Dodge WC series: the Dodge military trucks of the Second World War

The Dodge WC series is a large family of light four-wheel-drive and medium six-wheel-drive military utility trucks that Chrysler built under the Dodge and Fargo names during the Second World War. Along with the later quarter-ton jeeps from Willys and Ford, the Dodge half-ton G-505 and three-quarter-ton G-502 trucks made up nearly all the light four-wheel-drive vehicles supplied to the United States military, with Dodge contributing about 337,500 units.

Dodge WC series at a glance

Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Dodge WC series.

History of the Dodge WC series

The WC series was built in two generations. From 1940 to early 1942 almost 82,400 of the half-ton 4×4 Dodge trucks were made. Initially called the VC series, these were the United States military’s first light four-wheel-drive production trucks and preceded the rethink that produced the quarter-ton jeep. Most, from the 1941 model year, were named WC and built in more variants; the 1941 WC models were a direct evolution of the 1940 VC models and kept the G-505 supply catalogue number.

For 1942 the bodies and chassis were largely redesigned. Heavier frames and uprated drivetrains let the trucks carry three-quarters of a ton off-road, and wider tracks with a much shorter wheelbase lowered the centre of gravity and gave a squarer stance with a better break-over angle and side-slope stability. The result was the shorter G-502 three-quarter-ton 4×4, and from 1943 the longer G-507 one-and-a-half-ton 6×6 personnel and cargo truck, all retaining Dodge WC model codes. Although the changes were substantial, the three-quarter-ton trucks kept about 80 per cent of their components interchangeable with the half-ton models, an Army requirement for field maintenance.

Dodge was the Army’s main supplier of half-ton trucks and its only supplier of both three-quarter-ton trucks and one-and-a-half-ton 6×6 trucks in the war. With more than a quarter of a million units built by August 1945, the G-502 three-quarter-ton was the most common WC variant. Contrary to what the name might suggest, WC was a Dodge model code: W for 1941 and C for a nominal half-ton rating, retained after 1941 for the three-quarter-ton and 1.5-ton 6×6 trucks as well.

The range included open- and closed-cab cargo trucks, troop and weapons carriers, radio command and reconnaissance cars, ambulances, carry-alls, panel vans, mobile telephone installation trucks and field workshops. Not counting mechanically related variants, the WC series covered 52 model versions: thirty half-ton 4×4, eight half-ton 4×2, twelve three-quarter-ton 4×4 and two 1.5-ton 6×6. Building such a variety of bodies on one platform, with payloads from half a ton to one and a half tons, had no equal at the time. After the war Dodge developed the three-quarter-ton WC into the civilian four-wheel-drive Power Wagon, and in 1951 the WCs were replaced by the similar three-quarter-ton Dodge M-series trucks.

Design and features

• Purpose-built variants: cargo, weapons carrier, command, ambulance, workshop and telephone trucks.
• Two generations: half-ton trucks and the heavier three-quarter-ton G-502.
• Six-wheel drive: the 1.5-ton G-507 from 1943.
• Parts commonality: about 80 per cent shared between half- and three-quarter-ton trucks.

Dodge WC series versions

• VC and WC half-ton (1940-1942): the first light 4×4 Dodges.
• WC-51 and WC-52 (G-502): the three-quarter-ton weapons carriers.
• WC-54: the three-quarter-ton ambulance.
• G-507 6×6 (1943): the 1.5-ton personnel and cargo truck.

The WC series led directly to the Dodge Power Wagon and was replaced by the Dodge M37, while the wartime Dodges also shaped the Dodge D series trucks that followed. More Dodge trucks are in the Dodge collection.

Sources

• Dodge WC series, English Wikipedia: generations, production, variants, model codes