Dodge WC-51

History

John Francis Dodge was born in 1864 in Michigan and his brother Horace Elgin in 1868.  Early on they both showed a great interest in mechanics.  They first worked in Canada where they were able to rent an area within the company that hired them and started by manufacturing bicycles.  In a time of booming auto industry they soon reoriented their activity, meeting success with their customers.  They returned to the USA in 1901 where they met Henry Ford.  Their cooperation, the Dodge brothers having bought shares of the Ford company, was the real start of their great industrial adventure. The Dodge WC series was a range of light military trucks produced by Dodge during World War II. The series included 4×4 and 6×6, with or without winch, weapon carriers, telephone installation trucks, ambulances, reconnaissance vehicles, mobile workshops and command cars. WC was a Dodge model code: W for 1941 and C for half-ton rating. The C code was retained for the ¾ ton and 1½ ton 6×6 Dodge.  It was preceeded by the VC models.  By a play of words, WC was also to mean Weapons Carrier. WC51 Truck, Cargo, 3/4 ton, 4×4 w/o Winch Dodge Weapons Carrier. Commissioned by the Chief of Field Artillery in 1941, this weapons carrier  was used as troop and cargo transport as well as a light gun tractor.  The Dodge WC was available in various ranges WC51/52 (4×4, with/without winch ), WC62/63 (6×6, with/without winch). 123,541 were built. The open cab pickup could be fitted with an optional M24A1 machine gun mount, which bolted across the front of the bed. The mount could carry the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle, the M1919 Browning machine gun, or the M2 Browning machine gun.

Technical data

Engine : Dodge T214, 6 cylinders in line, 230 cu in (3.8 liters), 92 hp ; side-valve engine. Transmission : 4 speed, no transfer case Max speed :  53 miles/h (85 km/h) Autonomy : 235 miles (380 km) Consumption : 9.5 mpg (30 l/100 km) Length: 13 ft 11 in / 4.24 m Height (with canvas cover): 6 ft 10 in / 2.08 m Height (with top down): 5 ft 2 in / 1.57 m Width: 6 ft 11 in / 2.11 meters Weight: 5,645 lb / 2 560 kg net Payload: 1,750 lb / 800 kg