Dodge 1/2-ton trucks in Commonwealth service

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by gordon

That panel van could be a WC11 half ton 4 x 4 panel, but it is more likely to be a WC42 half ton 4 x 4 radio panel, made specially for the Commonwealth.

Unfortunately the pics don't show enough detail of the distinguishing features - metal roof fill panel, roof mounted vent for the radio heat, and rear window blackout curtains.

On the internet I read:

“WC-11, WC-19, WC-42

Almost 1,400 panel van trucks, and panel van bodied radio communication cars. At first, regular panel van trucks were ordered: 642 units of WC-11, and 103 units of WC-19. The subsequent WC-42 panel vans were however furnished and equipped as radio communication cars. The 650 WC-42 radio panel vans almost outnumbered their bare transportation siblings, and they were also the only radio communication cars that Dodge built in a panel van body style in the entire VC and WC series range.

Almost half of production, 650 units, went to the British Empire under the U.S. Lend-Lease agreement.”

Attached a pic of a restored one:

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[Hanno Spoelstra]

Speaking of 1/2-ton Dodges, did the Commonwealth armies use any of the other versions? E.g. the WC-26 Carryall?

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[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Speaking of 1/2-ton Dodges, did the Commonwealth armies use any of the other versions? E.g. the WC-26 Carryall?

According to the caption of this picture, out of 1,100 WC-26 Carryalls built, 300 were delivered to the British via Lend-Lease.

Does anybody know in which theatres they were used?

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[Hanno Spoelstra]

Bart Vanderveen wrote the British used the WC-21, WC-23, WC-26, WC-27 and WC-42.

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The attached picture shows a WC-42 with census number Z-4781243.

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[Alex van de Wetering]

The attached picture shows a WC-42 with census number Z-4781243.

Hanno, I do remember a restored one in green(brown?) with black camouflage that used to move around in our area of the country. No idea if it was an original ex-Lend Lease one though.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Hanno, I do remember a restored one in green(brown?) with black camouflage that used to move around in our area of the country. No idea if it was an original ex-Lend Lease one though.

Alex, do you mean this one? I thought about it and then realised this is the bigger brother, the Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton 4x4 Panel Truck, equipped as Signal Corps K-51 Radio Truck, with K-52 1-ton Ben Hur trailer.

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Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton 4x4 Panel Trucks, equipped as Signal Corps K-51 Radio Trucks, with K-52 1-ton Ben Hur trailers, parked on Pier X, Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation, Newport News, VA, 25 February 1943.
6D4A09EE-4057-4619-BB76-5CE61DE50EC8.jpeg

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Alex, do you mean this one? I thought about it and then realised this is the bigger brother, the Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton 4x4 Panel Truck, equipped as Signal Corps K-51 Radio Truck, with K-52 1-ton Ben Hur trailer.

No, not that one