1952 4X4 M37 3\4 TON DODGE TRUCK

When German Field Marshals where asked after WWII, what was the number one thing that you attribute Germanys loss in the war to, most answered the Jeep. Because of its ability to move ammunition and supplies to the front lines quickly. We now know there many reason why Germany lost the war, but to Generals on the front lines moving Food, Fuel & Ammunition quickly was imperative. General Patton saw the advantage of fast moving all terrain vehicles. Patton created what is known as the "Command Truck". It was a truck usually a WC Series 3\4 Ton Dodge Truck, setup with a communications radio, a crew of two, and a trailer attached. Loaded with fuel and supplies for his Sherman Tanks. It was General Patton that was feared most by the German army, for his ability to move large groups of tanks vast distances in a short amount of time. Keeping his Sherman's supplied with fuel and ammunition using what is now know as the "Cannon Ball Express" In recognition of the Sherman Tank Shells carried in these trucks. Basically General Patton designed a method of keeping the convoy moving by radioing the first truck in line when a Sherman Tank became low on fuel, the tank would then pull off the road and the Command Truck would pull alongside and fill her up. Then the next Dodge Command Truck would take its place inline and so on. Thus the convoy continued non stop, day & night. It was Patton that relieved a besieged American Army during the now famous Battle of Bastone in record time. The German army had the town surrounded. When asked to surrender the commanding American officer replied "Nuts" and held out till relieved by General Patton, his Sherman's and the mighty Dodge Truck's of the Cannon Ball Express!

Havoc was lucky enough to speak with a American soldier who drove a WC Dodge during the Cannon Ball Express. His name was Howard Applebaum and he told Havoc how they would drive all day and night with the trucks filled with food, the trailers filled with ammunition and fuel. He said that they kept the speed erratic so if shelled by the Famous German 88 Anti-Tank Gun it would be hard to zero in on target. He remembers this happening to him more times then he cared to remember. He also told Havoc how they had rigged a quick release system to the trailer in the event that the shelling came to close or if attacked they could release the trailer loaded with fuel and get as much distance as possible from the highly flammable target. He talked about the WC as if it were a real person. He went on to say in the 3 years he was in the European theatre of war he was never left stranded by his Dodge.

Pictured here is not the famous WC Series Dodge Truck used in WWII, but a very similar later version made in 1952. Called the M37.This model served in the Korean war. After it was retired it was sold to the Montana Fire Department in 1982 for one dollar. It served with distinction for 23 years. When sold by the fire department a brief history of this M37 was found in the glove box. Apparently the fire department had grown quite found of it. The M37 has a very unique feature its able to drive fully submerge in water with a quickly installed forging kit, that she carries strap to her bed. If you look close to the picture above you can see the extended exhaust pipe strapped to the side of the bed. This closed environment system made it a ideal Fire fighting truck in the rough terrain of Montana. Able to drive right up to a fires edge with a firefighting crew of 8. She could literally drive threw a fire without worry of igniting because of the closed system. On one occasion when trapped by a back burn Montana Fire Fighters climbed aboard this M37 and drove it threw the fire to safety.

WC-52 used during WWII

CLICK PICTURE ABOVE TO SEE A MOVIE OF THE M37 IN ACTION!

M37 PAPER MODEL DOWNLOAD HERE