1943 WC-53 Truck, 3/4 ton, 4x4 Dodge Carryall (G-502) Old Buckenham Airshow.
THREE QUARTER TON MODELS -
By late 1941, the Dodge WC range was significantly revised, all four-wheeled models were reinforced and uprated for a nominal three-quarter ton off-road payload; and for 1943, a stretched six-wheel drive, 11⁄2-ton (5.5-ton) rated variant was developed. All models were widened to front and rear tracks of 5 ft 4+3⁄4 in, widening the front track by as much as 5+3⁄8 in, and the rear track by 3+3⁄8 in on most models. The tyres were widened from 7.50x16 to 9 in wide. moreover, the bulk production variants were significantly shortened, giving the vehicles much more square proportions, like on their younger 1⁄4‑ton brothers.
On the troops & weapons carriers, and command / reconnaissance & radio trucks, the wheelbase were all cut by almost 1ft 6 in, from 9 ft 8 in to 8 ft 2 in wheelbase. Only ambulances, carry-alls, and technical service trucks kept a long wheelbase. Panel vans were dropped from the range and no longer made.
The big volume models (the WC-51/-52, and the WC-56/-57/-58) also got literally more square bodies, and overall length to width ratios. The integrated grille / brush-guard became straight, and the hoods became lower and wider, and were flattened, both as in losing their previous curvature, and now being simply horizontal, so they became more useful as an improvised table-top, and the front windshields on these models could now also be folded forward, to lay flat on their hoods, just like on the 1⁄4-tons. Under the hood, the 3⁄4-tons kept the 6-cylinder inline, L-head engine of 92 hp gross, from the later model half‑ton WC series.
The biggest volume production variants, the pick-up / troops and weapons-carrier models, received a completely redesigned rear bed, that mostly consisted of two longitudinal, rectangular boxes, that integrated the rear wheel wells with under-seat stowage compartments fore and aft of the rear wheels, while now seating troops on top of the rear wheels, facing each other, instead of in between the wheels, further widening these models to 6 ft 11 in, but offering much more space for the troops' backpacks and gear, between their feet.
A single such truck, at less than 14 ft 8 in long, offered practical all-terrain transportation to a full eight man rifle squad, their weapons and personal kit. With the nickname 'jeep' now moving on to the smaller 1⁄4‑ton trucks, some soldiers called the Dodges 'Beeps' (for ''Big Jeep'') Eventually, as much as half of the more than fifty different WC series models manufactured, were WC‑51 & WC‑52 cargo / troop and weapons carriers, and one third of those with an engine-powered front winch.
WC-53 ¾-ton CARRYALL - Length: 15 ft 6 in / Width: 6 ft 7 in / Height: 6 ft 8 in / Weight: 5,700 lb / Payload: 1,750 lb.
A carryall, mechanically the WC-53 was virtually identical to the WC-54 but was fitted with a body which was the 1939 civilian carryall modified to military specifications. All four rear side windows were wind-up opening and the seating consisted of front folding passenger seat to allow rear access, two person second row leaving space to access to the rear full width three person seat. The spare wheel was carried on a mount on the driver's side and although the door was fully operational it could not be opened and the driver had to enter from the passenger side. The rear end had split tailgates. WC-53's were also fitted as radio trucks with a bench on the left side with the operator seated sideways. 8,400 WC-53 Truck, 3/4 ton, 4x4 Dodge Carryall (G-502) were built. No carryalls came from the factory with a winch, though there was a field modification available.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS -
▪︎Type: 1⁄2-ton / 3⁄4-ton 4x4 truck / 11⁄2-ton 6x6 truck
▪︎Place of Origin: Warren Truck Assembly, Michigan, United States
Conflicts: World War Two / Korean War / Various post 1945 conflicts
▪︎Manufacturer: Dodge / Fargo
▪︎Produced: 1940 to 1945
▪︎Number Built: Total = 382,350 excluding variants consisting of: 1⁄2-ton 4x2 models = 1,542 units / All 4x4 Models = ~337,600 units – across: ≈82,390 1⁄2-ton units (1940 to 1942) and 255,195 3⁄4-ton units (1942 to 1945) 11⁄2-ton 6x6 Models 43,224 units
▪︎Variants: D8A 1⁄2-ton, 4x4 (1941, Canada) = 3,000 units / D3/4 APT 3⁄4-ton, 4x4 (1945, Canada) = 11,750 units / VF-401 – VF-407 11⁄2-ton, 4x4 (1940) = 6,472 units / T-203B 11⁄2-ton, 4x4 (1941) = 1,500 units / WF-32 - G-618 11⁄2-ton, 4x2 (1942 to 1944, Iran) = 9,600 units
SPECIFICATIONS (WC-51 / WC-52) -
▪︎Mass: 5,250 lb empty / 5,550 lb with winch
▪︎Length: 13 ft 10 7⁄8 in / 14 ft 8 1⁄2 in with winch
▪︎Width: 16 ft 10 3⁄4 in
▪︎Height: 6 ft 9 7⁄8 in
▪︎Engine: Dodge T-214, 92 hp
▪︎Payload Capacity: 1,500 lb
▪︎Transmission: 4 speed × 1 range
▪︎Suspension: Live beam axles on leaf springs
▪︎Ground Clearance: 10 in
▪︎Fuel Capacity: 30 U.S gallons
▪︎Operational Range: 240 miles
▪︎Maximum Speed: 55 mph.
Information sourced from - en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_WC_series
1943 WC-53 Truck, 3/4 ton, 4x4 Dodge Carryall (G-502) Old Buckenham Airshow.
THREE QUARTER TON MODELS -
By late 1941, the Dodge WC range was significantly revised, all four-wheeled models were reinforced and uprated for a nominal three-quarter ton off-road payload; and for 1943, a stretched six-wheel drive, 11⁄2-ton (5.5-ton) rated variant was developed. All models were widened to front and rear tracks of 5 ft 4+3⁄4 in, widening the front track by as much as 5+3⁄8 in, and the rear track by 3+3⁄8 in on most models. The tyres were widened from 7.50x16 to 9 in wide. moreover, the bulk production variants were significantly shortened, giving the vehicles much more square proportions, like on their younger 1⁄4‑ton brothers.
On the troops & weapons carriers, and command / reconnaissance & radio trucks, the wheelbase were all cut by almost 1ft 6 in, from 9 ft 8 in to 8 ft 2 in wheelbase. Only ambulances, carry-alls, and technical service trucks kept a long wheelbase. Panel vans were dropped from the range and no longer made.
The big volume models (the WC-51/-52, and the WC-56/-57/-58) also got literally more square bodies, and overall length to width ratios. The integrated grille / brush-guard became straight, and the hoods became lower and wider, and were flattened, both as in losing their previous curvature, and now being simply horizontal, so they became more useful as an improvised table-top, and the front windshields on these models could now also be folded forward, to lay flat on their hoods, just like on the 1⁄4-tons. Under the hood, the 3⁄4-tons kept the 6-cylinder inline, L-head engine of 92 hp gross, from the later model half‑ton WC series.
The biggest volume production variants, the pick-up / troops and weapons-carrier models, received a completely redesigned rear bed, that mostly consisted of two longitudinal, rectangular boxes, that integrated the rear wheel wells with under-seat stowage compartments fore and aft of the rear wheels, while now seating troops on top of the rear wheels, facing each other, instead of in between the wheels, further widening these models to 6 ft 11 in, but offering much more space for the troops' backpacks and gear, between their feet.
A single such truck, at less than 14 ft 8 in long, offered practical all-terrain transportation to a full eight man rifle squad, their weapons and personal kit. With the nickname 'jeep' now moving on to the smaller 1⁄4‑ton trucks, some soldiers called the Dodges 'Beeps' (for ''Big Jeep'') Eventually, as much as half of the more than fifty different WC series models manufactured, were WC‑51 & WC‑52 cargo / troop and weapons carriers, and one third of those with an engine-powered front winch.
WC-53 ¾-ton CARRYALL - Length: 15 ft 6 in / Width: 6 ft 7 in / Height: 6 ft 8 in / Weight: 5,700 lb / Payload: 1,750 lb.
A carryall, mechanically the WC-53 was virtually identical to the WC-54 but was fitted with a body which was the 1939 civilian carryall modified to military specifications. All four rear side windows were wind-up opening and the seating consisted of front folding passenger seat to allow rear access, two person second row leaving space to access to the rear full width three person seat. The spare wheel was carried on a mount on the driver's side and although the door was fully operational it could not be opened and the driver had to enter from the passenger side. The rear end had split tailgates. WC-53's were also fitted as radio trucks with a bench on the left side with the operator seated sideways. 8,400 WC-53 Truck, 3/4 ton, 4x4 Dodge Carryall (G-502) were built. No carryalls came from the factory with a winch, though there was a field modification available.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS -
▪︎Type: 1⁄2-ton / 3⁄4-ton 4x4 truck / 11⁄2-ton 6x6 truck
▪︎Place of Origin: Warren Truck Assembly, Michigan, United States
Conflicts: World War Two / Korean War / Various post 1945 conflicts
▪︎Manufacturer: Dodge / Fargo
▪︎Produced: 1940 to 1945
▪︎Number Built: Total = 382,350 excluding variants consisting of: 1⁄2-ton 4x2 models = 1,542 units / All 4x4 Models = ~337,600 units – across: ≈82,390 1⁄2-ton units (1940 to 1942) and 255,195 3⁄4-ton units (1942 to 1945) 11⁄2-ton 6x6 Models 43,224 units
▪︎Variants: D8A 1⁄2-ton, 4x4 (1941, Canada) = 3,000 units / D3/4 APT 3⁄4-ton, 4x4 (1945, Canada) = 11,750 units / VF-401 – VF-407 11⁄2-ton, 4x4 (1940) = 6,472 units / T-203B 11⁄2-ton, 4x4 (1941) = 1,500 units / WF-32 - G-618 11⁄2-ton, 4x2 (1942 to 1944, Iran) = 9,600 units
SPECIFICATIONS (WC-51 / WC-52) -
▪︎Mass: 5,250 lb empty / 5,550 lb with winch
▪︎Length: 13 ft 10 7⁄8 in / 14 ft 8 1⁄2 in with winch
▪︎Width: 16 ft 10 3⁄4 in
▪︎Height: 6 ft 9 7⁄8 in
▪︎Engine: Dodge T-214, 92 hp
▪︎Payload Capacity: 1,500 lb
▪︎Transmission: 4 speed × 1 range
▪︎Suspension: Live beam axles on leaf springs
▪︎Ground Clearance: 10 in
▪︎Fuel Capacity: 30 U.S gallons
▪︎Operational Range: 240 miles
▪︎Maximum Speed: 55 mph.
Information sourced from - en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_WC_series