Info about Dodge WC 55 in British Service

[Marco C.]

Hello guys i need Infos about the Dodge WC 55 in British Service

was this Vehicle in British / Canadian Service ????

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

I only have data on BRITISH WC-56 and -57, with a photo of a post-war refurbish of a WC-56 Command Car I believe it is.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Marco C.
Hello guys i need Infos about the Dodge WC 55 in British Service

was this Vehicle in British / Canadian Service ????

I don't think so. Weapon Carriers I have seen in the Far East. I have seen a few pictures of WC52's in Burma, wil try to find them.

For the time being here's a 6x6:

Photo No.: SE 588
Photographer: Lentz W (Sgt)
No 9 Army Film & Photographic Unit
Title: THE BRITISH ARMY IN BURMA 1944
Collection No.: 4700-64
Description: Royal Indian Army Service Corps troops unload an American C-47 cargo plane at an airstrip in the Pinwe area, 21 November 1944.
Date: 21 November 1944

[Lynn Eades]

The WC55 Is the "37mm Gun Motor Carriage m6" which were only manufactured in 1942 and only 5280 were built. It is effectively a variation of a WC52 Weapons carrier(4x4) They had a heavy angle iron riveted to the rear chassis to support the gun mount through the floor of the rear deck.Instead of having a spare wheel bracket coming out over the left hand running board via a depression pressed into the running board, they have a flat running board. A mirror image of the right hand one. The axe and shovel were mounted on the side of the body,above the rear wheels. They were fitted with "run flats". There is no fixing point anywhere on the vehicle for a spare wheel, and they must have been carried on the deck. The rear seats were different. There were extra boxes mounted to the front of the front tray bins.
When the 37mm gun became obsolete, the WC55's were mostly field converted to WC52 configuration.
I will post a picture later.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Lynn Eades
The WC55 Is the "37mm Gun Motor Carriage m6"

Thanks Lynn, but I know what the WC55 is. My response to Marco's question is that I don't think the British used the WC55. "I don't think", as in I have not seen any reference to endorse this. However, I have seen pictures of WC51/52's and WC61/62's in Commonwealth use in South East Asia.

On the subject of Dodge Weapon Carriers in British use, who has more info on the Dodge used as gun tractors by the British Airborne Division during the crossing of the Rhine?

Thanks,
Hanno

[Lynn Eades]

Sorry Hanno, Why did I doubt you? If i had read your post properly,I may not have made the mistake.
I recall there is at least 1 in the U.K. and 1 came out of Norway. (article in Wheels and Tracks)
Here is an old photo of my one as my Dad bought it in the late 70's. It still had it's posting instructions stencilled on it's front guards. Something like "From USMC Base Epic S3 to USMC Depot Yelp S3" Can anyone explain this?
Chassis number is 81533763 built 4 Aug 42.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Lynn Eades
Sorry Hanno, Why did I doubt you?

No worries mate. Good to hear you own one! There are more around, most if not all converted to WC52's during WW2. There's at least one in Holland.

Now, the real question is: why did Marco post this question? Does he (want to) own one?

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

The WC55 surely could pack a punch! See CMH Online for a large size scan.

Second Army Tennessee Maneuvers.
3 miles west of Watertown. As an addition to the battalion's defense, HQ Co. of the 5th Armd Maint Bn developed an idea thought up by Ordernance Sgt. Magazine. The 37mm gun is the only field weapon alloted for the battalion's defense. To increase firepower, a 50 cal. Machine gun was mounted on the front of the 37mm gun vehicle. All parts were made and mounted by HQ personnel. (6 Jun 43)
Signal Corps Photo: 164-0012-43-204 (Pvt. J. F. Albert)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
However, I have seen pictures of WC51/52's and WC61/62's in Commonwealth use in South East Asia.

From http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/. If you search for "Burma" you'll find lots more.

Photo No.: IND 4058
Photographer: No 9 Army Film & Photographic Unit
Title: THE WAR IN THE FAR EAST: THE BURMA CAMPAIGN 1941-1945
Collection No.: 4700-38
Description: Logistics: Transport of the 5th Indian Division struggling through mud on the Tiddim Front.
Date: 1944

[Phil Waterman]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
From http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/. If you search for "Burma" you'll find lots more.

I've always wondered when you see a convoy like this on a muddy road, does the mud just keep getting deeper and deeper until nothing moves.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here is a picture captioned "MUD ON THE TIDDIM ROAD" from the book "Ball of Fire" - read it online here: http://www.ourstory.info/library/4-ww2/Ball/fireTC.html (start page: http://www.ourstory.info/).

HTH,
Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Also see http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/showthread.php?t=9207

[Hanno Spoelstra]

See Victory in Burma. New York, July, 1945 (http://www.ourstory.info/library/4-ww2/VB/Burma.html) for the following picture captioned: Tanks and truck-borne infantry of the 14th Army, on the dash to Meiktila.

[Keith Orpin]

Lynn,
Have you noticed the fuel filler cap is on the off-side on the one your Dad purchased, whereas it was originally on the nearside ?.
Hanno,
Cracking pictures of the WC 55, the one with the 50 cal is very early, as it has symetrical head lamp guards, and Chevron style tyres. I remember my Dad telling me that they had WC51/52's out in India in 1944, in British use. I have one picture of the parade ground (which I'm sure I've posted on here before), which shows the Dodges at the end of the line up.
Keep the pictures coming !
Regards
Keith

[Lynn Eades]

Keith, I only missed your post by 5 years.
My dad's Dodge had an oddball fuel tank fitted,(postwar) and so the extra hole had been cut into it on the other side for that fuel tank filler.

This WC55 is an ex Marine Corp Dodge,with a Marine Corp's Forrest Green over paint (I suspect It was painted immediately by the M.C.) It probably saw service in the Pacific islands before being pulled back here to N.Z. The painted markings on it indicate that its final military service was using it as a workshop vehicle park tractor.

Hanno and Marco, as there were 5280 of them built, I would be surprised if none had seen service with the British before V.E. day.
Hanno, as you suggested they would probably have been in WC52 guise as the gun was basically obsolete (too small to be effective against tanks) by the end of 1942.

I would still like to hear from anyone who can explain the posting instructions stencilled on both front guards.
" FROM USMC BASE DEPOT EPIC S3
TO USMC DEPOT YELP S3"
(not word perfect, Just as I remember it without looking it up)