Dodge 1/2-ton trucks in Commonwealth service

[gordon]

That panel van could be a WC11 half ton 4 x 4 panel, but it is more likely to be a WC42 half ton 4 x 4 radio panel, made specially for the Commonwealth.

Unfortunately the pics don't show enough detail of the distinguishing features - metal roof fill panel, roof mounted vent for the radio heat, and rear window blackout curtains.

I was lucky enough to get a good look round Rick's 1940 RAF aircrew bus before the restoration started, and look forward to seeing it again when he is done...

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/dodge...estoration.htm

Gordon

knows about Dodges

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by gordon

That panel van could be a WC11 half ton 4 x 4 panel, but it is more likely to be a WC42 half ton 4 x 4 radio panel, made specially for the Commonwealth.

Unfortunately the pics don't show enough detail of the distinguishing features - metal roof fill panel, roof mounted vent for the radio heat, and rear window blackout curtains.

On the internet I read:

“WC-11, WC-19, WC-42

Almost 1,400 panel van trucks, and panel van bodied radio communication cars. At first, regular panel van trucks were ordered: 642 units of WC-11, and 103 units of WC-19. The subsequent WC-42 panel vans were however furnished and equipped as radio communication cars. The 650 WC-42 radio panel vans almost outnumbered their bare transportation siblings, and they were also the only radio communication cars that Dodge built in a panel van body style in the entire VC and WC series range.

Almost half of production, 650 units, went to the British Empire under the U.S. Lend-Lease agreement.”

Attached a pic of a restored one:

8FD5C11D-FB35-44B0-A732-1882FC8A6076.jpeg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Speaking of 1/2-ton Dodges, did the Commonwealth armies use any of the other versions? E.g. the WC-26 Carryall?

8DA507B3-2CCA-4FF2-9316-8E7BF2BB20AD.jpeg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Speaking of 1/2-ton Dodges, did the Commonwealth armies use any of the other versions? E.g. the WC-26 Carryall?

According to the caption of this picture, out of 1,100 WC-26 Carryalls built, 300 were delivered to the British via Lend-Lease.

Does anybody know in which theatres they were used?

F4036871-38EE-4387-80FB-BF8E06B9A5FC.jpeg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Bart Vanderveen wrote the British used the WC-21, WC-23, WC-26, WC-27 and WC-42.

C9877F7F-86DE-470A-9E49-A5E99F57EB3E.jpg


The attached picture shows a WC-42 with census number Z-4781243.

EF438357-65C4-4936-9B28-78EB0450D67E.jpeg

[Alex van de Wetering]

The attached picture shows a WC-42 with census number Z-4781243.

Hanno, I do remember a restored one in green(brown?) with black camouflage that used to move around in our area of the country. No idea if it was an original ex-Lend Lease one though.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Hanno, I do remember a restored one in green(brown?) with black camouflage that used to move around in our area of the country. No idea if it was an original ex-Lend Lease one though.

Alex, do you mean this one? I thought about it and then realised this is the bigger brother, the Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton 4x4 Panel Truck, equipped as Signal Corps K-51 Radio Truck, with K-52 1-ton Ben Hur trailer.

D8088835-2936-48E2-ABF0-61920DBB707E.jpeg 0868FC10-04E5-4CE2-9F1C-B17851A62E85.jpeg


Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton 4x4 Panel Trucks, equipped as Signal Corps K-51 Radio Trucks, with K-52 1-ton Ben Hur trailers, parked on Pier X, Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation, Newport News, VA, 25 February 1943.
6D4A09EE-4057-4619-BB76-5CE61DE50EC8.jpeg