Everyone who watched the hit TV series `MASH' in the 1970s and 80s would be familiar with our featured vehicle, a 1942 Dodge 3/4 tonne WC54 ambulance. These vehicles also starred in many movies including The Thin Red Line (1998), Battle of the Bulge (1965), Memphis Belle (1990) and Patton (1970).
No doubt it's greatest role was in real life during WW2 and the Korean War where, as the US Army's primary ambulance, it hepled save countless lives on the battlefront. Dodge was no stranger to building tough trucks. From 1914 when the Dodge Brothers started the company it produced light trucks, those early models being based on car platforms.
The WC series trucks were used extensively in WW2 in a variety of roles - each role being designated a number after the WC. Hence the ambulances, almost 30,000 of them, have the WC 54 moniker. Others on the same platform were built into weapons carriers (WC 51) , vans, command/reconnaissance vehicles, radio vehicles, telephone maintenance vehicles, and emergency repair vehicles. Between 1942 - 45 more than quarter of a million were built at Chrysler's Detroit, Michigan factory.
Our featured ambulance was built on October 8, 1942, just 10 months after Pearl Harbour was bombed. The WC series trucks barely changed during the four years of production using the same 230.1 cubic inch (3.8 litre) straight six engine linked to a four speed transmission, with one reverse gear. Chrysler has always built strong drive-trains and the Dodge saw out WW2 and was later used in the Korean conflict. Even as late as the 1960s some Europen armies were still using WC trucks. Our featured vehicle, 70 years down the track, looks ready to return to the fray.
The WC 54 ambulance had a complement of two crew - driver and medic - and could fit six patients seated or two patients lying down. With fold-away bunk-style beds four reclined patients could fit in. At the rear there's a fold-down step to assist both patients, crew and stretcher bearers getting into the back of the vehicle. While Chrysler manufactured the chassis and running gear the body was made by Wayne Body Works.
Dodge started preparation to manufacture military trucks in 1939 when war broke out in Europe. The WC 54 replaced those early 1/2 tonne WC-27, G505, 4X4s in 1942. The WC 54 was slightly different to other WC models, having a 123 inch wheelbase, compared to the usual 116 inch wheelbase on other models.
The WC 54 was not fast with a top speed in high range of 54 mph (86 km/h. Given the engine developed just 67 kW at 3200 rpm, and the vehicle tips the scales at 2680 kg, before passengers, that's not too shabby. In reality most of the time the ambulances were covering difficult terrain so top speed was irrelevant. What was relevant was the suspension and the WC 54 had a softer set up to make the journey slightly more comfortable for it's valuable damaged cargo.
We spotted this Dodge WC 54 Ambulance at a display of Queensland Military vehicles at Canungra in the Gold Coast Hinterland in late 2009.
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