Dodge 1/2-ton trucks in Commonwealth service

[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.

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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.
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[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

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.

No, not that one

[Alex van de Wetering]

I can't seem to find it in my own pictures, but this is the Dodge (not Chevrolet ) I was referring to.

I have a feeling it's now in Friesland.

source: http://buzzybeeforum.nl/viewtopic.ph...43124&start=75

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thanks Alex, that’s a nice Dodge Carryall. I snuck in the Chevrolet as that one triggered my memory when you mentioned black camouflage.

That link you shared even shows a second 1/2-ton Dodge Carryall with Dutch license plates.

Now, who has some wartime pictures of half ton Dodges in Commonwealth service?

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[Hanno Spoelstra]

Found this webpage with some info and photos of half-tonners in service with the Polish army in Italy: https://usautoindustryworldwartwo.co...polisharmy.htm.

I was surprised to see the Pickup/Weapons Carrier in use in Italy.

Attached are some photos with obligatory CMP / MCP content, see the link for more photos:

Below are several photos of Dodge 1/2 ton trucks in service with the Polish Army in the Italian campaign during the Second World War, which give a glimpse into the use of these vehicles after they were sent to the British under Lend-Lease early in the conflict. The British then passed the some of the vehicles along to the Polish Army as it manpower, but no trucks or other equipment. Of the 2,382,311 trucks produced by the American Auto Industry during WWII, 28%, or 667,047 were supplied to our Allies through Lend-Lease.

The half ton Dodge in combat during WWII was a rarity, making these photos historically significant as only thirty photos of exist of the vehicles in combat from all fronts during the war.

We are indebted to P.M. Radomski for providing these images from the A. Kaminski Archive.

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[Hanno Spoelstra]

The Dodge WC-27 ambulance was the most numerous half-tonner in Commonwealth service. These images show them in service in the Western Desert.

Note: I just realised many of these Ambulances in the Western Desert were operated by the American Field Service (AFS). I do not know if the AFS, which was a volunteer organisation, were equipped by the US or British government.

I recall seeing these half ton Ambulances in service with the New Zealand army in the Western Desert, too. I cannot find any pics at the moment, though. Ref. https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scho...t1-g1-t11.html

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Source: https://images.google.com/hosted/lif...5d4e50262.html | https://images.google.com/hosted/lif...74b2b59d2.html