Land Systems / Battlefield

Dodge WC54 3/4-ton

4-Wheeled Military / Battlefield Ambulance [ 1942 ]

The Dodge WC54 four-wheeled vehicle was the principle ambulance carrier for American military forces throughout the 1940s and 1950s.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 04/09/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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The Dodge Model WC54 3/4-ton military ambulance was manufactured by the Chrysler Corporation, Dodge Brothers Division from the years 1942 through 1945 (the body work for the vehicle was completed by the Wayne Company). The ambulance was a replacement for the aged WC9 1/2-Ton series seen in prior decades and carried a standard crew of two in the forward cab as well as four patient litters in the covered rear section. Six casualties could be seated in the place of the four litters. Overall payload capability was 1,800 pounds while the WC54 featured a net weight of 5,920lbs and gross weight of 7,720lbs.

Featuring four-wheel drive capability, the Model WC54 rode on eight-ply tires which were mounted on 16-inch wheels. The engine was a Dodge-manufactured Model T214 inline six-cylinder gasoline-fueled engine of 76 horsepower output. The truck's maximum highway speed was listed at 54 miles per hour and a high clearance helped it traverse off-road to some degree.

Seeing considerable production and service during World War 2 (1939-1945) and the Korean War (1950-1955), the WC54 3/4-Ton ambulance would itself go on to be replaced by the WC64 KD which featured flat rear panels and was engineered to be broken down easily - hence the designation of "KD" for "Knock Down". The WC54 series of ambulance was featured regularly in the American television series "MASH", its storyline covering the Korean War.

Specifications

Service Year

1942

Origin

United States

Crew

2
CREWMEN

Production

15,000
UNITS

Chrysler Corporation / Dodge - USA

(View other Vehicle-Related Manufacturers)

United States (retired)

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Utility
General utility-minded design to accomplish a variety of battlefield tasks, typically in a non-direct-combat fashion.

✓ Special Purpose
Special purpose design developed to accomplish an equally-special battlefield role or roles.

Weight

5,919 lb
2,685 kg

Tonnage

3.0 tons
LIGHT

(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Dodge WC54 3/4-ton production variant. Length typically includes main gun in forward position if applicable to the design)

Powerplant: 1 x Dodge T214 inline, 6-cylinder, gasoline-fueled engine developing 76 horsepower to 4x4 wheeled arrangement.

Speed

54.1 mph
(87.0 kph)

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Dodge WC54 3/4-ton production variant. Compare this entry against any other in our database)

None.

WC54 - Base Series Designation

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