US 2 1/2-ton, 6x6 Trucks in WW II

World War II was the first war in which massive numbers of trucks completely changed the equations of mobility for warfare. The production capability of the U.S. automotive industry poured out hundreds of thousands of jeep, trucks and armored vehicles. This made it possible for the U.S. and its allies to overwhelm the Axis with men and supplies, moving forward at a rate never before possible.

A U.S. Ninth Army GMC CCKW truck, just after crossing the Rhine River, March 1945.

Today in WW II: 23 May 1943 Adm. Döntiz, commander of the German Navy, calls off the Battle of the Atlantic, recognizing that the U-boat is no longer an effective weapon. More ↓

23 May 1944 Allied breakout from Anzio beachhead.
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American 2 1/2-ton, 6x6 Trucks in World War II

Particularly in Europe, where the land warfare was most suitable for mobility, the ability to maneuver and supply by truck was a decisive advantage to the Allied armies in World War II. Although the German Army had pioneered mobile warfare in the late 1930s, they never became motorized to the extent of the Allies.

Closed cab CCKW on a street in Detroit, MI, April 1943. Truck registration number is USA 4134998.

Although many vehicles were in use in World War II, it was the 2 1/2 ton 6x6 (the "deuce and a half" or just "deuce") that bore most of the load. There were three main trucks in this category:

These trucks had many differences in details, but had the same function, general dimensions, and external appearance. More information on each truck is provided below on this page. Photographs are available in the Military Vehicle Charts at the linked pages for the individual trucks in the list just above.

Reo US-6 2 1/2 ton 6x6 (G-630)

Continued on WW II 2 1/2-ton, 6x6 Trucks Page 2.

Find additional photos and hi-res versions of World War II 2 1/2-ton cargo trucks at the Olive-Drab Military Mashup:

AN/TRC (ANTRAC) long-range, multichannel radio relay, mounted in a CCKW 2 1/2-ton 6x6 truck, Luzon, Philippines, circa 1945. A series of AN/TRC variants from -1 to -6 gave increasing capability for mobile units.

Tractor, GMC Cab over Engine AFKX-502, 2 1/2-ton 4x4, Holabird Quartermaster Depot, MD, circa 1940.

Two engineers from 146th Engineer Combat Bn, 1st U.S. Army water the streets to keep down dust, Mortain, France, 1944. Truck appears to be a GMC CCKW 2 1/2-ton 6x6.

American Army CCKW 2 1/2-ton trucks and M4 Sherman medium tanks move to the front along a German autobahn, as prisoners are marched along to the rear, circa late March 1945.

Soldier guides a CCKW 2 1/2-ton cargo truck as it drives up an improvised wood ramp to load on a rail car, circa 1942.

Loading LST-357 in Portland, England, just prior to the D-Day landings at Omaha Beach, Normandy, France, 6 June 1944. A Dodge WC-51 3/4-ton 4x4 and GMC DUKW 2 1/2-ton 6x6 amphibious truck are backing into the LST.

Recommended Books about WW II Military Cargo Trucks