List of U.S. military jeeps

This is a list of military light utility vehicles, of the kind commonly referred to as jeeps, and typically classified as 14-ton payload rated, manufactured by U.S. automakers, in order of first creation.

World War II

World War II era jeep built by Ford, using the Willys-Overland design.
  • 1940 Bantam Pilot—Prototype
  • 1940 Bantam BRC-60—Prototype
  • 1940 Willys Quad—Prototype
  • 1940 Ford Pygmy—Prototype
  • 1940 Budd Ford—Prototype
  • 1941 Ford GP
  • 1941 Willys MA
  • 1941 Bantam BRC-40
  • 1941 Willys T13/T14 'Super Jeep' – MB stretched to 6x6 and armed with a 37 mm Gun Motor Carriage. Although cancelled in favor of the M6 Gun Motor Carriage, the T14 was developed into the MT-TUG cargo/prime mover.
  • 1941-1944 Willys MT "Super Jeep" — 6x6, 3⁄4-ton prototype — a small number were built in various configurations.[1] Although performance was excellent, the MT was deemed "surplus to requirements" and cancelled in favor of existing 34-ton and 1 12-ton trucks.
  • 1942 Willys MB (slat grille)
  • 1942 T24 Scout Car – MT-based armored car. Although it performed well in trials, the T24 was abandoned in favor of the M8 and M20 Light Armored Car.
  • 1942–1943 Ford GTB 112-ton 4x4 'Burma Jeep'
  • 1942–1945 Willys MB (stamped grille)
  • 1942–1945 Ford GPW
  • 1943 Willys T28 – half-track based on the MT
  • 1943 Willys WAC (for 'Willys Air Cooled') "Jeeplet" — prototype for a super light-weight, fulltime 4WD with front and rear independent suspension[1]
  • 1944 Willys MLW-1 (for 'Military Long Wheelbase') — prototype (never finished)
  • 1944 Willys MLW-2 (for 'Military Long Wheelbase') or "Jungle Jeep" — prototype for a half-ton, jungle-suited jeep[1]

Post World War II

  • 1949–1952 M38 (Willys MC)
Willys M606 Ambulance: extended rear and raised top – U.S.M.C. photo.
  • 1950 CJ V-35(/U) – deep water fording Willys CJ-3A; 1000 units built for the USMC [2]
  • 1952–1957 M38A1 (Willys MD)
    • 1952–1957 M38A1C fitted with 105/106mm anti-tank recoilless rifle
    • M170 Ambulance
  • 1953 Willys BC Bobcat aka "Aero Jeep" — Prototype for a very small, lightweight (1475 lbs) jeep, for easier lifting by contemporaneous helicopters,[3] eventually rejected in favor of AMC's M422 design.
  • 1955 M38A1D – a small number of M38A1s carried the M28 or M29 "Davy Crockett Weapon System", the US' smallest tactical nuclear weapon, fired from a 120mm or 155mm recoilless rifle
  • 1956–1968 Jeep M606
Ford M151 – the longest used U.S. jeep.

Jeep-related vehicles unlike the jeep vehicle-concept

Ford GPA next to a regular World War II jeep

The U.S. has also used military vehicles that are directly related to jeeps, or were Willys / Jeep branded, but that digress significantly from the jeep vehicle-concept:

The amphibious jeep (WW II)

  • 1942–1943 Ford GPA – an amphibious hulled vehicle, similar to the DUKW, but mechanically a Ford GPW jeep

Willys / Jeep branded, but not jeep-like vehicles

  • 1956–1965 Jeep Forward Control military variants
  • 1958-1960 Willys XM443 / M443E1 "Super Mule" – prototypes for 3⁄4-ton, underfloor mid-engined platform-trucks, comparable to but larger than the M274 "Mechanical Mule".[4][1][5] Never entered production due to reliability problems.
  • 1967–1969 M715 Truck — based on the commercial Kaiser Jeep Gladiator

References

  1. ^ a b c d Cool Jeeps You Never Saw - 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine
  2. ^ Evolution Of Deep Water Fording and the Jeep
  3. ^ Built to Fly - Army Tests Aluminum Jeep – Popular Science, Feb 1954, p.162
  4. ^ Foster, Patrick R. (2014). Jeep: The History of America's Greatest Vehicle. Motorbooks. p. 63. ISBN 9780760345856.
  5. ^ 3/4 ton 4x4 - G503 Military Vehicle Forums