Today in WW II: 4 Jul 1942 German bombers and submarines sink 24 ships of Convoy PQ 17 to the Soviet Union after the convoy spread out in the Arctic Ocean to evade the German battleship Tirpitz.  More ↓
4 Jul 1942 US Eighth Air Force flies its first mission in Europe using six borrowed British planes; only three aircraft returned.
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Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton 4x4 Earth Auger Truck (G7163)

The Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton 4x4 Earth Auger Truck (G7163) was part of the G506 series of 1 1/2 ton closed cab trucks built by Chevrolet in large numbers during World War II. The 145 in. wheelbase G7163 had the mission of drilling holes for setting of power or telephone poles. It was used by the Signal Corps who referred to this truck as the K-44.

There were two body styles, the first with rectangular corners at the top rear of the side panels and the second with rounded corners at that position. The truck was equipped with a hole drilling auger, various sized bits, cable reel, and pole jack (to extract poles). A powerful bed-mounted winch could be used to lift and set the poles. The latter function was also performed by the related K42 and K43 trucks of this series which had a pole setting A-frame.

All of the G506 series trucks were powered by the Chevrolet 235 cu. in. 83 hp. six cyl. engine mated to a four speed transmission and two speed transfer case.

1941 photo of Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton 4x4 Earth Auger Truck (G7163)
1941 photo of Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton 4x4 Earth Auger Truck (G7163).

1941 photo of Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton 4x4 Earth Auger Truck (G7163)
1941 photo of Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton 4x4 Earth Auger Truck (G7163).

1941 photo of Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton 4x4 Earth Auger Truck (G7163)
1941 photo of Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton 4x4 Earth Auger Truck (G7163).