Lend Lease Studebaker US6s

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Mark Sierant
At the sale I was talking to a chap who was keen to buy one, he informed me that he was a Vietnam Vet. and that at the begining of Australian commitment Studebakers were sent with the troops. He recounted that he had driven one for his tour of duty and that they were phased out in favour of the Inter AACO.
Maybe they also went to Korea does any one know?

Hi Mark,

Interesting to hear this. A quick search for pictures in the Australian War Memorial Collection Databases did not yield any of Studebaker 2½-ton 6x6 trucks, neither in Korea nor Vietnam. Pictures of GMC CCKW-353 2½-ton 6x6 trucks in Australian use are present, however, both in Korea and Vietnam.
I am in not really in a position to suggest the vet you spoke to is mistaken about the use of Studebakers in Vietnam, but one of the captions for a CCKW-353 truck does suggest this could be the case: "a converted GMC Model CCKW truck (also known as studebakers as this was one of the companies that manufactured them)".

Regards,
Hanno






ID Number: DNE/65/0444/VN
Maker: Dunne, Bryan Rupert
Summary: South Vietnam. 1965. A converted GMC Model CCKW truck (also known as studebakers as this was one of the companies that manufactured them) used by members of the Truong Son Force. This is one of a fleet of twenty five. The steel centrepiece and the cutaway side of the armour plated truck are to give protection and make abandoning of the vehicle easier in the case of ambush. The truck was designed by 13668 Captain (Capt) Arthur Barry (Barry) Petersen of Ipswich, Qld. Capt Petersen served with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV), and during this period spent over two years training and leading the Montagnard's Truong Son Force.