The Unsung Hero of World War II (The Dodge WC Series)

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[@megaprojects9649]

Thanks to Keeps for sponsoring this video! Head to keeps.com/MEGAPROJECTS to get a special offer.

[@jonmake9124]

Love all your videos, keep up the great work, are gonna redo some of your early Megaprojects videos, I would like a new one about the International Space Station, it's sad their gonna retired it sooner or later.

[@handyMan65]

I agree, please redo the ISS video. Thanks for making these awesome videos, it's hard to figure out which one to watch.

[@finnmcool2]

I can only imagine the joy of a motor pool crew when they were shown the 4 new trucks they had to service when they were shown all the parts they shared.

[@zaco-km3su]

That must have put a smile on their face.

[@jeffho1727]

Having been Army Maint, it just takes away a PITA. Less parts to steal, less to carry, less to figure out at a time when its all about doing more.

[@Svensk7119]

​@@jeffho1727 Fewer parts. Parts is a countable noun. Work would be an uncountable noun, so less work would be correct, less work for the mechanics because they had fewer parts.

[@jeffho1727]

@@Svensk7119 I'm just trying to get people to stop saying funner!

[@Svensk7119]

@@jeffho1727 With that, my inner grammarian completely agrees.

[@DizzybyNature]

as my grandpa said, "i hate any car that isnt my Willy." grandma, "oh there he goes talking about his Willy again." RIP you two.. you really made childhood interesting..

[@cleverusername9369]

They probably won't read that

[@TheBestDog]

@@cleverusername9369 Life is a simulation running on an "alien(ware)" supercomputer. Scooby’s grandparents are queued, awaiting upload to their new respective bodies.

[@JuanSolo-ln8yq]

@@cleverusername9369just be quiet

[@808bigisland]

My longtime daily driver was a Chevy 1/2t truck whose engineering dating back to 1926. Very reliable, very durable, comfortable, great smooth engine and gearbox and extremely cheap to run.

[@rogerstlaurent8704]

Your Grandma must have been a cool cat back in her day just by saying that if i was you i have that saying carved into there headstone

[@unholyrevenger72]

Tactics wins battles, strategy wins a theaters, Logistics wins wars.

[@bill90405]

As the Russians are relearning

[@timothyhouse1622]

Nice quote from General Pershing. The Germans in WW2 learned this the hard way.

[@george2113]

And a single thermonuclear fireball can scramble shit all to hell

[@iowa_don]

Not at all forgotten. I was in Normandy last year on June 7. You would not believe how many WWII vehicles were driving around even the day after the D-Day celebration. It almost felt like we were back in 1944.

[@Trucksofwar]

I have many friends there in the restoration circles they adore their vehicles and they are all lovingly restored and cared for.

[@CaptHollister]

You might want to discuss the all-wheel-drive CMP (Canadian Military Pattern) trucks of which half a million were provided to the allies, a couple of hundred thousands more than the Dodge WC. It required major car-makers to come together to design a common model. CMPs are visible in the background of many WW2-era documentaries, but their true provenance gets lost under their various Bedford, Ford, and Chevrolet badges.

[@samuelleal6149]

diagnosis: unsung hero

[@TheBestDog]

500,000+ CMPs in addition to another 250,000+ various vehicles and self-propelled guns, with a population of twelve million, Canada built enough vehicles to carry its entire population at once.

[@obelic71]

Lots of those CMP trucks were sold as surplus and ran down during the rebuilding of Europe. They were masively converted into everything needed from household coal to road tar trucks.

[@paoloviti6156]

Thanks for reminding me about the CMP truly unsung heroes

[@Trucksofwar]

Absolutely adore my Chev CMP they’re so unique looking it drives like an absolute pig but I can never wipe the smile from my face driving it they mechanised the commonwealth but they get very very little love.

[@tonyadams6375]

As a volunteer fire fighter in the mid-1980s, we had a 1952 dodge M37 that has been converted to a grass rig. While it was not speedy, I am convinced that you could set the throttle put it in 4 wheel low pointed into a mile section, go around and wait for it to come out. That little truck was indestructible!

[@williamhardes8081]

that dodge ambulance is the unit depicted in the TV series MASH. They then served long beyond the Korean War and some lived on in regular army transport units as late as Vietnam. that's how good they were. my grandfather was using a 6x6 WC on his farm in Australia until 20 years ago. although he did say, he owned it because "if you can't afford a Ford, dodge in a Dodge".

[@b.mcboatface7319]

A slight correction... Mr Whistler refers to the art deco job rated Dodge trucks as stylish in 1939, when in fact like 'never sneakers grandpa steve', they are timelessly stylish in every year.

[@erichammond9308]

Beautiful works of art compared to the garbage produced by auto makers today!

[@randydewees7338]

I hoped there was a bit of irony in Mr Whistler's crack, but I fear he was serious.

[@alcyr5655]

I still own an '80 Powerwagon, Clubcab I picked up in 2002. Just a simple, regular Dodge, pick up, rubber floor mat, manual transmission, windows and everything else. Just chrome emblems stating it's a PW. About 4 yrs ago, spotted a used '15 PW on a Ford lot. It drew my attention, and it's the complete opposite of the '80, with power everything, and a sunroof. Loved that truck, locking diffs, winch, and Ram box. A used car salesman was adamant that he wanted my truck and I ended up trading it in for a '18 PW. Yes they are thirsty for fuel, the '80 has a 360, 4bbl. But they all got used as trucks. Dependable trucks.

[@george2113]

I love the quad vents on the early trucks so AC wasn't necessary ( two floor and two window vents)

[@dodgerehab6984]

As someone who has restored a 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, and M37, this video is an excellent synopsis of the legacy of the WC series. Thank you!!

[@zoltankaparthy9095]

Drove the WC when I was in the US Army in France, '62 - '64. Known to us as the Dodge 3/4 ton. It was the yeoman truck for all duties and light hauling. Rugged and ready. They seemed to always work.

[@AndrewAMartin]

Were those WCs, or the later Dodge-made M-37?

[@zoltankaparthy9095]

@@AndrewAMartin M-37. You could get about 8 GI's in the back. Ours had a 24 volt light bulb hanging in the back. Rode from Fontainebleau to our post many times. We always had fun and BS'ed a lot. GI's do. That truck was solo in our motorpool which was mostly 5-Tons. It always worked.

[@AndrewAMartin]

@@zoltankaparthy9095 I really want an M-37, have for decades, but that desire is tempered by three things: 1 - I have nowhere to put / store one (already have 3 vehicles and only a single carport) , 2 - I can't afford a restored example, and 3 - I don't have the facilities to fix up a basket case and make it what I want. But I still save every listing for one that comes up on FB Marketplace...

[@deadbrother5355]

When you mentioned the winch you said "power winch", you may have meant power take-off winch. I think it's worth noting that back then electrical winches for vehicles weren't common. (If even invented yet) Rather they were commonly PTO (power take off), winches which use the power from the engine to turn the winch drum via a specific gear located in the transmission gearbox. An electric winch will work when your vehicle is upside down, and may come with a very good warranty indeed- many of the pto winches installed on surviving ww2 era dodge trucks work flawlessly to this day.

[@edw.b856]

Farmers in my neck of the woods hooked the PTO up to a hydraulic pump, put a hydraulically actuated dump box on the back, and used 'em to haul grain for 30 years after they were "surplus"

[@erikkunkle9574]

And they can wench 7500lbs.

[@nomadmarauder-dw9re]

@@erikkunkle9574 able to winch themselves out of trouble

[@brianellison3525]

Not out of the trans, out of the transfer case. If your going to act like you know something, at least know enough to not sound dumb.

[@erikkunkle9574]

@@brianellison3525 It's not out of the transfer case either. TM 9-810 March 18, 1943, Section XXVI, para 221b. "On model WC-63, a power takeoff assembly is mounted on the side of the transmission case to provide a means of taking power from the engine to operate the wench." @deadbrother5355 was more correct than you. Later in para 226, PTO assembly Replacement, it talks about the transmission shaft counter gear and how all works together with the PTO. Next time, you want to lash out for someone "being wrong", research or keep your mouth shut before you prove you know less than the person you're trying to make look dumb.

[@brentbackman2911]

The Philippine Army still has these Dodge trucks in service today. My niece, a captain in the P. A. Drove one while she was in training. I drooled! She laughed...

[@markfletcher8040]

Great video on the dodge WC We had one on the farm in Victoria Australia from1951 till 2004, when my father died and is wife gave it away with out telling me. It was a RHD conversion. this old truck carried tons, regardless of its 3/4 ton status. My father used to say it was more comfortable to ride in than his prewar Graham page. It was often driven to its max speed ( on the Speedo) of 60 mph . I cried the day it went, l learnt to drive in it as a 10 yo, and mastered changing gears up and down via matching the engine revs on the crash gear box. Changed many a broken axle, steering box's, and rebuilt the engine piston rings an bearings without taking the engine out.Those side valve 6 cylinders engines were Bullet proof. The Speedo always worked, infact all the four gauges could be relied upon to tell you what the dodge's donk was doing. Post script It. Has been completely rebuilt in its original army colours and is still road registered and used for ANZAC day ,to transport vets,

[@EK14MeV]

My father and other WWII veterans called the Dodge ambulances “cracker boxes.” A common denominator of the WC series was the chassis.

[@Johnnycdrums]

Serious crossmember on that frame.

[@mikestewart7338]

We called them meat wagons

[@EK14MeV]

@@mikestewart7338 Americans call ambulances in general as meat wagons. But American military vets who drove the Dodge WC ambulances often called them cracker boxes. My father had photos of himself driving one as a US Navy corpsman (sounds like core-man), who were combat medics for Marine forces in WW II. The US Pacific Navy corpsman was the most dangerous combat job in the war against Imperial Japan. Corpsman hands were occupied with his medical triage supplies satchel, while Imperial Japanese prioritized shooting easily identified American medics, to demoralize the Marines. Marines had an intimate dependence on corpsmen, the first responders to frequent grave injuries.

[@vr4787]

Family’s had Dodge/ Ram trucks since the 70s. Ramchargers, D/Ws, Dakotas, 3rd gen 2500 Cummins, 4th gen Classic. Endearing to know a few of those trucks came out of the same plant in Warren that built WW2 trucks.

[@DSS-jj2cw]

FT. Leonard Wood had a display of these vehicles when I was serving there in the 80s. Never appreciated them as much as I do now.

[@manicmechanic448]

"people who own Fords will one day want an automobile." John Dodge

[@jaybird0312]

Won't be going to Dodge anytime soon. Lol. How the mighty have fallen.

[@manicmechanic448]

@@jaybird0312 I'd trust literally any Mopar products before any Ford.

[@imnotyourfriendbuddy1883]

Does Dodge still exist?

[@fuzzy3440]

Wonder how he would feel knowing that his company is now owned by Fiat/Peugeot (who hide their name by using the name Stellantis)?

[@imnotyourfriendbuddy1883]

@@fuzzy3440 My guess is Dodge would look at his net worth and smile

[@alexius23]

In the purported Nikita Khrushchev autobiography Nikita talked of a victory parade & nearly the trucks were Lend-Lease sent by the US.

[@alexcrouse]

I've heard stories that they swapped all the badges to Soviet brands, so not admit to the public the USA built them all.

[@paoloviti6156]

​@alexcrouse it is true but I don't know know if they changed the badges or not but I know that they were highly sought as much they could so high the reputation they had...

[@alexius23]

@@paoloviti6156 I have read that the Soviets would try & obscure the US origins of Lend-Lease goods…

[@alexius23]

“& nearly ALL the trucks were Lend-Lease sent by the US.

[@petesheppard1709]

Thanks for a really informative video--for me, anyway. While growing up I was very much aware of Jeeps and 2 1/2 ton trucks, little attention was paid to the mid-size vehicles, even though they were all over the place.

[@beatglauser9444]

The Swiss Army bought masses of vehicles from The US Army at the end of the war: Vehicles were parked bumper to bumper on the German Autobahn and they were sold off by miles. And it seems they were dirt cheap. We bought many Jeeps, Dodge WCs and GMC trucks. (as well as P 51 Mustangs). In Switzerland they were known for their high comsumption of gas. Specially the big GMC trucks. When I was in the Army from 81 to 85 the Dodge WC was gone. I have seen one parked where the maintance units worked. Amazingly enough a handful of GMC trucks were still in use in 1985. My Dad who served in the Swiss Army in the early Sixties told me many Dodge WC strories. They were in big use at the time. The earlier Jeeps wer auctionned off to farmers. Amazingly enough the Dodge WC was hardly around since the Eighties. A few were used by garages to tow and lift wrecked cars. I always liked those Dodge trucks but I never had the chance to drive one.

[@d.l.gentsch5304]

My father was a sergeant in Europe responsible for fixing trucks, cars, and jeeps. He even came up with a fix for the jeeps stalling out.

[@davonmulder8458]

What was the fix?

[@balinthehater8205]

​@@davonmulder8458probably to hit it hard enough with a wrench.

[@d.l.gentsch5304]

@@davonmulder8458 Shortened the spring that controlled the air intake flap on the carburetor.

[@george2113]

@@d.l.gentsch5304 to increase the tension?

[@canerguener8664]

More air

[@robertr7923]

In my hometown a dodge beep wc52 was left behind after the liberation and it was turned into a firetruck. My grandfather used it while firefighting until 1976. Now it is restored and run by volunteers. I had the joy of driving it a few times as well. I love that machine

[@timbrwolf1121]

It's my opinion that this vehicle (Though rebranded with soviet "manufacturers") actually was mostly responsible for us winning the war. We gave the Soviets almost half a million Jeeps and Dodges, with some other manufacturers sprinkled in. This at a time when even the mighty Nazi army was still mostly supplied by horse and buggy.

[@Gee_Jay]

I looked up some reliable numbers - The USA Alone (Aside from also astounding support with war vehicles from Britain) sent the Soviets 501,660 tactical tracked & wheeled vehicles - some 75,000 Tracked ones, Including TANKS - And ~425,00 Wheeled Trucks, including 25,000 Dodge WC's, and 50,000 1/4-ton Ford GPW & Willys MB jeeps. -- Trucks were 200,622 of 2.5 ton 6x4 trucks (50% Chevy / 50% Studebakers - the latter more loved) - and 151,053 of 1.5 ton GM Trucks -- oh -- AND They Loved the 6,500 Ford GPA Amphibious jeeps - 'cause they could cross inland waters. They even started building their own copies !

[@timbrwolf1121]

@Gee_Jay the humble American truck won the war. The soviet tanks would have run out of fuel and ammo long before reaching seelow heights without them

[@Gee_Jay]

@@timbrwolf1121 You Sure got a point there !

[@JeffDeWitt]

@@Gee_Jay The Soviets REALLY liked the Studebakers and even copied them. After the war the GAZ-51s started showing up all over the Soviet block countries.

[@erichammond9308]

Extremely stylish in 1939 = absolute work of art in 2023! Also, people who claim that the Merlin engine was the engine that won WWII forget that the straight 6 in it's several iterations by Dodge, Chevrolet and Ford, was the actual engine that won the war according to the troops in the ground. I learned to drive a manual in a 1973 Chevy C-10 pick up truck that my uncle (a mechanic and former combat engineer with the 66th infantry division) had put a 4.4 litre straight 6 from a 2.5 ton GMC deuce and a half in. Took the darned thing 55 minutes to get to 55mph (and would not go faster) but give it enough traction and it could pull an I beam out of a concrete wall! Tune ups were easy too, stand over the front axle and do whatever you need to work on! 🤣

[@Trucksofwar]

Haha my CMP is the same, Chevy 235 we pull trees with it first gear low range and let it crawl it just leaves with them 😂

[@loyalopposition-us]

It's great to see these unglamorous heroes getting the recognition they're due. Without supplies troops don't eat, planes don't fly, tanks don't roll and guns can't shoot.

[@Minoltalphafan]

Dodge needs to release a WC trim model of truck with special equipment, badging and matte colors.

[@jrharryman32]

When I was a kid my dad had a 1951 dodge m-37. It was an absolute beast. It would only run about 60 wide open, It had a removeable top and jump seats in back with a canvas cover.

[@devonmask5192]

Excellent presentation of an underappreciated bit of gear. Well done.

[@karlbrundage7472]

Most, if not all rural fire departments in the United States post WWII had at least one of these vehicles on-strength, primarily as a "brush-truck", tasked with going off-road to battle fires or rescue victims in locations inaccessible to standard fire apparatus. Some still turn up for sale as surplus with these RFDs.

[@Gee_Jay]

THANK YOU - For this Video - Giving Deserved LOVE to Dodge's MASSIVE WC-series ACHIEVEMENT !! -- Only One Error in the Script - MOST of the 255,000 of 3/4-ton Dodges had a 98 in ( 2.50m ) wheelbase -- Not the Earlier (1/2-ton ) wheelbase of 116 in / 2.95 meters. -- Added with wider Track axles, front & rear - this gave the 1942-1945 WC-series a Much More Squat STANCE -- The MOST-Built 4x4 WC-51 / WC-52 and their Stretched 6x6 sisters were 2.10m (83 in) Wide !

[@jimdevilbiss9125]

I have driven several of the variants but have never seen the twin rear axle model. Thanks for this complete and detailed guide.

[@erikkunkle9574]

I first saw the 6x6 watching an episode of 12 O' Clock high. They had to land in Russia and the Russians were driving around the sirfields with them

[@donalddodson7365]

Well done. Thank you. Smart planning to focus on the niche they were doing so well in pre-WWII.

[@hogslayr2703]

In 1975 my small detachment in the XVIII Airborne still had a Willey’s jeep and 2 of these Dodge WC’s. I loved the jeep of course. The WC’s were replaced soon after my arrival with 2 new 1976 Dodge 3/4 ton pick ups painted in the familiar matte olive drab. They soon went to the painters for the camouflage treatment. But those 2 WC’s (of uncertain vintage) with the familiar tires, canvas tarps, fenders and basic grills were still in service. Not long after I ended my time of service the HumVee’s appeared. I have photos in the motor pool of some of that equipment Thanks for the video.

[@frederickjeremy]

If i ever find myself in a situation where money is significantly less of an object than it is today, i will obtain one of the original flat fender powerwagons from the early 40’s, fix it up, and use it to pull my 1941 ford 9n around to the various properties I maintain with it. I figure that would be a blast from the past, being trailer technology hasnt changed that much, but tractor and truck from that era has greatly.

[@Jobratedman]

Power Wagons did not come into production until 1946, after the war, Basically a civilian version of the WC trucks.

[@ldnwholesale8552]

I learnt to drive at 13 /14 in a 34 Dodge 3 ton truck. In the late 60s. An 11 acre back yard was handy. The truck was used primarily in vineyards, occasionally for other general purpose uses

[@nitishk9]

There's always something so attractive about these vehicles that you can keep looking at them all day and the novelty wouldn't wear-off. The first 4-wheeled vehicle that I came across was a Jeep FC pick-up on a construction site, then I became a fan of all of the Jeep models and every other such vehicle. In Asia and South Asia, especially in India, the Indian Ordinance Factory manufactured them under license for the Army, those were called the Jonga (Nissan Patrol G60) and the Shaktiman (Nissan 1 ton/ Dodge M37). They had a 4.0 litre Inline-6 cylinder petrol engine that made a very distinct sound. There's so much character in them. Then as these vehicles were being phased-out and replaced, all the ex-mod enthusiasts snapped them up, creating their own custom versions, and that's a trend still to this day. There are companies that would make one-off custom full-bodied lifestyle trucks based on the Nissan 1 ton and the Dodge M37 for even as little as £5,000 (excluding shipping and other costs) depending on your choices. A few years back I had the privilege of owning a kitted up 1999 Land Defender 110 TD5 in Ireland, sold it after 2 years (shouldn't have) and now I am longing for more of that experience.

[@noahwail2444]

I was in the Danish army 1977-1980, where we still used the Dodge 1 1/2 ton truck.

[@Stenere12]

My dad bought our Dodge WC 51 1942 from Brazilian Army auction in 1962. Since 1992 this dodge has been mine and I like it a lot. I live in Brazil and when I go out on the streets people are curious, the old dodge is a hit on the street. Thanks Dodge Brothers!

[@BruceMusto]

love the pic of the dude hanging off the front bumper manning a .50

[@BruceMusto]

and of course I know he's doing that for the picture.

[@jonbold]

Imagine Dodge trucks rolling thru France on roads laid down by the Roman Empire. Yes, it happened! Thanks for a great video!

[@martinstallard2742]

1:15 need, design, and development 3:05 end of sponsorship 7:22 adaptations, specs, and variants 11:01 deployed onto world war 13:29 retirement, successors and legacy

[@johnwelty281]

When my Dad demobilized from the USMC 5th Marines after VJ Day, he bought 2 WCs (crated and not completely assembled) from the US Government (GI bargain prices y'know). Those two Dodges formed the nucleus of the new local delivery company he formed in northern Wisconsin. Those WCs were shipped to Milwaukee, where Dad and one other USMC motor/mechanic uncrated them, performed final assembly, and drove them north to their new home. I graduated from High School in 1966 and one of those WCs was still working as a log truck supporting the local paper mill. Dad had by then changed over to International Harvester trucks, but the WCs were certainly the biggest truck "bargain" he ever found.

[@15Bravo]

I have one of these trucks. Restored it and put a modern cummins 24v HO engine in it /w 6 speed manual trans out of a 2002 ram.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Nice...

[@johnmunro4952]

4:40 mate! That truck is a goddamn work of art!!!

[@greylocke100]

I would love to see an in-depth video on the M35 series of trucks.

[@TheOldMachines]

Theae dodge trucks couples with the 6 cylinder flathead are absolutely bulletproof and workhorses. Plus they actually drive well

[@EAWanderer]

General Dwight Eisenhower (Ike) : Chief Commander of all allied forces in Western Europe 0:14 - You will not find it difficult to prove that battles, campaigns and wars have either been won or lost primarily because of logistics... Men win battles Logistics win wars

[@forestwells5820]

Just look at Ukraine. It's arguable the horrendous logistics we've seen from the Russian army has done more damage to their efforts than any tank. Is it THE reason they're losing? Hard to say for sure without an alternate reality machine where we see them fight with GOOD logistics. But no one can say it hasn't, at worst, played a large factor.

[@allangibson8494]

@@forestwells5820Russia has always been bad at logistics. It is the May Day parade effect - a truck load of combat rations is far less impressive than a tank but operationally more important. Russia had hundreds of T-34/76 tanks in June 1941 - with almost empty fuel tanks and less than a quarter of a full ammunition load. By December they had none of them left.

[@EAWanderer]

@forestwells5820 Not even factoring everything else on top of that only adding to their losses! 😆 haha 1. Like a serious shortage of NCO's or Non Commissioned Officers ( A.K.A Sergeants! )

[@knoester7714]

Thank you for sharing this information about Dodge trucks and WWII

[@NN-sj9fg]

In '65, the Dodge "meatwagons" (ambulances) were still in use.

[@daguard411]

When General of the Army Omar Bradley was asked what the best weapon he used was, his reply was "The 2 1/2 ton truck."

[@ohyeah2816]

My dad was called up in 1940 and joined the Royal Artillery. He was given a 6 weeks crash course in various British lorries. All were driven over courses. He got to look at an American truck which was in a shed on blocks. They couldn’t use it because it used so much fuel they would use up their allocation in a week.

[@dustinshadle732]

I've driven a few of the restored dodge w series. 5 ton was the heaviest of the group, but the 2.5 ton and the old 5/4 are probably the most useful if a. Civilian wanted to build one for farm work. Not counting the jeep, of course. I got to drive, what was essentially, a big 4x4 panel truck. It had a top speed of 57mph according to my gps, and, during its time with the US Forrest service had electric windshield wipers that replaced the vacuum units. I really loved that thing, even if it didn't have the best ride of trucks i could have driven.

[@geodkyt]

People think of the HMMWV as a "jeep replacement" (and, to be fair, that's how the US Army presented it for the most part). But, the HMMWV really fit the roles of the ¾ ton WC (and the later Korean era M37 and Vietnam era M715) better than it ever did the jeep roles. Which is why the US has been spending the last 30 years experimenting with various ATV based vehicles to get back that small and nimble capability that larger vehicles just can't fufill.

[@carlhuffman454]

I served in the old Army Security Agency in the years '68-'72, We had a piece of equipment called the MLQ-24, and I trained on it during my training at Ft. Devens, MA in 1969. It was mounted on an M-37 Dodge truck. You can find pictures of that set up on the net.

[@-oiiio-3993]

I bought a Willys MB today.

[@Nathan-vt1jz]

They also looked really good. Such a classic and good looking vehicle.

[@usonumabeach300]

I was motor t maintenance for the great grandson of these, the Oshkosh MTVR 7 ton. Motor Transport is the backbone of the Marine Corps. Food, ammo, reinforcements, parts, moving artillery cannons...

[@TheChilKat]

I drove an old Dodge weapons carrier for a few years. I remember the star of David on the horn button...and it had a hand brake. If you wanted to slow down, stomping at the floor was useless. LOL, good old days.

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

If you do another video on military vehicles you should take a look at the Canadian Military Pattern Trucks from Ford and GM. While mostly built for the Canadian and British Armies, some ended up in service from Australia, to India, to the Soviet Union. In all nearly 900 000 CMP's were built, only surpassed in quantity by the Deuce and a Half series trucks from GMC and Studebaker.

[@pauljenks4901]

Despite what was said about the Pacific in the video and Dodge, the CMP were more plentiful in the South Pacific than the Dodge. The CMPs from 1944 onwards were built in Australia.

[@ClaudeBenshaul]

The WC truck has a long lasting legacy in the Israeli M325 "Nun Nun", which unsurprisingly is the abbreviation of "Weapon Carrier" in Hebrew (נושא נשק), and which was in production until the mid 80's. It was still seen in service until 2010 with reserve units. It's basically the same WW2 WC truck, slightly modernized with more angular panels, and there were even patrol versions with a V bottom against mines, a special seat on the outside to the right for a tracker/pathfinder and several universal mounts in the back for M1919, M2 or M240 FN MAG.

[@melodigrand]

Dad told me that when he first got in the Army in 1942, the half ton Dodge was known as a Jeep. There were few of the small Willys design 4x4 and these were at first known as a Peep, for Pipsqueak Jeep. Later in the war, the larger versions of the Dodge were known as the Beep, for Big Jeep.

[@ROBERTNABORNEY-jx5il]

You left out the M715 of the Vietnam Era. When I was a cadet, 1970--74, our ROTC detachment had a M715 assigned for general purpose duties. That was replaced by the M561 Gama Goat in tactical units with the "Commercial Off The Shelf" M880/M890 (essentially a commercial pick up painted green) for garrison chores. The Humvee replaced the M561. Few people, if any ever called the WC series a "Beep". All the veterans I have talked to called it the "Weapons Carrier" from its use in carrying the Heavy weapons Company;'s (withi Infantry Battalions) eight M1917A1 water-cooled 30 caliber machine guns and four 81 mm medium mortars.

[@dell177]

In the lte 60's i drove Dodge Ambulances and 5/4 ton utility trucks from the WWII and Korean war era, They were utterly reliable, never doubtrd we would get back to the site in one of these.

[@billhale9740]

I had for my use a M-37 at Cu Chi in 1967 I can tell you from experience it could haul two or more a couple of 2 1/2 ton differential axle assemblies from tech supply back to the maintenance shops that truck was a beast

[@justbuggin67]

There is a WC 3/4 ton open cab truck around the corner from house. It’s a beast and turns heads at the local shows.

[@USMCROCH]

Great video, I have a 1941 Dodge WC-6, just used it in a 4th of July parade.

[@erikkunkle9574]

Those are nice looking trucks. I own a '44 WC-63. Getting it ready for a car shoe on the 29th. This past 4th was the best parade it has been in. Perfect speed for 1st and the throttle, lol

[@allencampbell4460]

I restored a 1942 WC 51 twenty years ago. It was a tough project, but it was restored to great running condition with ALL of the original equipment. All of the canvas, an original 1943 canvas water bucket, pioneer tools, original bottle jack with the handle, and it was in the Military Vehicles calendar. I took it to several WWII living history events where it received a lot of attention. I sold it several years ago to a gentleman who lives in Mississippi.

[@Trucksofwar]

Love seeing them out and about they’re an uncommon sight here in Australia just the ones left behind when the yanks went home.

[@johncox2865]

My parents were dairy farmers in Alabama throughout the 1950s and 60s, and they had a Power Wagon. That winch on the front bumper drove directly off of the crankshaft. A purely mechanical beast. Sadly, it never worked while dad owned the truck. Parts were not available.

[@c3aloha]

My dad’s favorite truck. He was in the Po Valley Campaign as a counter battery detection specialist

[@danr1920]

4:37 Yes those were extremely stylish. Even more so when you consider they were a truck.

[@the_once-and-future_king.]

I was thinking the same.

[@michaelloth5870]

Wow, Thank you for this video. I love Dodge trucks, but did not know this story!!! Looks like I am going to have to find a WC.

[@shastaham7630]

While in Germany in 65-66 as a radio operator (05B20), I was assigned a ¾ ton Dodge modified to accept one or more radio transceivers (installed once when France kicked us out). It was a great rig for German winters, but a real gas hog. When I got it, it had close to ¼ million miles on it and I added a lot more between Frankfurt and Bremerhaven.

[@shyamchabra5355]

The old Dodge Power Wagon soldiered on after the war. It was sold worldwide and was employed by both civil and military users, before petrol consumption became an issue. Dodge was a household name in the 1950s! There are still old Dodge's doing good work in Asia and the Middle East.

[@lisam4503]

I owned a 1963 M37. The Dodges were very capable trucks off road. They weren't going to win any races, but they were the turtle that beat the hare. They were built to go through really rough terrain and did it quite effectively.

[@jamesellsworth9673]

Highly interesting overview of an iconic vehicle, with due reference to the manufacturing principles that made it into an icon for the industry.

[@erikhendershot2350]

I have a ‘41 WC-6 command car sitting in my driveway waiting to be restored. Love these old Dodges.

[@nomadmarauder-dw9re]

There's a promo film about Dodge trucks in Africa. A tie in to the film they were being used on. Mogambo I think? The production crew went way deep into the Rift and Congo. Worth a look if you can find it.

[@GOAP68]

Nice set back lighting.

[@dannobloomquisr8825]

When I was in the service. ( 90's ) the dodge was long gone but still sometimes talked about . We called it a " five quarter ton".

[@fumblerooskie]

That's great. Now put the same energy into talking about the CMP trucks, of which 800,000 were produced (more than half in Canada) - more than the combined efforts of Germany, Italy, and Japan - and supplied to Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, and Egypt. It also helped Canada by the end of the war to become the most mechanized army on earth with a ratio of one armoured vehicle for every three soldiers. WC trucks were also built in Canada, BTW.

[@Trucksofwar]

Absolutely love my CMP they’re so adorably ugly & a pig to drive but you can’t wipe the smile from your face driving it and the kids love seeing it!

[@fumblerooskie]

@@Trucksofwar Just WOW that you actually have one. That's awesome!

[@Trucksofwar]

@@fumblerooskie there’s a healthy little community in Australia that rescues & restores them we’d have to have at least 60-70 of them still on the road that we know about kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXXKgZ2wgb95Z80

[@alancranford3398]

I have a personal reason for liking the Dodge WC ambulance--my brother Dave was born in one as Mom was being transported to an Air Force hospital.

[@rogerbuettnero3513]

My son is slowly restoring a WC-63.

[@kalrandom7387]

In the eighties you could still find them in my rural.area, they were fantastic for going anywhere.

[@garysilver718]

While in the Army in 1960 I was sent to the Sahara Desert in Libya as part of operation climax to retrieve the remains of the crew from the Lady Be Good (b-24 airplane) that went down in 1943 and wasn’t found until 1959. I was in charge of wheeled vehicles and three of them were 3/4 ton m-37s . We spent 30 days there and retrieved 2 sets of remains. I have fond memories of the 3/4 ton m-37.

[@davefellhoelter1343]

"I Know" as a kid growing up in the 60's and 70's these things where EVERY PLACE! All The Time in Surplus. Tow trucks, fire trucks, contractors, farms, citys, parks, you name it! a dime a dozen after the war more avalible to US than any Jeeps! Hands Down. every GI in my child hood could work on one anytime, place, or condition!

[@typhoonoftempest]

I've had the honor to drive one of these (the 52 version), and you really feel all 3/4ths of that ton they weigh! I've driven tractors that were easier to get going on a hill that this beast, but it did feel like I could bowl over a tree without too much of an issue. It didn't help that the starter for the thing was above the accelerator

[@beatersnbeers2145]

Love it! Glad someone popular brings these trucks to light! Those crap jeeps are nothing compared to these dodges.

[@michaelgautreaux3168]

👍👍 Many thanx Simon.

[@m1t2a1]

Another unsung hero. All of the jerry cans of gas they carried.

[@jasongleave355]

A vid on the Vietnam war trucks that the gi's converted would be interesting

[@garyfinchum3252]

I remember reading a quote from a german prisoner that thought every American soldier had his own truck.

[@Curmudgeon2]

know an old WWII guy that was a mechanic. He said there was one part of those 3/4 ton trucks that never, ever needed to be replaced....the shocks.

[@richardalexander5758]

I got to drive a WWII vintage Dodge "Power Wagon" owned by the Smithsonian institution, and it was an awesome beast.

[@rjkeenan8955]

Everyone can come up with a reason why this or that motor pool vehicle was so important. The truth is.......the most important truck of any size is the M35, CCKW, GMC Jimmy Deuce-and-a-Half.

[@oldmangimp2468]

Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but I think that the most viewed WC series truck was the ambulance version used in the opening credits of the TV show M*A*S*H.

[@MatthewSprack]

I look forward to similar videos, such as on Bedford lorries or the Daimler Dingo.

[@kirklawton2191]

Could you do a video on the CMP? The{ Canadian Military Pattern} truck? This vehicle produced in Canada for all commonwealth nations throughout the full length of the war. Made by both Ford and Chevrolet. It had to be one of Canada's biggest industrial contributions to WW2.

[@Trucksofwar]

Next to my CMP I’d love to restore a Dodge WC. Logistics vehicles never get much love but they are why we won the war! Please do a video on the CMP it gets no love!

[@Steven-re7xt]

When i went in to army reserve from the ra. I took a big step back....our vehicles were from the 45-65 models. And they had quality i had never seen i got to loveing them then our unit got newer trucks. And a lot of shop time.😮😮 Shame . Its good to see some body cares...😊

[@johnpeeters2131]

the Dutch also created a series of DAF trucks after the war when they ran out of Dodges. the DAF YA 126 even has the same engine (Marshall plan?) but is even better equipped for off-road. and I was once lucky enough to own one..