB

 

The U.S. Army requested a vehicle, and drove off in a ''Hero'' the Willys MB, its spirit forged by the fire of combat and honed in the heat of battle, seared its way into the hearts of warriors fighting for freedom. Fierce emotional bonds often developed between a Soldier and his ''Jeep'' 4x4. The faithful little MB earned a place in every GI's heart, in every area of combat, in every conceivable role. The tough, simple Jeep 4x4 became the GI's best friend, second only to his Rifle. One Jeep MB was even awarded a Purple Heart and sent home. General George C. Marshall, U.S Army Chief of Staff during World War Two, and later U.S. Secretary of State, described the Jeep 4x4 as ''America's greatest contribution to modern warfare'' Scripps Howard World War Two reporter Ernie Pyle once said, ''It did everything. It went everywhere. Was a faithful as a dog, as strong as a mule, and as agile as a goat. It constantly carried twice what it was designed for and still kept going''.

 

The Willys MB started a revolution in the use of Small Military Motor Vehicles in the U.S. Army, horses along with motorcycles, solo and side car, were rendered obsolete almost immediately. The all-purpose Willys MB was amazingly versatile, they could be fitted with .30 or .50 caliber Machine Guns for combat and were also widely modified for long-range desert patrol, snow plowing, telephone cable laying, saw milling, as fire-fighting pumpers, field ambulances, tractors and, with suitable wheels, would even run on railway tracks.

Willys MB's could be loaded into transport aircraft for rapid deployment and were also small enough to fit into the large gliders used in the D-Day Invasion of Europe, over the course of the war, customised field kits were developed for winter and desert conditions, deep-water fording and other combat needs.

 

Although the Willys MB was not the first four-wheel-drive vehicle, the Go Anywhere, Do Anything vehicle, but it did influenced every 4x4 built in its wake. The New York Museum of Modern Art includes a Military Jeep Brand 4x4 in its display of eight automobiles and regarded it as “one of the very few genuine expressions of machine art.”

 

Willys MB / Ford GPW:-

 

▪︎ Type: 1⁄4 ton 4x4 Utility Truck

▪︎ Place of origin: United States

▪︎ In service: 1941 until varying per country

▪︎ Used by: USA and its allies of World War Two

▪︎ Wars: World War Two, Korean War, Various post 1945 conflicts

▪︎ Designer: Karl Probst, Delmar G. Roos

▪︎ Designed: 1940 through early 1942

▪︎ Manufacturer: Willys-Overland (MB) / Ford (GPW)

▪︎ Produced: 1941 to 1945

▪︎ Number built: World War Two total = 647,925 including pre-production units – Willys MB: 359,489 / Ford GPW: 277,896

▪︎ Variants: Ford GPA ''Seep'' 12,778

▪︎ Specifications: (MB and GPW same)

▪︎ Mass: 2,453lb, curb weight (with engine fluids and full fuel) 2,337lb dry weight

▪︎ Length: 132 1⁄4 inch

▪︎ Width: 62 inch

▪︎ Height overall with top up: 69 3⁄4 inch reducible to 52 inch

▪︎ Crew: 3 to 4

▪︎ Main armament: designed to mount .30 or .50 caliber Machine Guns swiveling on post between front seatbacks

▪︎ Secondary armament: towing 37mm Anti-Tank Gun

▪︎ Engine: 2.2 litre Inline 4 Willys L134 ''Go Devil'' 60hp

▪︎ Power/weight: 54.0hp/ton

▪︎ Payload capacity: 1,200lb on-road, 800lb cross-country

▪︎ Transmission: 3 speed x 2 range transfer case

▪︎ Suspension: Live axles on leaf springs front and rear

▪︎ Ground clearance: 8 3⁄4 inch

▪︎ Fuel capacity: 12.5 imperial gallons

▪︎ Operational range: 300 miles

▪︎Maximum speed: 65mph.

Done