Towns and Nature: Butler, PA: Bantam Jeep Building Fire

Towns and Nature: Butler, PA: Bantam Jeep Building Fire: ( Satellite ) The administration building of Bantam Jeep has been vacant for a long time. It burned Nov 2, 2025. The remains will be torn do...

SPW 152 "Iron Pig" (BTR 152). National Museum of Military Vehicles.

This peculiar looking vehicle is an East German SPW 152 "Iron Pig", which was their variant of the Soviet BTR 152.  The armored vehicle was designed as an armored personnel carrier, but utilized for other things as well.  The gun in this one is likely an anti-aircraft gun.

This particular example bears the markings of the current Bundesherr and likely saw service in the reunited German Army after the country was reunited.

The Jeeps in these photographs are M151s, which will be dealt with elsewhere.

 Last edition:

Anti Tank Guns. National Museum of Military Vehicles.

Labels: 1940s, 4x4, Army, Artillery, Dubois Wyoming, National Museum of Military Vehicles, Tracked vehicles, Trucks, Weapons, World War Two, Wyoming (Dubois)

Early Jeeps: National Museum of Military Vehicles Dubois Wyoming.

There are a lot of Jeeps depicted in this series of posts, with a fair number being World War Two Willys and Ford Jeeps.  This museum, however, has a collection of the very early Jeeps that preceded the Willys MB patter standariation.

The request for a 1/4 ton truck came out just before World War Two and one of the company's that responded was Bantam, a vehicle manufacturer which specialized in small cars.  Their introduction was very much like what the MB would become, except it was lighter.

Bantam always felt cheated by the military for not securing the contact, which they really couldn't fulfill.  The company ceased to exist in 1956.

Willys Overland specialized in in "overland" vehicles to start with, and  came up with what was really the best design for the competition, although it was submitted later than Bantam's.

Ford also competed, putting in an entry that was much like Willy's.

Last edition:

World War Two U.S. Motorcycles: National Museum of Military Vehicles Dubois Wyoming.

Labels: 1940s, Dubois Wyoming, Military, Motorcycles, National Museum of Military Vehicles, Transportation, World War Two, Wyoming (Dubois)

World War Two U.S. Vehicle Livery: National Museum of Military Vehicles Dubois Wyoming.

The 6x6 2 1/2 ton truck was, in my view, the greatest military implement of World War Two.  It's role in supply troops and logistical support was so significant that it cannot be overestimated, and proved more decisive in the Allied victory than any weapon or weapons system that a person can name.

The General Motors Corporation CCKW, depicted above, was the most common 2 1/2 truck used by the Western Allies.

The American made Studebaker was another example of a 6x6 2 1/2 ton truck, but it was rarely used by the Western Allies.  It was primarily used by the Soviets, without which they frankly would have been significantly horse drawn.

The father of the Dodge Power Wagon, the 1/2 ton truck, a fair number of examples of which can be found in the Rocky Mountain West in spite of the small number produced, was in addition to being too light, too top heavy.

The 3/4 ton WC 52 replaced the WC 40 fairly rapidly in terms of production.  A great 4x4 pickup, it's the direct progenitor of the post war Dodge Power Wagon and the post war M-37, the latter of which remains the best 4x4 truck the U.S. military has every fielded, outside of the HumVee.

The US military fielded an entire series of 6x6 trucks that were heavier than 2 1/2 tons, making the 6x6 picture somewhat confusing.  4 ton and 6 ton examples are depicted above.  Good trucks, there were too many types and after the war the Army settled on 5 ton 6x6 trucks, which were used well into the 2000s.

The WC-63 wsa frankly not a successful truck.  The engine was the same as the WC-52, that being a high compression flat head 6 cyl. While a good engine in its own right, that would be used for decades by Dodge, it was underpowered for this application.

In spite of this, after the war, Dodge made a small number of 6x6 civilian Power Wagons that utilized the same engine.  The Army variant was rapidly phased out of service.

An example of a 6x6 that I didn't know even existed.

The 3/4 ton version of the command car.

This photo features a 3/4 ton Dodge Carryall, a vehicle that would also see a civilian variant after the war.  Also depicted is a M3 half track, which we'll deal with separately, and a Willys MB Jeep, which we will also deal with separately.

Last edition:

World War Two Vehicles in Marine Corps use: National Museum of Military Vehicles Dubois Wyoming.

Labels: 1940s, 4x4, Army, Automobiles, National Museum of Military Vehicles, United States Marine Corps, Weapons, World War Two

Blog Mirror: October 11, 1954 – Willys/Jeep CJ-5 begins production

 

October 11, 1954 – Willys/Jeep CJ-5 begins production

Last edition:

A repeat. June 9, 1954. The lesson of past hearings. . .

Labels: 1950s, 1954, McCarthy Era, Personalities, Repeats, The Cold War, the spoken word

The Work Truck Blog: Jeep with utility trailer

The Work Truck Blog: Jeep with utility trailer: 

Jeep with utility trailer

Oddly enough, I ran into this Jeep with a utility trailer on the same day I saw the Suzuki Samurai.

I'm on my third Jeep now, so obviously I like them, but they are a vehicle of limited utility in terms of what they can carry, which has been a problem with them from day one.  Being a military vehicle to start with, they've always been built to accommodate a light trailer, and some civilian manufacturers now make trailers for outdoorsmen and campers for them, of which this is an example.

Note how heavily loaded this Jeep is and how its sitting back on its rear springs. Frankly, I wouldn't want to drive this example far like this.  Jeeps are a squirrelly enough driving vehicle as it is.

The Work Truck Blog: Suzuki Samurai, second generation.

The Work Truck Blog: Suzuki Samurai, second generation.: 

Suzuki Samurai, second generation.

Suzuki's idea of a Jeep, the Samurai was a little Jeep like vehicle that frankly recalls the Bantam that preceded the Willys, too light and too small.

I ran across this one just the other day.  You don't see too many anymore, but for those who have them, and haven't rolled them, well, they're probably handy.