Dodge Trucks in WWII

Chrysler Main Page Dodge Trucks in World War Two Dodge Trucks in Service with the Polish Army Chrysler built M3 Grant/Lee Photos Chrysler built M4 Sherman Photos Chrysler built M4A3 Sherman Photos Chrysler built M4A4 Sherman Photos Detroit Tank Arsenal Photos Chrysler Post WWII M60 Patton Tank Photos Chrysler Post WWII M103 Heavy Tank Photos Chrysler T23 Tank Photos

Dodge Trucks in World War Two

This page updated on 10-27-2020.

This is 1801 North 5th Street in Niles, MI, and is the boyhood home of the Dodge Brothers. Author's photo added 12-24-2019.

Author's photo added 12-24-2019.

It is sad. Dodge Trucks are longer built, as the powers to be at what was Chrysler Group LLC in 2010 dropped the name Dodge from the Ram and the trucks are now just sold under the name Ram. Also just as sad, or maybe pathetic would be the better word, is that there is no Chrysler any more, as Chrysler Group LLC became FCA USA LLC on December 16, 2014. What a shame!

This photo is from the wall of the Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hill, MI. It is one of several posters that are displayed, showing Chrysler's contribution to the war effort during WWII. The number of trucks produced as shown above is 393,515. This compares to my grand total of 404,817 as seen below. This is not unusual 70 years later to arrive at different numbers. The important fact is that the Dodge Division of Chrysler supported the war effort with many different trucks for various applications and needs.

Below are production numbers for the various types of Dodge Trucks that I have been able to find from various sources. Note that in the WC series there is no WC-2 or WC28-35. I was able to find no reference to these designations. All vehicles are 4x4 unless denoted otherwise. Many of the differences between similar types are in the he size of the engines or engineering upgrades to meet the changing military requirements.

Vehicles designated in dark gray have photos provided below.

Dodge Half-Ton Trucks
Model Number	Description	Number Built	Comments, Year(s) built
VC Series
VC-1	Command and Reconnaissance Car	2,155	1940
VC-2	Radio	34	1940
VC-3	Pickup	816	Closed Cab, 1940
VC-4	Chassis	4	Closed Cab, 1940
VC-5	Pickup	1,607	Open Cab, 1940
VC-6	Carryall	24	1940
VC Sub Total		4,460
WC Series
WC-1	Express Body	2,573	Closed Cab, Longitudinal Seats, 1941
WC-3	Express Body	7,808	Open Cab, Traverse Seats, 1941
WC-4	Express Body	5,570	Open Cab, Traverse Seats with winch, 1941
WC-5	Express Body	60	Closed Cab, No Seats, 1941
WC-6	Command Reconnaissance and Radio Car	9,365	1941
WC-7	Command Reconnaissance and Radio Car	1,438	1941
WC-8	Radio	648	1941
WC-9	Ambulance	2,288	1941
WC-10	Carryall	1,643	1941
WC-11	Panel	353	1941
WC-12	Pickup	6,047	1941
WC-13	Pickup	3,019	Pickup, 1941
WC-14	Pickup	268	Closed Cab, 1941
WC-15	Command Reconnaissance and Radio Car	3,980	1941
WC-16	Radio	1,284	1941
WC-17	Carryall	274	1941
WC-18	Ambulance	1,555	1941
WC-19	Panel	103	1941
WC-20	Chassis only	30	Closed Cab, no body, 1941
WC-21	Pickup, Express and Weapons Carrier	14,287	1941-1942
WC-22	Pickup	1,900	Open Cab with winch, 1941
WC-23	Command Reconnaissance and Radio Car	2,637	1941-1942
WC-24	Command Reconnaissance and Radio Car	1,412	1941-1942
WC-25	Radio	1,630	1941-1942
WC-26	Carryall	2,900	1941-1942
WC-27	Ambulance	2,579	1941-1942
WC-36	4x2 Carryall	400	1941
WC-37	4x2 Panel	6	1941
WC-38	4x2 Pickup	362	Closed Cab, 1941
WC-39	4x2 Telephone Maintenance	1	Closed Cab, 1941
WC-40	Pickup	275	Closed Cab, 1941
WC-41	No Body	306	Closed Cab, 1941
WC-42	Radio Panel	650	1942
WC-43	Telephone Installation	370	1942
WC-47	4x2 Express	390	Closed Cab, 1942
WC-48	4x2 Carryall	374	1942
WC-49	4x2 Panel	8	1942
WC-50	4x2 Telephone Installation	1	1942
WC Sub Total		78,794
Total Half Ton Trucks (VC and WC)		83,254

Dodge 3/4 Ton Trucks
Model Number	Description	Number Built	Comments
WC-51	Cargo Truck	123,541	1942-1945
WC-52	Cargo Truck	59,114	With Winch, 1942-1945
WC-53	Carryall	8,400	1942 until production ended 4-1943
WC-54	Ambulance	26,002	1942 until production ended 4-1944
WC-55	Gun Motor Carriage M6	5,380	Production from 4-1942 to 10-1942
WC-56	Command and Reconnaissance Car	21,156	1942-1944
WC-57	Command and Reconnaissance Car	6,010	With Winch. 1942 until production ended 4-1944
WC-58	Radio Truck	2,344	1942
WC-59	Telephone Maintenance	607	1943
WC-60	Emergency Repair Chassis, M2	300	1943-1944
WC-61	Light Maintenance Truck	58	Similar to the WC-59 with a full width body.
WC-64	Knock Down Ambulance	3,500	1-1945 to 8-1945
Total 3/4 Ton		256,412

Dodge 1-1/2 Ton Trucks
Model Number	Description	Number Built	Comments
VF Series
VF-401	Cargo Truck	3,122	Closed Cab, 1940
VF-402	Cargo Truck	431	Closed Cab with winch, 1940
VF-403	Dump Truck	323	Closed Cab, 1940
VF-404	Cargo Truck	1,956	Closed Cab, 1940
VF-405	Cargo Truck	509	Closed Cab with winch, 1940
VF-406	Dump Truck	67	Closed Cab, 1940
VF-407	Ambulance	3	1940
VF Sub Total		6,411
WF Series
WF-31	4x2 Chassis with Cab	516	Closed Cab, 1941-1942
WF Sub Total		516
WC Series
WC-62	6x6 Truck	23,092	1943-1945
WC-63	6x6 Truck	20,132	With Winch, 1943-1945
WC Sub Total		43,224
Total 1-1/2 Ton (VF, WF, WC)		50,151

Dodge Three Ton Trucks
Model Number	Description	Number Built	Comments
T234	3 Ton	15,000	For China. No information is available beyond the information from the Chrysler Museum. One would assume that the vehicle would be a single rear axle with double tires.
Sub Total		15,000

Summary, Total Dodge Truck Production for WWII (1940-1945)
Capacity	Number Built
Half Ton	83,254
3/4 Ton	256,412
1-1/2 Ton	50,151
3 Ton	15,000
Grand Total	404,817

This is Dodge T214 six-cylinder engine that is on display at the Michigan Military Technical and Historical Society in Eastpointe, MI. This is on display while the organization's 1944 WC52 is restored. Author's photo added 2-12-2019.

Below are photos of the various Dodge WWII trucks that I have come across in my travels.

The beginning of the Dodge Truck line for World War Two. A VC-1 as seen at the 2014 MVPA National Convention in Louisville, KY. The VC-1 was the first in the long series of trucks that by the time the war was over totaled. 404,817 units. This is one of the first 2,155 produced by Dodge. Author's photo.

A pristine restoration of a rare vehicle. Author's photo.

Author's photo.

This VC-5 was on display at the 2017 MVPA National Convention in Cleveland, OH. It is Serial Number 8643018 and was delivered on 4-15-1940. Author's photo added 12-24-2019.

Author's photo added 12-24-2019.

Another rare Dodge vehicle from World War Two and the first of the prolific WC series is this WC-1. This 1/2 ton Dodge Truck can be seen at the National Military Historical Center in Auburn, IN. Only 2,473 for these were built during the Second World War. This particular truck went to the US Army at Fort Lewis, WA on February 18, 1941. Author's photo.

Author's photo.

A Dodge WC-3 photographed at the 2014 Thunder over Michigan Airshow. Author's photo.

The WC-3 had no winch and transverse seating. One seat is still in the truck with the others removed for the oil barrel. The oil was being used to service the five Cadillac M5/M5A1 tanks that participated in the show. Author's photo.

7,808 WC-3s were built. It was great to see this driving around the event and not as a museum display. Author's photo.

This WC-3 was on display at the 2017 MVPA National Convention in Cleveland, OH. It is Serial Number 8661394 and was delivered on 7-14-1941. Author's photo added 12-24-2019.

Author's photo added 12-24-2019.

This Dodge WC-6 was built in March of 1942 and is one of 9,365 built. Author's photo from the 2014 MVPA Louisville convention.

Author's photo.

Photographed at the 2013 Houston Airshow is this pristine 1941 Dodge WC-7 Command and Reconnaissance Car. It is one of only 1,438 built. Author's photo added 12-25-2014.

Author's photo added 12-25-2014.

This ID tag shows a delivery date of April of 1941. Author's photo added 12-25-2014.

This WC-9 1/2-ton 4x4 field ambulance was part of the former Ropkey Armor collection. Author's photo added 10-27-2020.

It was pretty crowded in the rear of World War Two field ambulances. Author's photo added 10-27-2020.

Another Dodge at the 2014 Thunder over Michigan Airshow, this one a half ton WC-12 and one of 6,047 built. Author's photo.

Here is 1941 Dodge WC-12 as seen at the 2013 Houston Airshow. Author's photo added 12-25-2014.

This WC-13 was photographed at the Ohio MVPA show at Findlay, OH in May 2019. Author's photo added 12-24-2019.

Author's photo added 12-24-2019.

This Dodge closed cab WC-21 was part of the collection at the Ropkey Armor Museum in Crawfordsville, IN. The museum closed in 2018 and this truck is no longer at this location. Author's photo added 4-17-2015.

Author's photo added 4-17-2015.

This WC-21 was on display at the 2017 MVPA National Convention in Cleveland, OH. It is Serial Number 81121200 and was delivered on 11-4-1941. Author's photo added 12-24-2019.

Author's photo added 12-24-2019.

This WC-22 1/2 ton Pickup was built in December 1941 and is one of 1,900 manufactured. Author's photo from the 2014 MVPA Louisville convention.

The WC-22 was designed to pull M3 37mm anti tank gun, crew and ammunition. Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Model WC-22, serial number 81505598. Author's photo.

Dodge WC-24 1/2 Ton 4x4 Command and Reconnaissance Car as seen at the National Military Historical Center, Auburn, IN. One of 1,412 built in 1941 and 1942. Author's photo.

A third Dodge half ton truck at Thunder over Michigan in 2014. This WC-27 ambulance was one of 2,579 built in 1941 and 1942. This particular unit was produced in 1941. Author's photo.

This is one of 275 Dodge WC-40s built during World War Two. It was photographed in 2012 at the Flying Heritage Museum in Everett, WA. Author's photo added 10-17-2018.

This nicely restored 1942 Dodge 3/4 ton WC-51 was seen at the Urbana Airport in November of 2013, when I was there for the Gathering of B-25s for the last Doolittle Reunion and Flyover. Author's photo.

Author's photo.

This was one of 37,100 WC-51s built in 1942 and 123,541 form 1941-1945. Author's photo.

This WC-52 is identical to the WC-51 above except it came with the winch. 59,114 of these were built by Dodge from 1942 until 1945. Author's photo from the 2012 Tico Airshow.

This 1943 WC-53 3/4 ton Carryall was one of 8,400 built in 1942 and 1943. Author's photo from the 2014 MVPA Louisville convention.

Author's photo.

One of 26,002 WC-54 ambulance versions of the 3/4 ton Dodge trucks which were built between 1942 and April of 1944. Author's photo from the National Military Historical Center, Auburn, IN.

Author's photo.

This WC-55 was designated as an M6 Gun Motor Carriage (GMC) by the US Army. With its 37mm cannon it was an interim solution for a mobile anti-tank weapon until the more well armed half tracks and M10s were available. Author's photo from the 2014 MVPA Louisville convention.

Author's photo.

In this location there was provision for 24 rounds of ammunition. Author's photo.

While truly under gunned, the M6 GMC did have a large shield. But the crew had to ride to battle unprotected sitting on the seats in the rear. Author's photo.

Provision is make for another 24 rounds of 37mm ammunition on the right side of the vehicle and a rare radio installation is in the location of the passenger seat. Author's photo.

All 5,380 of the WC-55s were built in 1942. This particular one came off the assembly line in June of that year. Author's photo.

Here one of 21,156 WC-56 Command and Reconnaissance Cars built by Dodge between 1942 and 1944. Author's photo from the 2014 MVPA Louisville convention.

This one was built on 3-2-1943. Author's photo.

The WC-57 Command and Reconnaissance Car was the same as the WC-56 expect it had the winch. This one of 6,101 built between 1942 and end of production in April of 1944. Author's photo from the National Military Historical Center, Auburn, IN.

Seen here is a WC-62 1-1/2 ton truck which was part of the military display at the 2014 Evansville, IN ShrinersFest. 23,092 were delivered to the military between 1943 and 1945. Author's photo.

This very well restored WC-63 Dodge 6x6 1-1/2 ton truck was on display at the 2013 MVPA Rally at the Ropkey Armor Museum in September of 2013. This was designated as either a WC62 or WC63 depending on whether it had the winch making this a WC-63. This was a stretched version of the 3/4 ton 4x4 WC-52 shown above and and 96% of the same parts were used while being four feet longer. The added length was needed when the US Army went from an 8 man infantry squad to a 12 man squad. Dodge built 20,132 trucks of this type along with all the other military trucks at its Mounds Road Plant in Warren, MI truck plant. Author's photo.

Author's photo.

The WC-64 was the Army's replacement for the WC-54. The concept was to provide a field ambulance that did not take as much room to ship overseas. The steel cab of the WC-54 was replaced with a fold-down windshield and canvas roof. Briggs Manufacturing developed the ambulance body that was shipped as a knock-down. When it arrived in the theater of operations, the ambulance body was assembled. With this configuration, more WC-64s could be stacked inside a ship's cargo area. Dodge built 3,500 of these in 1945. Author's photo added 10-27-2020.

This is the only WC-64 I have found to date. The WC-64 arrived too late to serve in World War Two. It was provided extensively to American allies after World War Two. This rare example was on display at the Indiana Military Museum's 2014 World War Two Days. The WC-64 had a wider body which allowed for easier loading and unloading of litter patients that the previous WC-54. Author's photo added 10-27-2020.

Author's photo added 10-27-2020.

Threaded fasteners were used to assemble the body. Author's photo added 10-27-2020.

Author's photo added 10-27-2020.

A 1941 Dodge Sedan that is painted to look like a Dodge WWII staff car. Dodge, back before WWII made automobiles, just as it does now. Author's photo from the Tico Warbird Museum in Titusville, FL.

Author's photo.

This Dodge tractor unit was photographed at the 2016 WWII Weekend in Reading, PA. It is in the colors of the USN Seabees. Author's photo added 5-2-2017.