Danish Army
Specific: 100 Willys MB/Ford GPW bought in the late 1940´s/early
1950 to replace the Austin Utility. Furthermore close to 3.000
delivered though the MDAP 1951 - 1955. Some equipped with recoilless
rifle (112 kb)
(1956), radios (24 kb), as stretcher
carrier (103
kb) and machine-guns (36 kb) (1959).
Conversions were made in Denmark.
To the left behind the soldiers a Willys
CJ-3B.
Historical: In 1940 the US Army issued a
requirement for a light 4 x 4 vehicle. June 27th the
Ordnance Technical Committee invited 134 companies to
participate, but with only 75 days to respond no more
than 3 companies entered a prototype for evaluation
(American Bantam - BRC-60, Ford - Pygmy, Willys-Overland
- Quad).
When the evaluation had finished, the companies were sent
back to the drawing board. On December 3rd the three
companies were awarded a contract for construction of
1.500 pre-production vehicles each. The vehicles from the
3 manufacturers were re-designated Bantam BRC-40, Ford GP
and Willys MA respectively.
While these vehicles were produced, the US Quartermaster
Corps (QMC) was drawing up a revised specification for
the vehicles that would be build under the next round of
contracts.
After evaluation of the vehicles from Bantam, Ford and
Willys the latter was chosen. The first contract signed
30 July 1941 called for some 16.000 units. The last of
these vehicles were delivered in August 1941, and
immediately Willys began work on the improved model which
would be called the MB. The first contract for the MB,
which called for 18.600 vehicles at $ 739 each, was
signed in November 1941.
Bantam received an additional contract for 1.175 units on
23 May 1941, and Ford also received further contracts for
the GP and produced a total of 3.700.
Production of the MB ran until mid 1945. Ford became
co-producer in late 1941 (Ford GPW) with first deliveries
to take place in February 1942.
By the end of the war more than 630.000 were produced,
which makes the MB/GPW the most numerous vehicle produced
in WW II.
Length: 3.36 m (130 inches).
Width: 1.58 m (61 inches).
Height: 1.77 m (69 inches).
Weight: 1.575 kg (3.465 lb.).
Engine: 4-cylinder, Willys type 442 L-head, 2.200 cm3
(134 cubic inches) displacement, carburettor, liquid
cooled.
Horsepower: 60 at 4.000 rpm.
Transmission: 3-speed, type Warner T-84J.
Transfer case: 2-speed, type Spicer 18.
Electrical system: 6 volt, negative ground.
Brakes: Hydraulic (Bendix).
Tyres: 6.00 - 16.
Fording depth:
without preparation: 0.45 m (18 inches).
with deep water fording kit: N/A.
Fuel type: Petrol.
Fuel capacity: 40 liter (9 gallons).
Range: 600 km (375 miles).
Crew: 1 + 3.
Additional: N/A.
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