With a total of 562 500 units produced, the GMC CCKW is the WWII emblematic light truck, released in numerous variants : cargo, gasoline tanker, water tanker, workshop, artillery tractor, compressor, tipper truck, amphibious truck etc\u2026.<\/p>\n\n
This standard \u201cworkshop body\u201d was available in 17 main versions, each one with some variations. \u00a0Examples would be the light mechanics repair, weapons repair, maps production etc.. These bodies were also equipped with medical units for surgery, dental care or eye glasses manufacturing. Below is a set of two pictures of dental care units. The one on the right is a \u201cUS Air Force\u201d unit based on the same standard body type as the one own by UNIVEM : small front center window, gasoline catalysis heater on the left.<\/p>\n\n
A GMC ST6 was converted into a field office for General Patton.\u00a0 Below can be seen some pictures, including a historical one showing General Patton leaving his GMC field office.<\/p>\n\n
Starting in june 1942, a first version referenced as ST5 was manufactured with a total of 2 050 units produced by Superior Coach from Lima, Illinois. Too large to be easily shipped to the battlefield, this version was modified. Referenced ST6, it could be shipped with the windows inside the body and the roof bolted much lower, at the bottom of the windows belt. The truck was then rapidly assembled upon reaching its destination. Almost 11 000 ST6 units were produced by 4 manufacturers :<\/p>\n\n
Perley Thomas, High Point, North Carolina<\/p>\n\n
Hackney Brothers Body Company, Wilson, North Carolina<\/p>\n\n
Hicks, Lebanon, Indiana<\/p>\n\n
Philips and Buttorff, Nashville, Tennessee<\/p>\n\n
All these different workshop bodies are described with a lot of details and supported by a lot of photos in David Doyle\u2019s book\u00a0 \u00ab\u00a0The GMC CCKW truck in\u00a0<\/em>U.S.<\/em>\u00a0service\u00a0\u00bb(Squadron Signal Editions)<\/em><\/p>\n\n During WWII, US Army vehicles identification numbers began with a specificic number the HVIN (Hood Vehicle Identification Number) ; there were 23 different types. As a few examples:<\/p>\n\n We took the opportunity of light body work and overall paint of our GMC ST6 in 2015 to correct the markings<\/p>\n\n On its bumper now:<\/p>\n\n 3A: Third Army composed with the 4th Army the 1st Infantry Division that liberated Paris.<\/p>\n\n ORD: the truck is part of maintenance vehicles (Ordnance)<\/p>\n\n 704: the 7 states a maintenance vehicle and\u00a0 04 the 4th Infantry Division<\/p>\n\n 15: this is the 15th vehicule of the fleet<\/p>\n\n This is a rare version of the CCKW, moreover, this one is complete inside.<\/p>\n\n Manufacturer: GMC<\/p>\n\n Type: CCKW 353 B2
\n<\/p>\n\n C : designed in 1941<\/p>\n\n C : conventional cabin<\/p>\n\n K : all-wheel drive<\/p>\n\n W : dual rear axles<\/p>\n\n 353 : long wheel base, A2 : banjo type axles, no winch.<\/p>\n\n ST6 : second generation of the workshop body<\/p>\n\n 6\u00d76 truck, 5 speed x 2 with transfer case<\/p>\n\n Year of manufacturing : 1942<\/p>\n\n Gasoline engine : 6 cylinder in line, valve-in-head type<\/p>\n\n Fuel consumption : 7 to 8 mpg (35 to 40 liters\/100km)<\/p>\n\n Electricity equipment : 6 Volts<\/p>\n\n <\/p> Empty weight : 5,5 tons<\/p>\n\n\t\t\tTechnical data<\/h2>\n\n