CAN Dodge APT WC51 – lot 223

Good running Dodge Air Portable, built by the Canadians and narrower than the Dodge WC-51/52.

 
DESCRIPTION

The Dodge APT 3/4 Ton Line vehicle was a military line vehicle based on the Dodge Weapons Carrier line of vehicles from the United States of America.
Built by Chrysler Canada to a modified specification, the APT was Air Portable and was narrower than the WC51/52 vehicles.

In July 1944 the ministry of supply raised concerns because of a shortage of 15cwt, 4×4 trucks, forecast at 10,000 units. A short fact-finding mission ensued where the production capabilities of Canadas’ four truck producers was examined. Chrysler of Canada was in the best position to produce this new truck as the other three were at full production already. It was decided that rather than tool Chrysler up for CMP production( of which at least one cab 13 prototype existed), it would be easier to build a canadianized version of the U.S. dodge WC-51 – 52 3/4-ton truck.

The Canadian built truck was given the nomenclature of d-3/4 apt, which stood for Dodge 3/4-ton air portable truck, as it had to fit into the C47. This meant that the body had to be narrowed by 5″ from the original design, of which 3200 had already been built, as the change came into effect at unit 3201. To the best of knowledge these vehicles were modified to conform to the -5″ rule. Then another requirement came out, which was that the vehicle was to be wade proofed. This changed the nomenclature of the vehicle to d-3/4 apt/wp, which commenced at unit 5001.
The logic behind using the Canadian 236 cid engine rather than the American 230 cid was that all other Canadian produced dodge trucks overseas had the Canadian engine, which for logistics, and spare parts made sense.

Sources: G503, ww2dodge.com Forum, www.rcsigs.ca and http://www.mapleleafup.net/ Canadian Arms and Armor

© Tracks & Trade BV the Netherlands, February 2023

Introduction
The Dodge WC series was a prolific series of light four-wheel drive, 4WD, and medium six-wheel drive, 6WD, military utility trucks produced by Dodge / Fargo during World War II. Along with the 1⁄4-ton jeeps produced by Willys and Ford, the Dodge 1⁄2-ton and 3⁄4-ton made up nearly all of the light 4WD trucks delivered to the U.S. Army in WWII, with Dodge contributing approximately 337,500 4WD units (more than half than the jeep).

In contrast to the versatility of the highly standardized Jeep, which was mostly achieved through field modifications, the Dodge WC series came out of the factory in many different, purpose-built but mechanically uniform variants, much akin to the later family of High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles. The WC series emerged from and was part of a more extensive family of trucks, with great mechanical similarities in parts, including open and closed-cab trucks and weapons carriers, (radio) command vehicles, reconnaissance vehicles, ambulances, transport vehicles, vans, and trucks for telephone installations and mobile emergency/field workshops.

The Dodge WC series was essentially built in two generations. From 1940 to early 1942, nearly 82,400 of the 1⁄2-ton 4×4 Dodge trucks were built. They were initially called the VC series, but the vast majority of them (beginning in 1941) were built as the WC series, and in more variants. Contrary to what Dodge’s nomenclature suggested, the 1941 WC models were a direct evolution of the 1940 VC models, retaining the U.S. Army’s G-505 Ordnance Corps Supply Catalog number.

In 1942, the payload was increased, and the trucks became the shorter G-502, 3⁄4-ton, 4×4 Truck (Dodge), and the longer 1943, G-507, 11⁄2-ton, 6×6 personnel and cargo truck (Dodge), confusingly retaining Dodge WC model codes. Although the majority of Dodges built were “Weapons Carriers,” “WC” was not an abbreviation of this, but a general Dodge model code. Initially “W” for 1941, and “C” for a (rated) payload of half a ton. However, the “WC” model code was simply retained after 1941. For both the 3⁄4-ton and 11⁄2-ton 6×6 Dodges. Although the 3⁄4-ton had significant design improvements, they retained about 80% interchangeability of parts and service parts with the 1⁄2-ton models, an essential requirement of the Army for maintenance and serviceability of the trucks in the field.

Dodge was the U.S. Army’s main supplier of 1⁄2-ton trucks, and the only supplier of both 3⁄4-ton trucks and 11⁄2-ton 6×6 trucks in World War II. With more than a quarter of a million units built through August 1945, the G-502 3⁄4-ton were the most common variants in the WC series. 

Air Portable
The text below is derived from the Canadian Arms and Armor: 3/4 Ton Dodge Air Portable Trucks webpage.
“In July 1944, the British Ministry of Supply issued an urgent requirement for 15 cwt 4×4 General Service trucks. At this time Ford and General Motors were in full production of the CMP trucks then in service with Canada and the commonwealth on all fronts and were not able to increase production to accept the order. Chrysler Canada had stopped mass production of 4×4 trucks after the T-212 of 1941. An investigation into the possibility of modifying the U.S. military WC52 ¾ ton trucks to suit Canadian manufacturing differences was completed quickly, resulting in an April 15, 1945 British order of 10,000 T-236 ¾ Ton General Service Trucks under contract S/M 6243. These trucks were designated “D ¾ APT” and were classified as “Air portable” as they could be loaded into transport aircraft with minimal disassembly, a significant design benefit over the CMP vehicles then in use, especially considering the planned invasion of Japan.

Initially, the main difference between the Canadian and American manufactured trucks was the use of the larger Canadian manufactured 236 cubic inch flathead 6-cylinder engine, necessitating slightly longer front sheet-metal, and a standardized 12-volt electrical system. Shortly after production began, they found that if the rear body was narrowed by 6 inches it would allow the body to be re-fitted to the truck after loading into a C-47/Dakota aircraft. This saved considerable space in the aircraft over the previous method where the bodies were stored on their sides separate from the chassis. The initial body model fitted to the Canadian manufactured trucks was the “2M1A” which measured 83 ¼” in width while the redesigned body, designated “2M2A”, was 77 ¼” in width. The “A” in both model numbers indicates ‘Air Portable’. In all, 3200 trucks were assembled with the original width “2M1A” rear body before the change to the narrow body occurred.
The last major change to the Dodge APT was the introduction of ‘wade proofing’. This change saw components of the engine and electrical system changed to ‘wade proofed’ versions that allowed for the safe immersion in water without significant preparation. This change came as a result of the lessons learned after the D-Day invasion of 1944, where vehicles had to go through a lengthy packing and sealing process in order to prepare for water immersion, and then after wading, had to have the protections removed for regular use. The most obvious change to APT vehicles that are wade-proofed, is the hood with air intake snorkel cutout on the right side and the revised data-plate that shows the new nomenclature ‘D ¾ WP/APT’. This change was introduced at vehicle number 5001 (serial 91166034) in late spring of 1945, but interestingly the wade-proofed distributor and ignition coil were not introduced until vehicle 6001 (serial 91167034).

Illustration from the WP/APT manual showing the routing of the deep-water snorkel system fitted to the carburetor and attached to the windshield frame. This tube would pass through the cut-out on the right-side panel of the hood on the Wade proofed model of the APT. (DND Illustration)

Production of the APT continued at Windsor, Ontario until at least October 1945, but it is not believed much later due to the surrender of Japan and the massive surplus of new production vehicles then held in military stores. Total production of the APT in Canada is not yet known, but it is reasonable to believe from available date and recorded serial numbers, that 8000 to as many as the full 10 000 vehicles ordered under S/M 6243 were completed.”

Lot-0223-02-TT-CAN-Dodge-APT-Rev-2.0

Brochure: Lot 0223-02 T&T CAN Dodge APT Rev 2.0