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When one thinks of US military medium trucks, the CMC 21/2-ton 6x6 immediately springs to mind. However, this type is discussed overleaf and other types are treated here. Semi-trailer tractors come into this category with designations from 2Vzton to 5-ton. These special-purpose vehicles were used to haul large trailers of all descriptions. The generalservice bodies were used in great numbers during the advance across Europe, proving extremely useful in such organized deployments as the 'Red Ball Express' route. Starting with some of the less publicized vehicles, the Autocar Model U4144T 4x4 tractor was basically used in the USA, very few crossing the Atlantic and the US Army Air Force being a major user for the fuel bowser-towing role. Another early model, the CMC AFKX-502-8E COE tractor, was used to tow early horse box trailers for the cavalry. The CMC was powered by a 6-cylmder 91-kW (122-bhp) engine. Perhaps the two most popular and publicized tractors were the Autocar Model U7144T and the Federal 94x93, which were used in quite large numbers for haulage. The Autocar was used by artillery units to tow van bodies, fitted out with radio equipment mostly for use by antiaircraft units, These trailers were designed to use a front dolly wheel for use as full towing trailer, though when the trailer was coupled to the tractor the dolly could be towed behind the whole assembly. Early vehicles had fixed steel cabs, these later being changed to soft tops in line with most other American-produced military transport vehicles. Many soft-top vehicles were fitted with a ring mount for a 12.7-mm (0.5-in) machine-gun. The Studebaker produced almost 200,000 2 Vz-ton trucks, similar to the CMC 6x6, but more than half of that production went to the Soviet Union under Lend-lease. Many were produced with the Studebaker commercial-type closed cab. 100 Federal model was used in the same basic way, the power unit for this type being the Hercules 6-cylinder RXC engine. In the 4-ton cargo range the FWD HARI saw extensive service with American, British and Canadian forces. It was powered by a Waukesha GB2 6-cylinder engine. Many of the trucks were instrumental in hauling supplies along the Allied supply line from Persia to the USSR. One interesting deployment of the FWD in British service was its use to tow mobile smoke generators. The RAF used the truck as mobile power supply vehicles and as snow ploughs, the latter being fitted with a Bros rotary plough, for which the rear body was replaced by a large Climax R6 petrol engine unit. Transmission of power to the plough was twofold, first by V-belts to the rotary parts then through transmission shafts to the rotor assembly with a chain drive for final power to the rake. Diamond T supplied a 6x6 medium truck, the Diamond T 968, this being one of the US Army's cargo trucks until the end of the war. Variants included tipper, map reproduction, wrecker and bitumen tank vehicles. A total of 10,551 was built, and a further 2,197 were supplied as long- and shortwheelbase vehicles (cab and chassis) for fitment of special engineering bodies. These were supplied to many other countries during and after World War II. Specification Diamond T 968 Powerplant: one 79-kW (106-bhp) Hercules RXC 6-cylinder petrol engine Dimensions: length 6.82 m (22 ft 4.5 in); width 2.44 m (8.0 ft); height 3.01 m (9 ft 10.5 in) Weights: unladen 8357 kg (18,424 lb) and laden 11939 kg (26,320 lb) The attack transport William Tilghman is loaded for the Allied armies in north west Europe. Visible are both major types of medium truck, including the cab-over-engine (COE)AFKWX6x6, alsomadeby CMC. Performance: maximum speed 64 km/ h (40 mph); radius 266 km ( 165 miles)
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