Army Ambulances of WWII

Army Ambulances of WWII

(Submitted by Alain Batens)

Page Last Updated 03-22-02

Specially designed and/or modified trucks were manufactured by different suppliers for transportation of sick and wounded by the Medical Corps – these vehicles were either designated Metropolitan Ambulances, Field Ambulances or just Ambulances – the following list covers major vehicles used during WWII

AMBULANCE, ½- TON, 4 X 4 – (1941-42), manufactured by Dodge Brothers Corp. Division of Chrysler Corp. (bodywork by Express), crew of 2, capacity 4 litter patients, payload 1,000 lbs, tires 6 ply size 7.50 x 16, electrical system 6 V, gas rating 70 octane, max speed 55 mph, engine model T207-T211-T215 Dodge, cylinders 6, bhp 85, overall dimensions 195" x 90" x 75 13/16", net weight 5,640 lbs, gross weight 6,640 lbs (Dodge WC9-WC18-WC27 series)

AMBULANCE, ¾-TON, 4 X 4 – (1942-44), manufactured by Dodge Brothers Corp. Division of Chrysler Corp. (bodywork by Wayne), crew of 2, capacity 4 casualties (litter) or 6 casualties (seated), payload 1,800 lbs, tires 8 ply size 9.00 x 16, electrical system 6 V, gas rating 72 octane, max speed 54 mph, engine model T214 Dodge, cylinders 6, bhp 76, overall dimensions 194 ½" x 90 1/8" x 77 ¾", net weight 5,920 lbs, gross weight 7,720 lbs (Dodge WC54 series)

Dodge WC-54 3/4 Ton Ambulance (1942-44)

AMBULANCE, ¾-TON, 4 X 4, KD – (1944-45), manufactured by Dodge Brothers Corp. Division of Chrysler Corp., 3 rear doors, collapsible body (KD i.e. knock-down for easy air transport), crew of 2, capacity 4 casualties (litter), payload 1,500 lbs, tires 8 ply size 9.00 x 16, electrical system 6 V, gas rating 72 octane, max speed 54 mph, engine model T214 Dodge, cylinders 6, bhp 76, overall dimensions 192 5/8" x 99 3/8" x 84" (height reducible to 67 ½"), net weight 6,880 lbs, gross weight 8,500 lbs (Dodge WC64 series)

Dodge WC-64 3/4 Ton Ambulance (1944-45)

AMBULANCE, METROPOLITAN, ¾-TON, 4 X 2 – (1940-42), manufactured by Packard Motor Car Co. (bodywork by Henney) or manufactured by Cadillac Motor Car Co. Division of General Motors Corp. (bodywork by Superior), crew of 2, capacity 10 casualties, payload 1,500 lbs, tires 6 ply size 7.50 x 16, electrical system 6 V, gas rating 68 octane, max speed 50 mph, engine model 2001-A Packard, cylinders 8, bhp 125, overall dimensions 246" x 76" x 75", net weight 5,125 lbs, gross weight 6,625 lbs

AMBULANCE, FIELD, 1 ½-TON, 4 X 2 - (1940-42), manufactured by Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors Corp., crew of 2, capacity 10 casualties, payload 2,400 lbs, tires 6 ply size 6.50 x 20, electrical system 6 V, gas rating 68 octane, max speed 45 mph, engine model BQ-1001 Chevrolet, cylinders 6, bhp 85, overall dimensions 288" x 84" x 79", net weight 5,485 lbs, gross weight 7,885 lbs

Miscellaneous WWII Medical Corps Trucks

(Submitted by Alain Batens)

Specially modified and/or adapted trucks manufactured by The General Motors Truck and Coach Division of Yellow Truck and Coach Mfg. Co. were extensively used by the Medical Corps for transportation of field surgical supplies and equipment, and for use as mobile medical facilities in the field – the GMC CCKW 353 aka as "deuce-and-a-half" was the workhorse of the United States Armed Forces during WW2 – general characteristics : crew of 2, payload 5,000 lbs, tires 8 ply size 7.50 x 20, electrical system 6 V, gas rating 70 octane, max speed 45 mph, engine model 270 GMC, cylinders 6, bhp 104, overall dimensions 256" x 118" x 92", net weight 11,280 lbs, gross weight 16,280 lbs …

TRUCK, 2 ½-TON, 6 X 6, LABORATORY, DENTAL – Medical Item #9958700

TRUCK, 2 ½-TON, 6 X 6, DENTAL, OPERATING – Medical Item #9958805

TRUCK, 2 ½-TON, 6 X 6, DENTAL EQUIPMENT, FOR DENTAL OPERATING – Medical Item #9958810

TRUCK, 2 ½-TON, 6 X 6, OPTICAL REPAIR UNIT – Medical Item #9958900

TRUCK, 2 ½-TON, 6 X 6, SURGICAL – Medical Item #9959000

TRUCK, 2 ½-TON, 6 X 6, SURGICAL OPERATING – Medical Item #9959105

TRUCK, 2 ½-TON, 6 X 6, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, FOR SURGICAL OPERATING – Medical Item #9959110

FLAG, AMBULANCE AND MARKER, Stock N° 5-F-2150 – dimensions : white field 18 inches X 27 inches, Red Cross 12 inches X 4 inches – this item is used to distinguish vehicles and installations protected by the Geneva Convention – it further consists of a CASE, FLAG, DUCK, AUTOMOBILE, Stock N° 5-C-50, and a FLAGSTAFF, WOOD, MARKER AND MARKER PENNANT, Stock N° 5-F-6590

CAN, WATER, 5 GALLON, Stock N° 64-C-281 – this item also has its own Medical identification, i.e. Item #99157 – aka just plain "watercan"

DRUM, INFLAMMABLE-LIQUID (Gasoline), STEEL, WITH CARRYING HANDLE, 5 GALLON, Stock N° 42-D-1280 – aka just plain "jerrican"