GMC CCKW
Encyclopedia
The GMC CCKW is a 2½ ton
6X6 U.S. Army cargo truck
that saw service in World War II
and the Korean War
, often incorrectly referred to as a "Deuce and a Half" or "Jimmy". The CCKW came in many variants, based on the open or closed cab, and Long Wheel Base (LWB 353) or Short Wheel Base (SWB 352).
Built to copies, CCKWs were employed in large numbers for the Red Ball Express
, an enormous convoy
system created by Allied forces to supply their forces moving through Europe following the breakout from the D-Day
beaches in Normandy
, from August 25 to November 16, 1944, when the port facilities at Antwerp were opened. At its peak the Red Ball operated 5,958 vehicles, and carried about 12,500 tons of supplies a day.
The designation CCKW comes from model nomenclature
used by GMC; the first C indicated a vehicle designed in 1941, the second C signifies a conventional cab, the K indicates all-wheel drive and the W indicated tandem rear axles. The term "Deuce and a Half" is not a post war term and was applied to all 2½ ton cargo trucks.
Including the DUKW, General Motors in the US produced 562,750 of these 2.5 ton trucks just prior to and during WW2
Initially all versions were of closed cab design (having a metal roof and doors) with all steel cargo beds. But as the war progressed an open cab version was designed that had fixed 'half doors' and a canvas top/sides and the steel bed was replaced by a wooden one to conserve steel. The wood bed proved unsatisfactory and a 'composite' bed with steel sides and framing, but with wooden slats for the bed, was developed. Later on the 'wood/steel' composite bed was replaced by an all steel composite bed.
Ton
The ton is a unit of measure. It has a long history and has acquired a number of meanings and uses over the years. It is used principally as a unit of weight, and as a unit of volume. It can also be used as a measure of energy, for truck classification, or as a colloquial term.It is derived from...
6X6 U.S. Army cargo truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
that saw service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, often incorrectly referred to as a "Deuce and a Half" or "Jimmy". The CCKW came in many variants, based on the open or closed cab, and Long Wheel Base (LWB 353) or Short Wheel Base (SWB 352).
History
Red Ball Express
The Red Ball Express was an enormous truck convoy system created by Allied forces to supply their forward-area combat units moving through Europe following the breakout from the D-Day beaches in Normandy. The term "Red Ball" was a railroad phrase referring to express shipping...
, an enormous convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
system created by Allied forces to supply their forces moving through Europe following the breakout from the D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
beaches in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, from August 25 to November 16, 1944, when the port facilities at Antwerp were opened. At its peak the Red Ball operated 5,958 vehicles, and carried about 12,500 tons of supplies a day.
The designation CCKW comes from model nomenclature
Nomenclature
Nomenclature is a term that applies to either a list of names or terms, or to the system of principles, procedures and terms related to naming - which is the assigning of a word or phrase to a particular object or property...
used by GMC; the first C indicated a vehicle designed in 1941, the second C signifies a conventional cab, the K indicates all-wheel drive and the W indicated tandem rear axles. The term "Deuce and a Half" is not a post war term and was applied to all 2½ ton cargo trucks.
Including the DUKW, General Motors in the US produced 562,750 of these 2.5 ton trucks just prior to and during WW2
Versions
-
- Truck, cargo, 2½-Ton, 6X6, long-wheelbase / short-wheelbase
- Water tanker 700 Gal.
- Fuel tanker 750 Gal
- Dump
- Flatbed
- Ordnance Maintenance Truck, Van
- K-53 truck Van
- K-60 truck Van
- M27 Bomb Service Truck
- M27B1 Bomb Service Truck
- M1 chemical Service Truck
- Dental Operating Truck, Van
- Surgical Truck, Van
- Water purification truck
- Fire Engine
- Tractor cab
Initially all versions were of closed cab design (having a metal roof and doors) with all steel cargo beds. But as the war progressed an open cab version was designed that had fixed 'half doors' and a canvas top/sides and the steel bed was replaced by a wooden one to conserve steel. The wood bed proved unsatisfactory and a 'composite' bed with steel sides and framing, but with wooden slats for the bed, was developed. Later on the 'wood/steel' composite bed was replaced by an all steel composite bed.
See also
- List of U.S. military vehicles by supply catalog designation (G508)
- List of U.S. military vehicles by model number
- List of U.S. Signal Corps Vehicles
- DUKWDUKWThe DUKW is a six-wheel-drive amphibious truck that was designed by a partnership under military auspices of Sparkman & Stephens and General Motors Corporation during World War II for transporting goods and troops over land and water and for use approaching and crossing beaches in amphibious...
- General MotorsGeneral MotorsGeneral Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
- M35 2½ ton cargo truck
- Chevrolet G506 trucksChevrolet G506 trucksThe Chevrolet G506 trucks were a series of 1½ ton trucks used by the U.S. Army during and after World War II.-History:The G506 was a U.S Army Ordnance Corps supply catalog designation for the 1.5-ton, 4X4, truck chassis built in large numbers by the Chevrolet Motor Division of GMC...
External links
- http://www.cckw.org/
- http://www.transchool.eustis.army.mil/Museum/ExhibitsIndex.htm
- http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=19d1bb8615240005&q=army%20truck%20source:life&prev=/images%3Fq%3Darmy%2Btruck%2Bsource:life%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20
- http://www.olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_cckw.php3