M-38A1 Military Jeep

The M-38A1 was an entirely new post-WW II jeep, even though it was numbered as a variant of the M38 jeep.

U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) and Major General Ben Sternberg, Commander, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), standing in M-38A1 jeep during a rainstorm at a ceremony at Fort Campbell, KY, 23 July 1966.

Today in WW II: 25 May 1940 Boulogne, France is captured by the Germans. More ↓

25 May 1941 King George of Greece abandons Crete, relocating to Cairo in a narrow escape from German forces.
25 May 1942 Japanese attack force leaves Hokkaido for invasion of the Aleutians Islands, Alaska.
25 May 1945 Chiefs of Staff of US military set 1 November 1945 as start date for invasion of Japan [Operation Downfall]. The huge casualties of Downfall avoided by use of Atomic Bombs in Aug 1945.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

Description of the M38A1 Jeep (G-758)

M38A1 jeep used by the 88th Trans Co. in Vietnam. (Mike Suckow) Photo courtesy of Planet Art Publishing, from the book Hard Ride- Vietnam Gun Trucks (Volume 2) . See also Hard Ride- Vietnam Gun Trucks (Volume 1) .

The M38A1 was the military improvement upon the M38 Jeep, introduced in 1952. It was a new design, known internally at Willys as the MD, not just a modification of the M38. It featured rounded front fenders, a contoured hood, two-piece windshield, top-mounted windshield wipers, and a new "Hurricane" F-Head engine.

The M-38A1 closely resembled the CJ-5 civilian model jeep. It differed from the CJ-5 in that it had a stronger frame and suspension, reversed front spring shackles, standardized M-series instruments and electrical accessories, with a 24-volt electrical system.

The M38A1 was manufactured by Willys, and had an F-head, 4-cycle, 4-cylinder engine. It had a crew of one and could carry three passengers.

The model M38A1C was modified as a platform for the 106mm recoilless rifle.

Photos and more information are available on the M-38A1 Jeep page of the Olive-Drab Military Vehicle Identification Charts.

Find additional photos and hi-res versions of the M38A1 military jeep at the Olive-Drab Military Mashup:

Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers exhibit a vintage M38A1C jeep with 106mm recoiless rifle, Springfield, IL, 14 December 2011.

Marines from 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Division, pave a road in Vietnam, circa 1966. Vehicles include an M56 Maintenance Truck (M37 variant going off road to the right), and M38A1 jeep, M149 Water Buffalo trailer.

Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) reenactment of the 1919 Transcontinental Motor Convoy stopped for a respite at the Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles, Lexington, NE, 26 June 2009. Leading vehicles are three WW II jeeps (Willys MB or Ford GPW) followed by an M38A1 jeep in 4th position.

US troops in M38A1 jeep patrol the wall diving East and West Berlin, 1962.

Motorcycles, MB/GPW jeep, M38A1 jeep, other vehicles. The 2009 MVPA Transcontinental Convoy arrives at Cantigny, IL, 20 June 2009 to rest, refuel and share their experiences with the local community near Chicago. The Convoy is retracing the route of the first major motorized expedition across the United States, in 1919.

M38A1 jeeps at 2004 Euro Camp Jeep. Usenet photo.

Internet Resources for the M38 or M38A1 Jeeps

The M38A1 jeeps that were built for the U.S. Army (and used by all the armed services) are very popular with collectors due to their reasonable size, ready availability of parts, and great off-road capabilities. There are many websites and forums devoted to the M38 and M38A1 jeep, some of the best collected on the linked page.

Find More Information on the Internet

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