Wartime Wireless Equipped Jeeps

[David Dunlop]

While looking for wireless info on the web this evening, I ran across this 1944 dated Life Magazine photo, location unidentified, of what looks like factory new vehicles fitted with wireless equipment.

Note the while ‘S’ stenciled on the cowl corners, the generator cover fitted between the front seats, and the wooden cases mounted to the rear wheel wells.


David

[Hanno Spoelstra]

I saw the above photo captioned as "Willys MB-MZ-1 jeeps ready for shipment at Willys Overland storage yard. March1944."

AFAIK the MZ-1 was a radio jeep made for the US Navy, it was waterproofed so it could be used for amphibious landings.

Here is a side view I found online:

[David Dunlop]

Ahhh. Two wireless sets per vehicle!

Thanks, Hanno, that was not easily noted in the photo I found. Makes me think these jeeps were intended for Beach Control purposes acting as relays with one radio set up for ship to shore communications and the second as perhaps ground to air work.

Now I am wondering what sets they were using.

As an aside, back in the 1970s here in Winnipeg, I ran across two late Canadian Contract MBs in civilian hands but still very much original. Both were equipped with that generator between the front seats. One had just the cover left but the other was complete with the PTO drive generator. I cannot recall if it was gear driven or belt drive, but Princess Auto here in town was selling both items at the time, NOS. I believe they sold out of the gear drive ones fairly quickly, but had the belt drive units in stock for quite a while.

Both MBs still had wartime Cdn markings on them, one had the original canvas all weather top, but the second one sported the Canadian Army all metal Arctic Cab and Southwind Heater. To fit the cab, the windshield assembly was unbolted from the sides of the cowl and shifted to a full vertical position to mesh properly with the cab.

David

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Hi David,

According to https://cj3a.info/sibling/cjv35u/radio.html they carried "12 volt mid-range command radio sets" and were used by the US Navy and the USMC "for swift water borne invasions".

The auxiliary generator resided in its own housing and was driven by a fan belt powered by a full-time PTO mounted on the rear of the jeep transfer case.

See https://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.ph...564fac5ddd11c0 (login required) for more period photos and https://www.toadmanstankpictures.com/willys_mz_1.htm for photos of a restored example.

Must say those wireless-equipped vehicles have a certain appeal since you pointed out the C15TA wireless installation. For now it will remain in the observe & study phase, but who knows what happens in the future

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

While looking for wireless info on the web this evening, I ran across this 1944 dated Life Magazine photo, location unidentified, of what looks like factory new vehicles fitted with wireless equipment.

Note the while ‘S’ stenciled on the cowl corners, the generator cover fitted between the front seats, and the wooden cases mounted to the rear wheel wells.


David

Hardwood blocks on the hood, indicating 1943 production?
https://g503.com/oldsite/parts/hood-block.htm

I also wondered what the extra screws, or rivets, were in the windscreen panel....but Hanno's pictures clearly shows that the inside of the screen is the location for stroing the antenna rods(?)

[Grant Bowker]

There was an article on "1946-1948 Navy and Marine Corps Radio Jeeps" in Army Motors Issue 123 published Spring 2008. A the end of that article it said the following issue would have an article on the development of the 1950 Willys-Overland radio Jeep.