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The Dodge WC-54, Ambulance, -ton, 4 x 4, ( SNL supply catalog
designation G-502), was the main
The closed sheet-metal body was made by Wayne Body works. It had room for a driver and four to seven patients plus a medic. If the fold-away bunk stretchers were used, four patients could be transported lying down.
Because of its intended role, the WC-54 featured a large matrix cab heater fitted on the inner
Virtually unchanged for three years, apart from minor technical tweaks, in 1945 it was replaced by a new knock-down body design, the WC64(KD). Based on essentially the same chassis as the WC54, the rear ambulance boxes were now split in two major sections: lower and upper, designed primarily to increase the number of vehicles that could be shipped at the same time. The lower part of the ambulance body was attached to the chassis at the factory, while the upper box consisted of flat panels, shipped in crates for installation in the field. Only produced in 1945, just 3,500 of these were made before the war ended. Other model changes made the WC64 more similar to the WC51: the factory-fitted lower ambulance-box outwardly resembles that of the WC51's rear bed boxes, though the WC64 is of course longer; and the flat instead of sloped hood, and spare wheel placement are now also like on a WC51.
The "knocked-down" condition was so much more space-efficient that two ambulances could now be stacked, and shipped in the same space that would previously hold only one conventional WC54 ambulance. Additionally, the reduced size also allowed air transportation of the vehicle.
File:Dodge-WC54-ambulance-5.jpg, WC-54s lined up for delivery.
File:Dodge wc54.jpg, Front view
File:Dodge-WC54-ambulance-1.jpg, Ambulance at entrance to Pier 5, waiting for debarkation of wounded American soldiers from Tunisia.
File:HAFm Dodge WC 54 7061.JPG, Hellenic Air Force ambulance.
File:Dodge-WC54-ambulance-2.jpg, Training for the removal of wounded, Greenville, South Carolina, July 1943.
File:Dodge-WC54-ambulance-4.jpg, Awaiting shipment from the Dodge factory, April 1943.
File:Preparing for Invasion1.jpg, WC-54 being backed into an LST at the start of Operation Overlord.
File:Military convoy through Saint Lo.jpg, WC-54 in a convoy through devastated
pages 356–357
* TM 9-2800 Military vehicles dated oct. 1947 * TM 9-808 3/4-ton Dodge truck dated Jan. 1944 * SNL G502 * SNL G657 Dodge master parts book * Classic Military Vehicles (magazine). "Dodge WC54 Ambulance." ''Classic Military Vehicles'' Number 4, September 2001. Cudham, Kent, UK: Kelsey Publishing Limited. * Classic Military Vehicles (magazine). "Dodge WC54 Ambulance." ''Classic Military Vehicles'' Number 11, April 2002.Cudham, Kent, UK: Kelsey Publishing Limited.
military ambulance
An ambulance is a medically equipped vehicle which transports patients to treatment facilities, such as hospitals. Typically, out-of-hospital medical care is provided to the patient during the transport.
Ambulances are used to respond to medi ...
variant of the prolific Dodge WC series
The Dodge WC series, sometimes nicknamed 'Beeps', were a prolific range of light 4WD and medium 6WD military utility trucks, produced by Dodge / Fargo during World . Together with the -ton jeeps produced by Willys and Ford, the Dodge ...
of light 4×4 trucks, developed during World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
. Built from 1942 until 1945, they served as the U.S. Army's main dedicated ambulance
An ambulance is a medically equipped vehicle which transports patients to treatment facilities, such as hospitals. Typically, out-of-hospital medical care is provided to the patient during the transport.
Ambulances are used to respond to medi ...
(besides the many multi-purpose jeeps serving as such), with many also serving in the Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
, in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, some used as late as 1953; and others serving as late as the 1960s in the armies of some European countries.
Design and production
The ton WC-54 was designed as successor to the previous 1/2-ton, 4×4, G-505 models WC-9, WC-18, and WC-27 Dodge Ambulance trucks. Although based on the 3/4-ton Dodge "Beep" chassis, which front and rear axles featured wider tracks of , the 3/4-ton ambulance versions retained a longer wheelbase, very close to that of the previous half-tonners, as well as somewhat rounded, upward sloping nose sheetmetal, instead of the fully horizontal, flat and wider engine-cover of the main ton redesigned WC-models. The WC-54s also had adjusted suspension to make their ride softer.
The closed sheet-metal body was made by Wayne Body works. It had room for a driver and four to seven patients plus a medic. If the fold-away bunk stretchers were used, four patients could be transported lying down.
Because of its intended role, the WC-54 featured a large matrix cab heater fitted on the inner firewall
Firewall may refer to:
* Firewall (computing), a technological barrier designed to prevent unauthorized or unwanted communications between computer networks or hosts
* Firewall (construction), a barrier inside a building, designed to limit the spr ...
, providing comfort for patients and crew. It was fitted with a foldaway step to its rear to allow easier access for stretcher bearers and injured personnel. Early models featured a stuck out fuel filler cap which was changed to a recessed one in the later model, a modification that was retrofitted to some early model trucks.
From 1942 to 1945, total production of the 3/4-ton Dodge WC-series was some 255,000. Of these, 29,502 were ambulances — 26,002 WC54 and 3,500 WC-64 KD models. The vehicles were supplied under US government contracts W398-QM-11420 (850 units), W398-QM-11422 (9,945 units), DAW398-QM-448 (16 units), W398-QM-13596 (410 units) and W374-ORD-2864 (11,636 units).
WC-64 Knock-Down
Virtually unchanged for three years, apart from minor technical tweaks, in 1945 it was replaced by a new knock-down body design, the WC64(KD). Based on essentially the same chassis as the WC54, the rear ambulance boxes were now split in two major sections: lower and upper, designed primarily to increase the number of vehicles that could be shipped at the same time. The lower part of the ambulance body was attached to the chassis at the factory, while the upper box consisted of flat panels, shipped in crates for installation in the field. Only produced in 1945, just 3,500 of these were made before the war ended. Other model changes made the WC64 more similar to the WC51: the factory-fitted lower ambulance-box outwardly resembles that of the WC51's rear bed boxes, though the WC64 is of course longer; and the flat instead of sloped hood, and spare wheel placement are now also like on a WC51.
The "knocked-down" condition was so much more space-efficient that two ambulances could now be stacked, and shipped in the same space that would previously hold only one conventional WC54 ambulance. Additionally, the reduced size also allowed air transportation of the vehicle.
Operators
Images
Saint Lo
In religious belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. However, the use of the term ''saint'' depends on the context and denomination. In Catholic, Eastern Orth ...
.
File:NormandySupply edit.jpg, D-Day landings: WC-54 in the left foreground.
File:Dodge WC-54 of the Signal Corps.png, Dodge WC-54 of the Signal Corps (Army Field Manual picture)
See also
Notes
References
* TM 9-2800 Standard Military Motor Vehicles, 1 sept. 1943pages 356–357
* TM 9-2800 Military vehicles dated oct. 1947 * TM 9-808 3/4-ton Dodge truck dated Jan. 1944 * SNL G502 * SNL G657 Dodge master parts book * Classic Military Vehicles (magazine). "Dodge WC54 Ambulance." ''Classic Military Vehicles'' Number 4, September 2001. Cudham, Kent, UK: Kelsey Publishing Limited. * Classic Military Vehicles (magazine). "Dodge WC54 Ambulance." ''Classic Military Vehicles'' Number 11, April 2002.Cudham, Kent, UK: Kelsey Publishing Limited.
External links
* http://www.dodgewc54.com/ * http://www.dodgepowerwagonm880.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Dodge Wc54 World War II vehicles of the United States Motor vehicles manufactured in the United States Military light utility vehicles Ambulances Military ambulances Military vehicles introduced from 1940 to 1944