Model Designation
The Dodge 3/4 ton WC-series was
introduced in 1942, to replace the
earlier 1/2 ton type which Dodge had
been producing since 1939 and for
which the US Army had proposed
various improvements following
experience in service. Prototypes of
the new improved vehicle were
produced by both Chrysler
Cooperation and Ford but it was
Chryslers Dodge Division which got
the contract producing the trucks at
the Mound Road plant of the former
Fargo company. Although it was
powered by the same six cylinder
side valve engine as the older
cousin at 78 in. the new vehicle was
wider and at the same time also had
a lower profile. It was fitted with
larger "high flotation" tires on
combat rims to enhance traction on
poor surfaces. And the opportunity
was taken to provide a 50% increase
in the payload.
History
Deliveries of the ambulance,
charmingly dubbed "the meatwagon" by
the US troops, began in May 1942 and
the design was "standardized" on 23
October 1942. A single example was
delivered to the British Wheeled
Vehicle Experimental Establishment
(WVEE) for assesment in mid 1943,
and not surprisingly it was
concluded that it offered a superior
performance to the Austin K2 4x2
field ambulance. As a result of the
assesment and the general lack of
British production capacity the WC54
ambulance was also adopted by the
British Royal Army Medical Corps
(RAMC) and the Free French Forces.
These vehicles were finished in
standard US matte olive paint and
were marked with the usual
registration number, national
symbols, bridge classifaction and
unit numbers, etc. In addition the
word "ambulance" appeared over the
windscreen with a small Geneva Red
Cross on a white panel at either
end. Early vehicles also carried a
white paneled red cross centered on
the body sides above the waist
moulding a 42x40 in panel on the
roof and two panels on the rear
doors in overall. In October 1943
much larger red crosses were adopted
36x33 in on the bodyside 64x60 in on
the roof, also centered on the wheel
arch and a single panel 47x45 in
across both rear doors interrupted
by the windows.
Spanning the four years
1942-1945, total production of the
3/4 ton WC-series T214 was 255,173.
Of these, the number of ambulances
was 22,857.
Very few changes were made to the
vehicle during the production run.
The most obvious revision was the
adaption of the larger diameter
fuel-filler neck and matching recess
in the body side in October 1943.
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