Panzerserra Bunker- Military Scale Models in 1/35 scale: WC-54 Dodge 4x4 - 3/4 ton Ambulance - US Navy version

Medic!!!

Now, let's meet this brave girl, who was present in the sanitary evacuations of most of the theaters of operation. It's time to talk and pay homage to WC-54 Dodge 4x4 - 3/4 ton Ambulance. This girl was built many years ago, but I wanted to upgrade it now ...

WC-54 Dodge 3/4 ton Ambulance restored

History:

Only in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) , the US Army counted 388.188 wounded personnel, taking into account only the evacuated and treated by the teams of the US Medical Department. Of this number, only 14.140 injured (3.6%) died as a result of their injuries. These results was made possible by the combination of different factors, like the progress of surgery, the emergence of new drugs, including the penicillin and swift evacuation.

To the front line to Hospital... Hurry!!
Medical personnel embarking another soldier for treatment, in the body of WC-54.

These performances are credited to an effective organization in the medical chain, ranging from taking care of wounded soldiers on the front line to their evacuation to the sorting and first aid centers, then to their treatment in field or back hospitals. To serve this organization, the US Medical Department had 245.000 people at the time of disembarkation of June 1944.

WC-54 Ambulances at the Normandy. Notice
the snorkels as field adaptation with rubber hoses.
Caution not to "drown" the engines in a slightly deeper landing ...

The sanitary vehicles were one of the cogs of this chain. At the end of 1940, the US Medical Department selected the Dodge 1/2 ton chassis to achieve sanitary tactics, as WC-9 Ambulance. The first trials began in January 1941. A total of 6.422 copies were built.

WC-9 Dodge 4x4 1/2 ton Ambulance

WC-9 Dodge Ambulance with B-25 Mitchell medium bomber
434th Bombardment Squadron - 12th Bombardment Group
North Africa, 1942.

On its own initiative, Dodge offered a more powerful model (95 hp vs. 86 hp) of 750 kg, designed to replace the 1/2 ton ones. This evolution was accepted by the US Ordnance, and sanitary model WC 54 was approved and became the standard equipment.

WC-54 Dodge 4x4 3/4 ton Ambulance

During the winter of 1942-1943, a report was written by Supply Service, the organization responsible for the supply of equipment in Europe and the Pacific with some disapproval to the project, such as WC 54 model was considered too cumbersome when transported by sea. After several studies, including that relating to a 6x6 health derived from the Jeep, officials choose a sanitary Dodge, but now equipped with a removable box of non-strategic materials (plywood). The first tests of this equipment called WC 64 KD begin in July 1942. In total, only 3.500 copies were built,but the WC-54 version is the most used throughout the rest of the world conflict.

WC-64 Dodge 4x4 3/4 ton Ambulance
Notice the rear body in plywood

Description:

The Dodge WC-54 4x4 - 3⁄4 Ton, supply catalog designation G502, was a WC series 4×4 light truck developed during World War II by Dodge. It served as the main ambulance used by the US army from 1942 to 1945, with some used as late as 1953 during the Korean War by the U.S. Army Medical Corps, and others serving as late as the 1960s in the armies of some European countries. At times, several were also used by the US Signal Corps as radio vans.

WC-54 signal van

Design and production:

The WC54 was designed to replace the WC9, WC18 and the WC27 Truck, 1/2 ton, 4×4 Dodge Ambulance (G505). Based on the 3/4 Ton "Beep" Dodge chassis, it featured a longer wheelbase and adjusted suspension to make its ride softer.

WC-54 chassis under restoration...

The closed sheet-metal body was made by Wayne Body works. It had room for a driver and four to seven patients plus a medic. If the fold-away bunk stretchers were used, four patients could be transported lying down.

WC-54 interior.

Because of its intended role, the WC54 featured a large matrix cab heater fitted on the firewall, providing comfort for patients and crew. It was fitted with a foldaway step to its rear to allow easier access for stretcher bearers and injured personnel.

Rear folding step in detail...

Early models featured a stuck out fuel filler cap which was changed to a recessed one in the later model, a modification that was retrofitted to some early model trucks.

WC-54 and jeep crossing the River Magampon - Phillipines, 1945

Between 1942 and 1945, total production of the 3/4 ton WC-series T214 was 255,173. Of these, 22,857 were ambulances.

WC-54 with American Navy markings... hmmmm...

Virtually unchanged throughout its life, apart from minor technical tweaks, it was later turned into a knockdown version, known as WC64, to allow larger quantities to be shipped at the same time. Only 3,500 were made between the beginning of 1945 and the end of the war.

Operators:

United States

US Army.
US Air Force
US Navy
US Signal Corps

WC54 ambulances lining up on a pier to take wounded off USS Intrepid Carrier
Pearl Harbor - Hawaii, 1944-1945.

United Kingdom

Royal Army Medical Corps

France

Free French Forces

Brazil

Brazilian Expeditionary Force

WC-54 Ambulance - Brazilian Expeditionary Force
Lieutenant Doctor Lázaro Rubim - Italy, 1945.

Brazilian Air Force - 1st Fighter Squadron

WC-54 Ambulance - Brazilian Air Force
1st Fighter Squadron "Senta a Púa"
Health Battalion - Italy, 1944-45

Greece

Greek Army
Greek Air Force

Austria

Austrian Army

Belgium

Belgian Army

Norway

Norwegian Army

Philippines

Philippine Army
Philippine Constabulary
Philippine Marine Corps

Yugoslavia

Yugoslav Army

Specs:

Dodge WC54 Ambulance
Manufacturer	Dodge (Chrysler)
Body and chassis
Classification	Light truck
Powertrain
Engine	Dodge T214 -3.800 cc 6 cil, 92bhp
Transmission	4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3,073mm
Length	4,940mm
Width	1,981mm
Height	2,286mm
Curb weight	2,680kg
Chronology
Predecessor	Dodge WC-27, G505, 1/2-Ton 4×4
Successor	Dodge M43 M37 ¾Ton truck series

The kit and the project:
To build this girl, the only kit is the old Italeri Ambulance Dodge WC-54 (#226), world-old!!!

From the Dark-ages!!!

But since I like rare things, I chose to make the markings of the American Navy on that Lady. As I live in Anapolis, (Brazil), I decided to situate my girl in a city with the same name: Annapolis, USA. Fun-fact: in Brazil, Anapolis hosts an air base ... In the USA, Annapolis hosts a Naval Base. First of all, a color profile: