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WC51 Dodge Truck, Cargo, 3/4 ton, 4x4

The 3/4 ton series of Dodge WC trucks was introduced in late 1941, replacing the G505 1/2 ton trucks of the period 1939-1941. The most versitile of the 3/4 ton "Weapons Carriers" was the WC-51 or WC-52, two trucks that were identical except for the presence (WC-52) or absence (WC-51) of the front-bumper-mounted winch. Although called a "weapons carrier" it had folding troop seats down both sides of the cargo area and was primarily used to haul personnel and ammunition.

Hundreds of WC51 or WC-52 Dodge weapons carriers wait to be shipped at the Dodge truck plant near Detroit, MI, August 1942
Hundreds of WC51 or WC-52 Dodge weapons carriers wait to be shipped at the Dodge truck plant near Detroit, MI, August 1942.

Today in WW II: 17 Sep 1939 Soviet troops invade Poland from the east.  More 
17 Sep 1944 Thousands of Allied planes begin airborne assault on Holland, Operation Market Garden.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

WC-51 Truck, Cargo, 3/4 ton, 4x4 w/o Winch Dodge (G502)

The WC-51 Truck, Cargo, 3/4 ton, 4x4 w/o Winch Dodge (G502) was developed at a Dodge subsidiary, the Fargo Motor Corporation. Between 1942 and 1945, 123,541 WC-51s were built for U.S. use and shipment to allies, especially the Soviet Union where the trucks became quite common. They were utilized very broadly for many purposes in all branches of the U.S. military through World War II and the Korean War. The M-37 3/4 ton 4x4 Dodge truck gradually replaced the WC models during the mid- to late-1950s.

Numerous variations of the WC-51 / WC-52 cargo trucks were produced, including the M-6 Gun Motor Carriage (GMC) which mounted a 37mm Anti-tank Gun in the cargo bed of the WC-52 base vehicle.

Specifications of the WC-51 3/4 ton 4x4 Dodge Cargo Trucks

Net Weight5,645 lbs
Height (w/canvas top)6 ft, 10 in.
Height (top lowered)5 ft, 2 in.
Width6 ft, 11 in.
Length13 ft, 11 in.
Ground clearance10 5/8 in.
Wheelbase98 in.
Tires9.00 x 16, 8 ply
EngineDodge T214, 6 cyl, 230 cu. in. gasoline
TransmissionNew Process 4-speed
Transfer caseNew Process Single-speed
Horsepower76 bhp
Road Speed54 mph
Range240 mi

WC-51 3/4 ton 4x4 Dodge Photos

Find additional photos and hi-res versions of the WC-51 3/4 ton 4x4 Dodge at the Olive-Drab Military Mashup:

USS LST-1 lands WC-51 3/4 ton Dodge trucks and towed field guns on an Italian beach, via a causeway. This view may have been taken during the Salerno landings, circa September 1943.
Signal Corps soldier Eddie Urban sits on the back of the photo truck in camp, with photographic equipment piled in and outside the vehicle.  From evidence not in this photo, the truck is probably WC51 Dodge Truck, Cargo, 3/4 ton, 4x4 and the unit is probably Combat Unit 123 of the 167th Signal Photo Company.
COL Kristin French, commander of the Fort Knox 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), leads the Autumn Daze parade from a WWII-era Dodge WC-51 3/4-ton 4x4 truck through Vine Grove, KY, 17 September 2011. Vine Grove has hosted the festival for the past 51 years.
WC51 Dodge Truck, Cargo, 3/4 ton, 4x4 at the headquarters of the United States of America Typhus Commission, circa 1944.
WC-52 3/4 ton 4x4 G-502 Dodge 'weapons carrier' truck, restored.  Without a winch it would be WC-51.  Lorenzo Venturino points out this is probably a Canadian T236 'Symbol D3/4APT, 3/4 APT, 4x4 - 98 inch W.B.' an upgrade of the WC52.
Historical walk attracts a flurry of activity by vintage vehicles, equipment and re-enactors in period uniforms, Bastogne, Belgium, 21 November 2008. Money raised by the annual walk supports Veterans organizations.  Jeeps and a WC-51 3/4-ton Dodge Weapons Carrier.

WC-51 3/4 ton 4x4 Dodge Photo Gallery

WC-51 Dodge 3/4 ton 4x4 cargo trucks lining up for loading onto cargo ships, Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation, Newport News, VA during WW II.
WC-51 Dodge 3/4 ton 4x4 cargo trucks lining up for loading onto cargo ships, Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation, Newport News, VA during WW II.

WC-51 3/4 ton 4x4 weapons carriers with towed anti-tank guns, coming ashore from USS LST-1 to an Italian beach, World War II.
WC-51 3/4 ton 4x4 weapons carriers with towed anti-tank guns, coming ashore from USS LST-1 to an Italian beach, World War II.

Rear view of WC-51 or WC-52 transporting medical personnel during World War II.
Rear view of WC-51 or WC-52 transporting medical personnel during World War II.

XIX Tactical Air Command testing of waterproofed WC-51 at Aldermaston Court prior to the invasion of Normandy in June 1944.
XIX Tactical Air Command testing of waterproofed WC-51 at Aldermaston Court prior to the invasion of Normandy in June 1944.

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