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During 1941 the US logistic organization decided a vehicle was required to complement the 3/4-ton Dodge T214 WC52 weapons carrier. The design was to include a larger payload area for stores or troops and the requirement called for a standardization of vehicle parts to be easily interchangeble, The front of the 6x6 Dodge WC62 was typical Dodge, but the rear body was lengthened by 1.24 m (49 in) and a third axle was added. The third axle allowed the doubling of payload compared with the 3/4-ton Dodge. Other considerations besides interchangeability were envisaged during production, with the need for new military trucks increasing as the war drew on and it was decided that rather than design a specific new truck this type of adapted vehicle would enable the production lines to complete vehicles at a much faster rate. The two types used the same engine, clutch, transmission, front axle, steering gear, wheels, brakes, tyres, radiator, fan and belt, windshield, seats and electrical system. Basically designed as infantry carriers, these vehicles found their way into all arms of the American forces, including the Army Air Force, During stringent military tests the vehicle proved to have excellent stability as a result of its low centre of gravity and wide-tread tyres. Six-wheel drive and high ground clearance enabled A WC62 towing an anti-tankgun (the Ml 57-mm adaptation oftheBritish 6-pdr) halts in front of Munich city hall as the 7th Army moves through the city in April 1945. The %-ton Dodge T214 was elongated to produce the WC62, both shown here with French troops in the south of France in August 1944. the vehicle to give a good account of itself over really rough terrain. Production of the personnel carriers continued throughout the war, many being distributed to other nations including the Free French, who were eguipped almost entirely with American matériel. The majority of these vehicles were supplied with a complete canvas tilt, though a certain percentage was fitted with a pedestal gun mount on the passenger side of the cab to carry a 12.7-mm (0.5-in) machine-gun. Approximately 43,300 Dodge 6x6 trucks were produced between 1943 and 1945. Very few variants were developed on this chassis: one such was a scout car with an armoured shell fitted around the Dodge chassis and powerpknt; another was the mounting of twin 12.7-mm (0.5-in) machine-guns (on a Gun Mount M33) on the rear body. This model was developed and tested in 1943, but no further progress was made. The 6x6 saw extensive use post-war until "the Korean War, after which the type became surplus as a result of wear and the introduction of new equipment. Today the WC62 is a much prized vehicle within the ranks of vehicle preservation societies, Specification Dodge WC62 Powerplant: one 68,6-kW (92-bhp) Dodge 6-cylmder petrol engine Dimensions: length 5.71 m (18 ft 8,75 in); width 1.91 m (6 ft 3.4 in); height 2,21m(7ft3in) Performance: speed 80 km/h (50 mph); radius 386 km (240 miles)
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