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.
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