On this Veteran’s Day, we ask that each and every one of you take a moment to thank the men and women of our armed forces for the sacrifice they make every day. In remembering the bravest of our country, it’s important to remember every aspect of their duty and commitment to our country. In honor of that memory, we at Autofluence and the duPont REGISTRY would like to walk you through some of the American 4x4s that have seen wars.
King Armored Car 4×2 Fighting Vehicle (1916)
The first armored vehicle utilized by American military forces, specifically, utilized by the Marines. A lack of qualified mechanics, scarcity of replacement parts and unreliability kept this model from seeing action during World War 1. Five were used in Haiti and Santo Domingo until 1927; all 8 had been disposed of by 1934.
Manufacturer: Armored Motor Car Company (AMC) – USA
Initial Year of Service: 1916
Production: 8
Crew: 3
Armament: Early models – One .30 caliber Benet Mercier machine gun in turret
Later models – One .30 caliber Lewis machine gun in turret
Engine: V8 liquid-cooled gasoline
Power: Early models – 70 hp
Later models – 79 horsepower
Maximum Speed: 40 mph
Dodge G505 1/2-ton Military Ambulance (1941)
The first of dozens of variants of the WC series designed exclusively for military use in the build-up to America’s involvement in World War 2.
Manufacturer: WC Dodge Brothers Corp.
Initial Year of Service: 1941
Production: 9,500
Crew: 2 + patients
Armament: None
Engine: Octane 4-cycle, 6-cylinder engine
Power: 78 hp
Maximum Speed: 54 mph
Willys MB (Jeep) 4×4 Utility Vehicle (1941)
The most iconic and memorable land vehicle of World War 2.
Manufacturer: Willys Overland
Initial Year of Service: 1941
Production: 354,569
Crew: 1 + 4
Armament: One .303 caliber general purpose machine gun, or one .50 caliber heavy machine gun or One 75 mm Recoilless Rifle
Engine: I4 gasoline
Power: 60 hp
Maximum Speed: 70 mph
T17E1 (Staghound) Armored Car (1942)
Though it didn’t see any combat with the American troops, this World War 2 vehicle was distributed to British and Commonwealth forces through the United Kingdom, where it earned the name “Staghound.”
Manufacturer: Chevrolet
Initial Year of Service: 1942
Production: 4,000
Crew: 5
Armament: One 37 mm M6 main gun, One .30 caliber M1919A4 machine gun in coaxial position, one .30 caliber M1919A4 machine gun in bow position, optional .30 caliber M1919A4 machine gun on turret roof for anti-aircraft defense
Engine: Two GMC 270 series engines
Power: 97 hp per engine
Maximum Speed: 55 mph
Ford GTB (G-622) (Burma Jeep) Cargo Hauler / Bomb Service Vehicle (1942)
The Burma Jeep was a vehicle particularly important in assisting the United States reclamation of Burma from the Japanese during World War 2. It was specially designed to withstand the extreme climate conditions on Ledo Road, which would supply allied forces stationed in China.
Manufacturer: Ford
Initial Year of Service: 1942
Production: 15,000
Crew: 2
Armament: None
Engine: G8T 4-cycle, 60cylinder L-Head inline
Power: 90 hp
Maximum Speed: 45 mph
Cadillac Gage Commando Light Armored Car (1963)
Known as the Duck, a nickname picked up during its use in the Vietnam War, the Cadillac Gage Commando is an amphibious armored car that could be outfitted for one of many different roles.
Manufacturer: Textron Marine & Land Systems
Initial Year of Service: 1963
Production: Unavailable
Crew: 3 + 2
Armament: One 20 mm main gun, one 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, one 7.62 mm air defense machine gun, 12 smoke grenade dispensers. Additional options: One 90 mm main gun with two-man turret, two 7.62 mm machine guns, one 81mm mortar, two TOW anti-tank missile system, one 40 mm automatic grenade launcher, one 25mm cannon main gun, one 12.7 mm heavy machine gun.
Engine: V-504 V8 turbocharged diesel
Power: 202 hp
Maximum Speed: 62 mph
Kaiser-Jeep M715 (Five Quarter) 1.25-ton Utility Truck (1967)
The Kaiser-Jeep Five Quarter was produced during the Vietnam war, and saw service in Vietnam, the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and at various European bases.
Manufacturer: Kaiser-Jeep
Initial Year of Service: 1967
Production: 33,000
Crew: 2
Armament: None.
Engine: Tornado inline 6-cylinder
Power: 133 hp
Maximum Speed: 55 mph
HMMWV Avenger 4×4 Air Defense Missile System (1989)
More commonly known as the Humvee, the HMMWV first saw combat in the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama, an event referred to as “Operation Just Cause.”
Manufacturer: AM General
Initial Year of Service: 1989
Production: 55,000
Crew: 2 + 1
Armament: Eight Stinger Surface-to-Air Missiles in two 4-shot launchers, one 12.7 mm M3P heavy machine gun, optional additional 12.7 mm heavy machine gun
Engine: V8 6.2 liter
Power: 150 hp
Maximum Speed: 65 mph
M1117 Guardian ASV Armored Security Vehicle (1999)
An evolution of Cadillac Gage’s Commando from the Vietnam War, the Guardian was first field tested in Kosovo and has since been employed by the Military Police Corps for the war in Iraq.
Manufacturer: Textron Marine and Land Systems
Initial Year of Service: 1999
Production: 2,945
Crew: 3 + 1
Armament: One 40mm Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher, one 7.62 mm M24OH general purpose machine gun.
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3
Power: 260 hp
Maximum Speed: 62 mph
Oshkosh M-ATV MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) Vehicle (2009)
When IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan proved to be too much for the Humvee lines to handle, programs searched for and found a mine resistant vehicle in the Oshkosh M-ATV.
Manufacturer: Oshkosh Truck Corporation
Initial Year of Service: 2009
Production: 8,079
Crew: 5
Armament: Mission dependant, but can include one 7.62 mm M240 general purpose machine gun, one 40 mm Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher or one BGM-71 TOW Anti-Take Wire-Guided Missile System on the roof.
Engine: Caterpillar C7 7.2-liter inlin-6 turbodiesel
Power: 370 bhp
Maximum Speed: 65 mph
(Source: Militaryfactory.com)
(Media Source: Wikimedia Commons, Wikipedia)
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