Soldados!!!
The vehicle that we will visit is one of the best known representatives of the famous family of heavy duty utilities from the Dodge Fargo line, the WC-63 Dodge 6x6, sporting the colors of Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB), on the battlefields of Italy in the years 1944 and 45. A Cobra vai fumar!!! (The snake is going to smoke!!! - Brazilians soldiers motto...)
 |
| The Dodges from WC series were called "Jipão" (Big Jeep) in Brazil. |
 |
| WC-63 Dodge 6x6 very well restored and maintained. |
History:
The Dodge WC series, sometimes nicknamed 'Beeps', were a prolific range of light 4WD and medium 6WD military utility trucks, produced by
Dodge /
Fargo during World War II. Together with the 1⁄4-ton jeeps produced by
Willys and
Ford, the Dodge 1⁄2‑tons and 3⁄4‑tons made up nearly all of the light 4WD trucks supplied to the U.S. military in WWII - with Dodge contributing some 337.500 4WD units (over half as many as the jeep).
 |
Dodge WC-52 3⁄4‑tons fully equipped, leading
a Willys 1⁄4-ton Jeep in a snow road |
Contrary to the versatility of the highly standardized jeep, which was mostly achieved through field modification, the Dodge WC‑series came in many different, purpose-built, but mechanically uniform variants from the factory. The WC series evolved out of, and was part of a more extended family of trucks, with great mechanical parts commonality, that included open- and closed-cab cargo trucks and weapons carriers, (radio) command cars, reconnaissance vehicles, ambulances, carryalls, panel vans, and telephone installation and mobile emergency / field workshop trucks.
The Dodge WC series were essentially built in two generations. From 1940 to early 1942, almost 82.400 of the 1⁄2‑ton 4×4 Dodge trucks were built - initially called the VC series, but the great majority (from 1941) in 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.
 |
| Dodge VC-1 WC-13 - ½-ton 4x4 (G505) |
In 1942, the payload was uprated, and the trucks became the shorter G-502, 3⁄4‑ton, 4×4 Truck (Dodge), and the longer 1943, G-507, 1 1⁄2‑ton, 6x6 personnel and cargo truck (Dodge) - confusingly retaining Dodge WC model codes. Although the 3⁄4‑tons featured significant design improvements, they did retain some 80% interchangeable components and service parts with the 1⁄2‑ton models - a vital Army requirement, for field maintenance and operability of the trucks.
Dodge was the U.S. Army's main supplier of 1⁄2‑ton trucks, and its sole supplier of both 3⁄4‑ton trucks and 1 1⁄2‑ton 6x6 trucks in World War II. With over a quarter million units built through August 1945, the G-502 3⁄4‑tons were the most common variants in the WC‑series.
 |
Dodge WC-51 (G-502) in flooded French streets
Rambervilliers, France - Autumn 1944.
|
Though the majority of Dodges built were 'Weapons Carriers', "WC" was not abbreviated from this, but a general Dodge model code - initially "W" for 1941, and "C" for a (nominal) half-ton payload rating. However, the "WC" model code was simply retained after 1941 - for both the 3⁄4-ton, as well as the 1 1⁄2‑ton rated 6x6 Dodges.
All in all, not counting mechanically related variants, the WC series alone involved 52 model versions (30 1⁄2‑ton 4×4, 8 1⁄2‑ton 4×2, 12 3⁄4‑ton 4×4, and 2 1 1⁄2‑ton 6×6 models). Creating vehicles of a common platform in such a variety of designs, with payloads ranging from 1⁄2‑ton to 1 1⁄2‑tons, had no equal in its time, and is seen as an extraordinary feat of the WWII American auto industry.
G-507 WC series 3⁄4-ton, G-502 and 1 1⁄2-ton, 6x6 - 1943 -1945
After the U.S. Army reorganized from using eight-troop
rifle squads to twelve-men squads, a single squad could no longer be carried as a unit in the 3⁄4‑ton, 4x4, WC-51 and WC-52 trucks. At the direction of Major General Courtney Hodges, Chief of Infantry, the G-502 troop- and weapons-carriers were, in 1943 also stretched, with an additional driven rear axle, to derive 1.22 m longer 6-wheel drive trucks. Using the same engine, gearbox, and cockpit, and sharing much of the other mechanicals, plus near-identical front-half sheet-metal as the 3⁄4-tons, the new 6x6, G-507, 1 1⁄2-ton main difference was the use of a dual-range transfer-case, instead of the single-speed of the prior 1⁄2-tons and 3⁄4-tons. The result were the WC-62 and WC-63 troop and weapons carriers, to move whole 12-troop squad teams per vehicle.
 |
WC-63 6x6 Dodge trucks of the FEB (Brazilian Expeditionary Force)
carrying a troop squad with 13 men in its cargo bed.
The 13th was in a middle seat, facing backwards.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Victory Parade - 18 july 1945. |
The latter was of course equipped with a longer frame, housing an engine power take-off drive-shaft from the transfer-case forward, to drive a Braden MU2 winch, mounted on a 25 cm more protruding front-bumper, reducing the approach angle. The winch capacity was originally rated at 2.270 kg pull-strength, but in late 1943 the wire rope size was upgraded from 9.5 mm to 11 mm, the capacity rating was raised to 3.400 kg, both on 3⁄4‑tons and the 6WDs.
The chassis and certain other components were strengthened in the design of the new, longer, double the payload rated models, and many of these changes were incorporated back into subsequent production of the 3⁄4-ton G-502 models as well. Although this caused some inconsistency in the mechanical uniformity of the 3⁄4-tons, it did keep parts the same as much as possible between the 3⁄4-tons and the new 1 1⁄2-ton, benefiting both the uniformity and ease of production of all the different models, as well as the 3⁄4‑tons, making them even more rugged from then on.
One and half ton models (6x6):
The G-507 WC-62 Dodge Cargo and Personnel Carrier, 1 1⁄2-ton, 6x6 truck, (w/o winch) was based on a lengthened WC-51 Weapons Carrier with an extra axle added. When the U.S. Army enlarged rifle squads from eight to twelve men, the 3⁄4‑ton no longer sufficed, and a 1.200 mm longer 6×6 variant was created that used most of the mechanical parts and some of the sheet metal of the G-502. The G-507 trucks could be driven by all six wheels (6x6) or by the four rear wheels only (6×4). A number of components were strengthened in this design, and many of these changes were also incorporated in subsequent 3⁄4‑ton production. Production amounted to 43.224 units total, - 23.092 WC-62 units without winch, and 20.132 WC-63 variants with winch. One prototype was produced as an armored car.
A total of 6.344 WC-62 and WC-63 cargo trucks were provided to World War II Allies - 4.074 to the Free French forces, 2.123 to British, and 129 units to Brazil.
- Length: 5.47 m
- Width: 2.11 m
- Height (with canvas cover): 2.21 m
- Height (with top down): 1.57 m
- Weight: 3.141 kg
- Payload: 1.500 kg
 |
| WC-62 restored |
The
G-507 WC-63 Dodge Cargo and Personnel Carrier, 1 1⁄2-ton, 6x6 truck, (with winch) Weapons Carrier was based on a lengthened WC-52 with an extra axle added. Identical to the WC-62 but fitted with a
PTO-powered Braden MU2 winch, initially of 2.300 kg, later 3.400 kg capacity.- Length: 5.72 m
- Width: 2.10 m
- Height (with canvas cover): 2.21 m
- Height (with top down): 1.57 m
- Weight: 3.250 kg
- Payload: 1.500 kg
 |
| WC-63 restored |
The Brazilian Army in WWII:
The Brazilian Expeditionary Force (
Portuguese:
Força Expedicionária Brasileira, FEB) consisted of about 25.900 men arranged by the army and air force to fight alongside the Allied forces in the Mediterranean Theatre of World War II. This air-land force consisted of (replacements included) a complete Infantry Division, a Fighter Group and a Liaison Squadron.
 |
| Badges of Brazilian Expeditionary Force |
It fought in Italy from September 1944 to May 1945, while the Brazilian Navy as well as the Air Force also acted in the Battle of the Atlantic from the middle of 1942 until the end of the war. During the almost eight months of its campaign, fighting at the Gothic Line and in the 1945 final offensive, the FEB took 20.573 Axis prisoners, consisting of two generals, 892 officers, and 19.679 other ranks. Brazil was the only independent South American country to send ground troops to fight overseas during the Second World War, losing 948 men killed in action across all three services.
The WC-63 in Brazilian Army (WWII):
The Brazilian FEB received from the United States 129 vehicles (WC-62 and WC-63), which were all received in Naples, Italy, in 1944 for use in that theater of operations. With the end of the War, all vehicles surviving the conflict were shipped to Brazil, even in time to participate in the Victory Parade in Rio de Janeiro, in 18 July 1945, still bearing FEB markings in Italy.
 |
Brazilians WC-63 towing M1 57mmAT guns
in the Victory Parade - Rio de Janeiro, 18 July 1945. |
 |
Close up of the pic above
Notice the difference between the shield models of the M1 57mmAT guns... |
 |
| Rear view of WC-63 in parade... |
 |
Brazilian WC-63 - close up
Notice the Southern Cross symbol in the right side
and in the top of the engine hood of the vehicle.
|
 |
An unlucky WC-63 in Italy, overturned upside down.
Notice the bumper code:
FEB - 330N (11th Infantry Regiment - Antitank gun Company)
and the beautiful marking of the Brazilian Army: the Southern Cross. |
 |
Brazilian gunners from 11th Infantry Regiment - Antitank gun Company
The M1 57mmAT gun presents the complete set of armored skirts
Italy - 1945 |
The Brazilian units that operated these vehicles were the Light Maintenance Company, the 1st Expeditionary Infantry Division, the 1st Transmission Company, the General Headquarters Company, the Maintenance Company, the Health Battalion, the 9th Engineering Battalion, the Special Transport Troops, the Anti-tank Gun Company where they towed the M1 57mm AT guns, the 1st, 6th and 11th Infantry Regiments and the Intendance Company.
As mentioned above, after WWII, all Dodge WC-62 and WC-63 survivors of the conflict were donated to Brazil and transported back to the country, where they were used by the Armed Forces until 1978. An undisputed proof of their resistance and reliability.
Brazilian markings in WWII:
My girl will be a representation of the vehicle in the photo overturned in Italy (before the accident, of course... I hate "destroying" kits...). WC-63 Dodge 1 1⁄2-ton 6x6 belonging to 11th Infantry Regiment - Antitank gun Company, serving in Italy, in 1944-45, proudly wearing these markings:
Specs:| Dodge WC-63 1 1/2 ton 6x6 |
|---|
| Type | 11⁄2-ton 6×6 truck |
|---|
| Place of origin | Warren Truck Assembly, Michigan, United States |
|---|
|
| Wars | World War II
Korean War |
|---|
|
| Manufacturer | Dodge / Fargo |
|---|
| Produced | 1940–1945 |
|---|
| No. built | 43.224 units -11⁄2-ton 6×6
(WC-62 and WC-63) |
|---|
| Variants | see text |
|---|
|
| Mass | gross - 4.774 Kg
curb - 3.277 Kg
payload - 1.500 Kg |
|---|
| Length | 5.708 mm
|
|---|
| Width | 2.101 mm
+ |
|---|
| Height | 2.152 mm (w/o mg ring)
2.280 mm (with mg ring)
+ |
|---|
|
| Engine | Dodge T-214 - 92 hp
(69 kW) @ 3.200 rpm |
|---|
| Payload capacity | 1.500 kg |
|---|
| Transmission | 4 speed × 1 range |
|---|
| Suspension | Live beam axles
on leaf springs |
|---|
Ground clearance
Wheelbase | 27.2 cm
3.175 mm
|
|---|
| Fuel capacity | 114 liters |
|---|
Operational range | 386 km |
|---|
| 89 km/h |
|---|
The kit:
For this old project, I used a kit from the same time that Methuselah used a pacifier and attended kindergarten.
 |
| Old...very, very old... |
Let everyone be amazed by the "bag-kit" from Bilek Dodge WC-62 (#93) - (re-box from Italeri #230). Man...this is simply pre-Cambrian!!
 |
Notice the kit "box" and the decals
with indication of Italeri kit 230. |
The booklet is Italeri (#230), with the specification that you can build the version with winch (WC-63) and without winch (WC-62), which does not appear on the external "label" of the "packaging" of the kit.
 |
| The booklet is Italeri (#230) |
 |
| Decal sheet... again, with Italeri (#230) markings |
As my model will be Brazilian, I decide to build a typical artillery tractor vehicle. And Brazil used the American M1 anti-tank gun in Italy in 1944-45.
So, I'm going to build this artillery piece in parallel...and to be consistent with the age of the kit, I chose another relic to be the supporting actor: the kit chosen was the 57mm anti-tank gun M1 from Italeri/Testors (#781), another old, very old gal (1982).
 |
| Box art of 57mm AT gun M1 Italeri/Testors (#781) from 1982. |
Well...after those memories with dust and mothballs smell, let's start building the girls... First, the jipão (big jeep, in Portuguese). My kit will be the WC-63 version with winch, as it was the most used by Brazilians as an anti-tank artillery tractor by FEB in Italy, during WWII.
 |
| The chassis built with front winch, as WC-63 version. |
 |
Building the cabin...Easy...
|
 |
| Front fenders and engine hood |
 |
Pretty lens for my headlights...
These details will be installed after all painting is complete. |
 |
| The front portion of vehicle ready... |
 |
| ...and the rear deck ready. These old kits were very simple, quick and easy to build. |
 |
| The jipão almost ready for painting... |
While the tractor rests, let's take care of the 57mm M1 AT gun... Another model relic about to be born, from the bottom of my catacombs...
 |
| Kit parts, still packed in its plastic bag... |
 |
| Italeri instructions sheets...old times!!! |
Notice in the photo below that the front shields of the M1 57mm AT gun are different. Not only with more or less mooring hooks, but with or without a higher extension on the right side, on the front accessory shield.
 |
Differents front shields, with high and low extensions (red arrows)
and with morring hooks (blue arrows) and without ones |
And the detail is that there was a version with mooring hooks and with a low shield extension! Bingo...I'll cut my kit, just to be different (but still historically correct, as the bald guy likes)
 |
| M1 57mm AT gun with lower extension and mooring hooks |
I loved the idea of the symmetrical front shield, without that higher right-hand overhang. And as the Brazilians had this weapon, let's modify the kit, to keep this detail: a simple cut makes all the difference!!!
 |
| Surgery done!! |
 |
| Main shield in position... |
 |
| Adding some metal, better detail... |
 |
The M1 57mm AT gun, ready for action.
3/4 front left view |
 |
M1 57mm AT gun, ready for action.
left view |
 |
M1 57mm AT gun, ready for action.
right view |
The color is the standard Olive-Drab. Sorry for the very brownish aspect of the picture below: my camera sometimes gets moody...
 |
| Base colors, with shades... |
Remembering the markings:
 |
| Detail of the original photo (image was inverted) |
 |
Decals in position!! The glossy aspect is the Future
to prevent silvering... |
 |
11th Infantry Regiment - Antitank gun Company
Notice the right position of the Southern Cross in the engine hood |
 |
| WC-63: right view |
 |
WC-63 from 11th Infantry Regiment - Antitank gun Company
markings in the right place. |
I decided to make a canvas load being carried by the vehicle, with the old technique of tracing-paper and PVA glue with styrofoam.
 |
The cargo (still very wet) in close up.
Detail: the cargo is not yet glued to the vehicle.
It can be removed for easier painting... |
 |
| Starting the weathering... |
 |
| Starting the weathering...The tracing-paper (canvas) dry... |
 |
The cargo under painting ..
testing in position... |
 |
The cargo under painting ...testing in position.
Rear view
|
 |
| Steel cable with chains... |
 |
An old and very good detail... the headlight lenses.
I used PVA glue ... |
 |
The lenses in position...
Much better!! |
 |
Adding a little strap with paper-tape
in the jerry-can |
 |
| The Italian dust in autumn is terrible!! |
 |
The load (after glued) being tied in place.
Polyester thread, to avoid the unwanted "hairy look". |
 |
| Painting the ammo... |
 |
| ...in the right way!! |
 |
Ammo in position. The Brazilians are crazy!!!
Notice the instrument panel, with white painted background... |
 |
| Making decals for the instrument panel... |
 |
...and with the decals in place. The white background
highlighted the instruments details... |
 |
A small drop of Future on each instrument is a
good solution for the "glasses" of the instruments. |
 |
WC- 63 is almost 99% ready!!
Left view |
 |
WC- 63 - right view
|
 |
| M1 57mm AT gun - right view |
 |
| M1 57mm AT gun - 3/4 front right view |
 |
| M1 57mm AT gun - 3/4 front left view |
Finnaly, the WC-63 Dodge 1 1⁄2-ton 6x6 - Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB) was ready. This vehicle belonged to 1st Expeditionary Infantry Division, 11th Infantry Regiment - Anti-tank gun Company, serving in Italy, in 1944-45.
 |
WC-63 Dodge 1 1⁄2-ton 6x6 - Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB)
1st Expeditionary Infantry Division, 11th Infantry Regiment
Anti-tank gun Company - Italy, 1944-45. |
 |
WC-63 Dodge 1 1⁄2-ton 6x6 - Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB)
3/4 front left view |
 |
WC-63 Dodge 1 1⁄2-ton 6x6 - Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB)
left view |
 |
WC-63 Dodge 1 1⁄2-ton 6x6 - Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB)
3/4 rear left view |
 |
WC-63 Dodge 1 1⁄2-ton 6x6 - Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB)
3/4 rear right view
|
 |
WC-63 Dodge 1 1⁄2-ton 6x6 - Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB)
right view
|
 |
WC-63 Dodge 1 1⁄2-ton 6x6 - Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB)
3/4 front right view
|
 |
WC-63 Dodge 1 1⁄2-ton 6x6 - Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB)
with Kojak
|
 |
M1 57mm AT gun - Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB)
3/4 front left view
|
 |
M1 57mm AT gun - Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB)
3/4 front right view |
 |
WC-63 Dodge 1 1⁄2-ton 6x6 with M1 57mm AT gun
Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB). Kojak is happy!!!
left view |
 |
WC-63 Dodge 1 1⁄2-ton 6x6 with M1 57mm AT gun
Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB)
1st Expeditionary Infantry Division - Italy, 1944-45 |
Tchau!!! Até logo!!!
