Military Earthmovers

Military tractors and bulldozers are used for construction and for towing heavy loads. They often fill in for other vehicles where their extreme maneuver capabilities and heavy towing capacity are indispensable. Bulldozers have even served as assault vehicles, moving against enemy positions with a dozer blade, when nothing else was available. Some of the tractors/bulldozers used by the military are minimally adapted civilian models while others have been designed specifically for military missions.

Other earthmovers, such as graders and scrapers, are typically civilian models with only minor modifications for use by military engineers. See also Cranes.

Soldiers wearing gas masks work with a bulldozer to install a culvert, World War II, 1942
Soldiers wearing gas masks work with a bulldozer to install a culvert, World War II, 1942.

Today in WW II: 23 Jul 1940 American Bantam and Willys-Overland submit the only two bids for the Quartermaster Corps light reconnaissance and command cars, the origin of the military jeep. More ↓

23 Jul 1941 Original World War II contract for jeeps awarded to Willys with Ford added Nov 1941 to increase production.
23 Jul 1945 Submarine USS Barb [SS-220] destroys a Japanese locomotive and supply train at Patience Bay off the coast of Karafuto, Japan, the only known such attack by a submarine.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

Chart of Military Earthmovers

In this chart of military earthmovers, click on the photo link to go to the page of photos and information for the specific truck. See also Military Tractors.

Vehicle	Description	Photo Link
WW II Tractors/ Bulldozers	Tractors and bulldozers, large and small, were used all over the globe for a wide variety of tasks during WW II.
D-7	D-7 Caterpillar Bulldozer
TD-20	International Harvester TD-20 Tractor / Bulldozer
M-9 ACE	M-9 Armored Combat Earthmover (ACE)
DEUCE	Deployable Universal Combat Earthmover (DEUCE)
M-728	M-728 Combat Engineer Vehicle (CEV) Based on M60 tank hull.
290M	Clark 290M Tractor, Wheeled, Diesel Engine Driven