Dodge M37: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Military truck of the United States}} |
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{{Infobox weapon |
{{Infobox weapon |
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| name = Dodge M37 |
| name = Dodge M37 |
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| image_size = 300px |
| image_size = 300px |
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| caption = M37 cargo truck |
| caption = M37 cargo truck |
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| origin = United States |
| origin = [[Warren Truck Assembly]], Michigan, United States |
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| type = {{frac|3|4}}-ton 4x4 truck |
| type = {{frac|3|4}}-ton 4x4 truck |
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<!-- Type selection --> |
<!-- Type selection --> |
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|service = 1951 until varying per country |
|service = 1951 until varying per country |
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|used_by = |
|used_by = |
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|wars = [[Korean War]]<br>[[Vietnam War]]<br>[[Laotian Civil War]]<br>[[Cambodian Civil War]]<br>[[Nicaraguan Revolution]]<br>[[Salvadoran Civil War]]<br>[[Guatemalan Civil War]] |
|wars = [[Korean War]]<br />[[Vietnam War]]<br />[[Laotian Civil War]]<br />[[Cambodian Civil War]]<br />[[Nicaraguan Revolution]]<br />[[Salvadoran Civil War]]<br />[[Guatemalan Civil War]] |
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<!-- Production history --> |
<!-- Production history --> |
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| designer = |
| designer = |
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| manufacturer = Dodge |
| manufacturer = Dodge |
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| production_date = 1951-1968 |
| production_date = 1951-1968 |
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| number = 115,838 – across:<br>— '''M37:''' ~63,000 units (1951–1954)<br>— '''M37B1:''' 47,600 units (from 1958)<br>— '''M37CDN:''' 4,500 Canadian (1951–1955) |
| number = 115,838 – across:<br />— '''M37:''' ~63,000 units (1951–1954)<br />— '''M37B1:''' 47,600 units (from 1958)<br />— '''M37CDN:''' 4,500 Canadian (1951–1955) |
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| variants = |
| variants = |
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<!-- General specifications --> |
<!-- General specifications --> |
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| spec_label = with winch<ref>{{cite book|url=http://m37.crwdesigns.com/documents/Tech%20Manuals/TM9-2320-212-10.pdf|title=TM-9-2320-212-10 Operator's Manual for M37 series trucks|publisher=[[United States Department of the Army#Headquarters, Department of the Army|Headquarters, Department of the Army]]|work=Technical manual|date=30 November 1973| |
| spec_label = with winch<ref>{{cite book|url=http://m37.crwdesigns.com/documents/Tech%20Manuals/TM9-2320-212-10.pdf|title=TM-9-2320-212-10 Operator's Manual for M37 series trucks|publisher=[[United States Department of the Army#Headquarters, Department of the Army|Headquarters, Department of the Army]]|work=Technical manual|date=30 November 1973|access-date=30 Aug 2015}}</ref> |
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| weight = {{convert|5,917|lb|abbr=on}} (empty) |
| weight = {{convert|5,917|lb|abbr=on}} (empty) |
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| length = {{convert|15|ft|10|in|m|2|abbr=on}} |
| length = {{convert|15|ft|10|in|m|2|abbr=on}} |
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| speed = {{convert|55|mph|abbr=on}} |
| speed = {{convert|55|mph|abbr=on}} |
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}} |
}} |
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⚫ | |||
⚫ | The '''Dodge M37''' was a {{frac|3|4}}-ton [[four-wheel drive|4x4]] truck developed for service in the United States military as a successor to the widely used [[Dodge]]-built [[Dodge WC series|WC Series]] introduced during [[World War II]]. Put into service in 1951, it served in a variety of configurations in frontline duty in the [[Korean War]] and [[War in Vietnam]] before being replaced by two [[commercial off the shelf]] (COTS) based {{frac|1|1|4}}-ton trucks: the [[Kaiser Jeep M715|Kaiser M715]] (introduced in 1967 and supplied through 1969) and the [[Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle#Dodge M8XX Series|Dodge M880/M890]] series (in the 1970s). |
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⚫ | |||
⚫ | The '''Dodge M37''' {{frac|3|4}}-ton [[four-wheel drive|4x4]] truck |
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It bore the designation [[List of U.S. military vehicles by supply catalog designation#G700 to G799|(G741)]], and after its military phase-out was both put into domestic Federal government agency use and auctioned to civilians in the U.S., and adopted by foreign militaries. |
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== History == |
== History == |
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Many of the components on the M37 are similar or identical to the [[Dodge]]-built World War II [[Dodge WC series|WC series]] vehicles, and many deficiencies of the WC series were corrected in the M37. Notably, a conventional pickup truck style bed replaced the platform on the World War II vehicle, simplifying production. There was significant drivetrain and powerplant commonality with the immediate postwar WDX series civilian [[Dodge Power Wagon|Power Wagons]], but no sheet metal was shared. Six WC-based prototype W37s were produced in early-to-mid 1950, with the first pre-production pilot vehicle rolling off the assembly line on 14 December 1950.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dodgem37.com/ |title=1953 M37 Dodge Restoration |author=creinemann |access-date=16 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320131741/http://dodgem37.com/ |archive-date=20 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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⚫ | In total some 115,000 Dodge M37s were produced between 1951 and 1968. Manufacture of the M37 began in earnest in January 1951, with approximately 11,000 vehicles made by the end of that year. By mid-1954 63,000 of the vehicles had been produced. In 1958 a number of modifications to the design resulted in the new vehicles being designated as M37B1. From mid-1958 until the end of production 47,600 M37B1 vehicles were produced. Approximately 4,500 Canadian M37CDNs were also produced between 1951 and 1955. M37s continued in service worldwide in the Israeli and Greek militaries. |
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From 1968 onwards, the U.S. military replaced the M37 with the heavier-rated {{frac|1|1|4}} (or five-quarter) ton [[Kaiser Jeep]] manufactured [[Kaiser Jeep M715|M715]] family of vehicles. Rather than purpose-built tactical vehicles, these "militarized" [[commercial off-the-shelf]] ('COTS') trucks were considered underpowered and fragile compared to the M37.<ref name=OD_M715>{{Cite web |url=http://ftp.olive-drab.com/od_mvg_www_kaiser.php |title=M-715 Kaiser 5/4 Jeep – Olive-Drab |access-date=8 August 2019 |archive-date=8 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808123758/http://ftp.olive-drab.com/od_mvg_www_kaiser.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> After seeing service in the [[Vietnam War]] the M715 was replaced in 1976 by the similarly rated [[Dodge]]-built COTS [[Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle#Dodge M8XX Series|M880 series]]. |
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⚫ | |||
In addition to those M37s that were sold or offered as military aid to allied foreign countries, many were transferred to civilian agencies or sold domestically at government auctions, becoming a not uncommon sight in government and private use in the 1970s and '80s; some are still seen today in rural areas. |
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In total, between 1951 and 1968, some 115,000 Dodge M37s were produced. From 1968 onwards, the U.S. military replaced them with the M-715 family of vehicles, which saw service in the [[Vietnam War]]. Although these were higher (1{{1/4}} or five-quarter ton) rated, they were militarized "[[commercial off-the-shelf]]" (or 'COTS') trucks – and the [[Kaiser Jeep M715]]s were considered underpowered and fragile, compared to the purpose-built Dodge M37 tactical trucks they were built to replace.<ref name=OD_M715>[http://ftp.olive-drab.com/od_mvg_www_kaiser.php M-715 Kaiser 5/4 Jeep – Olive-Drab]</ref> Starting 1976, the U.S. military went back to Dodges, when the M715s were replaced by the [[Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle#Dodge M8XX Series|Dodge M880 series]], again a {{frac|1|1|4}}-ton militarized COTS truck.<br> |
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It was common in the 1970 and 1980s to encounter these vehicles in government auctions. Many of the vehicles were transferred to civilian agencies and some are still in use today in rural areas. They were out of significant military service by the late 1970s, replaced by the [[M715]] and [[M880]] series. |
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[[File:M37 at typical military show.jpg|thumb|1953 Dodge M37]] |
[[File:M37 at typical military show.jpg|thumb|1953 Dodge M37]] |
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[[File:Dodge G-741 Dodge M42 pic1.JPG|thumb|Dodge M42 in the [[Overloon War Museum|Overloon Museum]]]] |
[[File:Dodge G-741 Dodge M42 pic1.JPG|thumb|Dodge M42 in the [[Overloon War Museum|Overloon Museum]]]] |
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[[File:HAFm 7054.JPG|thumb|Dodge R2 at the [[Hellenic Air Force Museum]]]] |
[[File:HAFm 7054.JPG|thumb|Dodge R2 at the [[Hellenic Air Force Museum]]]] |
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[[File:ArmyDodgePowerWagon.jpg|thumb| |
[[File:ArmyDodgePowerWagon.jpg|thumb|1952 Dodge M152]] |
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* '''M42''' command truck |
* '''M42''' command truck |
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* '''M43''' [[ambulance]] |
* '''M43''' [[ambulance]] |
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* '''M53''' cab-chassis |
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* '''M56 ''' tool truck, has a bumper-mounted winch |
* '''M56 ''' tool truck, has a bumper-mounted winch |
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** '''MB2''' Fire and Rescue Truck (M56 with Gichner body) |
** '''MB2''' Fire and Rescue Truck (M56 with Gichner body) |
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* '''V126''' truck – for AN/MPX-7 radar |
* '''V126''' truck – for AN/MPX-7 radar |
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'''experimental:''' |
'''experimental:''' |
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* '''XM142''' experimental bomb service truck |
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* '''XM152''' experimental enclosed utility truck used in small numbers by the USAF |
* '''XM152''' experimental enclosed utility truck used in small numbers by the USAF |
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* '''XM195''' experimental lighter, compact version of M37 |
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* '''XM708''' experimental dump truck used mostly by airborne units |
* '''XM708''' experimental dump truck used mostly by airborne units |
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* '''XM711''' experimental wrecker truck |
* '''XM711''' experimental wrecker truck |
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== Specifications == |
== Specifications == |
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=== Engine === |
=== Engine === |
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The |
The M37's flathead [[Chrysler Flathead engine#Straight-6|Chrysler Straight-6]] engine was carried over from the World War II-era WC vehicle line, as was most of the drivetrain. Using an engine and drivetrain derived from a widely-produced 1930s era passenger vehicle was in line with a long-standing military procurement strategy that attempted to use commercially produced vehicle variants in military service.{{cn|date=March 2024}} |
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Many deficiencies with aging design became apparent in the 1960s, including a tendency of the connecting rods to fail at high rpms due to the long cylinder stroke of the engine. As the average speed of the vehicles in the military increased, these engine failures became commonplace due to the low gear ratio of the vehicle, which was |
Many deficiencies with aging design became apparent in the 1960s, including a tendency of the engine's connecting rods to fail at high rpms due to the long cylinder stroke of the [[undersquare engine|undersquare]] engine. As the average speed of the vehicles in the military increased (overwhelmingly during peacetime, on sound roads) these engine failures became commonplace due to the low gear ratio of the vehicle, which was suited for a multipurpose vehicle capable of transporting heavy loads in rough terrain. |
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*Model: T245 Dodge |
*Model: T245 Dodge |
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*Displacement: {{convert|230|cuin|L|1}} (Canadian version used the larger {{convert|250.6|cuin|L|1|abbr=on}} engine) |
*Displacement: {{convert|230|cuin|L|1}} (Canadian version used the larger {{convert|250.6|cuin|L|1|abbr=on}} engine) |
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*Bore: {{convert|3+1/4|in|mm|sigfig=3|abbr=on}}, Stroke: {{convert|4+5/8|in|mm|sigfig=3|abbr=on}} |
*Bore: {{convert|3+1/4|in|mm|sigfig=3|abbr=on}}, Stroke: {{convert|4+5/8|in|mm|sigfig=3|abbr=on}} |
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*Oil capacity: {{convert|6|U.S.qt| |
*Oil capacity: {{convert|6|U.S.qt|L}} |
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*Radiator capacity: {{convert|25|U.S.qt| |
*Radiator capacity: {{convert|25|U.S.qt|L}} |
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*Carter carburetor Model ETW-1 |
*Carter carburetor Model ETW-1 downdraft |
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[[File:Dodge M37 B1 4x4 ¾-ton truck, Military Standard Dimensions.jpg| |
[[File:Dodge M37 B1 4x4 ¾-ton truck, Military Standard Dimensions.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|M37 B1 Standard specifications sheet (1968).]] |
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=== Driveline === |
=== Driveline === |
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*Braden LU-4, PTO operated, {{convert|7500|lb|kg|abbr=on}} capacity (250’ of 7/16" wire rope [75 m by 11 mm] – 10’ [3 m] chain with hook) |
*Braden LU-4, PTO operated, {{convert|7500|lb|kg|abbr=on}} capacity (250’ of 7/16" wire rope [75 m by 11 mm] – 10’ [3 m] chain with hook) |
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== Aborted replacement competition == |
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== Replacement program == |
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During the late 1960s a competition was initiated by the Army, which requested the leading U.S. automotive companies to submit proposals as a replacement for the M37. Several prototype vehicles passed through the preliminary examination, eventually leading the military to accept General Motors [[XM705]] 1{{frac|1|4}}-ton Truck and derivative [[XM737]] Ambulance, which were supposed to replace the M37, instead of the militarized [[Commercial off-the-shelf|COTS]] M715 series of trucks. However, Congress cut funds for the program, and the XM705 never reached the assembly line. |
During the late 1960s a competition was initiated by the Army, which requested the leading U.S. automotive companies to submit proposals as a replacement for the M37. Several prototype vehicles passed through the preliminary examination, eventually leading the military to accept General Motors [[XM705]] 1{{frac|1|4}}-ton Truck and derivative [[XM737]] Ambulance, which were supposed to replace the M37, instead of the militarized [[Commercial off-the-shelf|COTS]] M715 series of trucks. However, Congress cut funds for the program, and the XM705 never reached the assembly line.<ref>Accessed 20 October, 2021 http://www.vintagemilitarytrucks.com/XM705_M705_Chevrolet_4x4_Military-Trucks_Page.htm</ref> |
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Below table lists the comparative specifications of the vehicles involved.<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.aa0014408116;view=1up;seq=154 Statement of Maj. Gen. Henry A. Miley, Jr., Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, United States Army], Department of Defense Appropriations for 1970, pt.3, pp. 146-148.</ref> |
Below table lists the comparative specifications of the vehicles involved.<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.aa0014408116;view=1up;seq=154 Statement of Maj. Gen. Henry A. Miley, Jr., Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, United States Army], Department of Defense Appropriations for 1970, pt.3, pp. 146-148.</ref> |
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== Gallery == |
== Gallery == |
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<gallery mode=packed> |
<gallery mode="packed"> |
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File:1953 Dodge M37 Display.jpg|1953 M37 and 1953 M101 trailer<ref>Reinemann, Carl http://m37.crwdesigns.com/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715053331/http://m37.crwdesigns.com/ |date=15 July 2007 }}</ref> |
File:1953 Dodge M37 Display.jpg|1953 M37 and 1953 M101 trailer<ref>Reinemann, Carl http://m37.crwdesigns.com/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715053331/http://m37.crwdesigns.com/ |date=15 July 2007 }}</ref> |
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File:1953 M37 engine.jpg|1953 straight six |
File:1953 M37 engine.jpg|1953 straight six |
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File:1953 M37 front.jpg|1953 M37 |
File:1953 M37 front.jpg|1953 M37 |
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File:1953 M37 interior.jpg|Interior of 1953 M37 |
File:1953 M37 interior.jpg|Interior of 1953 M37 |
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File:Side view M37.JPG|M37 in front of |
File:Side view M37.JPG|M37 in front of a B-17G operated by the [[Experimental Aircraft Association]].<ref>Reinemann, Carl http://dodgem37.com/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715053331/http://m37.crwdesigns.com/ |date=15 July 2007 }}</ref> |
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</gallery> |
</gallery> |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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*{{cite book|last=Crismon|first=Fred W.|title=US Military Wheeled Vehicles |edition=3|year=2001|publisher=Victory WWII Publications |isbn=0-970056-71-0|pages=243–245}} |
*{{cite book|last=Crismon|first=Fred W.|title=US Military Wheeled Vehicles |edition=3|year=2001|publisher=Victory WWII Publications |isbn=0-970056-71-0|pages=243–245}} |
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*{{cite book|last=Doyle|first=David|title=Standard catalog of U.S. Military Vehicles|year=2003|publisher=Krause Publications|isbn=0-87349-508-X|pages=62–69 |
*{{cite book|last=Doyle|first=David|title=Standard catalog of U.S. Military Vehicles|year=2003|publisher=Krause Publications|isbn=0-87349-508-X|pages=62–69}} |
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*{{cite book |
*{{cite book|title=TM 9-2320-212-10 M37 Series Operator's Manual|publisher=US Dept. of the Army|date=1973}} |
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*{{cite book|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/183017787/TM-9-2800-1-1953-INCLUDING-C1-EN-C2-pdf|title=TM 9-2800 Military Vehicles|publisher=US Dept. of the Army |date=February 1953|pages=169, 172, 174| |
*{{cite book|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/183017787/TM-9-2800-1-1953-INCLUDING-C1-EN-C2-pdf|title=TM 9-2800 Military Vehicles|publisher=US Dept. of the Army |date=February 1953|pages=169, 172, 174|access-date=1 December 2014}} |
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*{{cite web |
*{{cite web |
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| title = Dodge M37 History, Restoration, Documentation |
| title = Dodge M37 History, Restoration, Documentation |
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| url = http:// |
| url = http://dodgem37.com/ |
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| last = Reinemann |
| last = Reinemann |
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| first = Carl |
| first = Carl |
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| access-date = 26 July 2007 |
| access-date = 26 July 2007 |
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| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070715053331/http://m37.crwdesigns.com/ |
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| archive-date = 15 July 2007 |
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| url-status = dead |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}} |
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}} |
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{{Post-WWII US Soft Vehicles}} |
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{{US military utility vehicles}} |
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[[Category:Dodge vehicles|M37]] |
[[Category:Dodge vehicles|M37]] |
Latest revision as of 19:46, 29 March 2024
Dodge M37 | |
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Type | 3⁄4-ton 4x4 truck |
Place of origin | Warren Truck Assembly, Michigan, United States |
Service history | |
In service | 1951 until varying per country |
Wars | Korean War Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Cambodian Civil War Nicaraguan Revolution Salvadoran Civil War Guatemalan Civil War |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | Dodge |
Produced | 1951-1968 |
No. built | 115,838 – across: — M37: ~63,000 units (1951–1954) — M37B1: 47,600 units (from 1958) — M37CDN: 4,500 Canadian (1951–1955) |
Specifications (with winch[1]) | |
Mass | 5,917 lb (2,684 kg) (empty) |
Length | 15 ft 10 in (4.83 m) |
Width | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
Height | 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m) |
Engine | Dodge T-245 78 hp (58 kW) |
Transmission | 4 speed X 2 range |
Suspension | Live beam axles on leaf springs |
Operational range | 225 mi (362 km) |
Maximum speed | 55 mph (89 km/h) |
The Dodge M37 was a 3⁄4-ton 4x4 truck developed for service in the United States military as a successor to the widely used Dodge-built WC Series introduced during World War II. Put into service in 1951, it served in a variety of configurations in frontline duty in the Korean War and War in Vietnam before being replaced by two commercial off the shelf (COTS) based 1+1⁄4-ton trucks: the Kaiser M715 (introduced in 1967 and supplied through 1969) and the Dodge M880/M890 series (in the 1970s).
It bore the designation (G741), and after its military phase-out was both put into domestic Federal government agency use and auctioned to civilians in the U.S., and adopted by foreign militaries.
History[edit]
Many of the components on the M37 are similar or identical to the Dodge-built World War II WC series vehicles, and many deficiencies of the WC series were corrected in the M37. Notably, a conventional pickup truck style bed replaced the platform on the World War II vehicle, simplifying production. There was significant drivetrain and powerplant commonality with the immediate postwar WDX series civilian Power Wagons, but no sheet metal was shared. Six WC-based prototype W37s were produced in early-to-mid 1950, with the first pre-production pilot vehicle rolling off the assembly line on 14 December 1950.[2]
In total some 115,000 Dodge M37s were produced between 1951 and 1968. Manufacture of the M37 began in earnest in January 1951, with approximately 11,000 vehicles made by the end of that year. By mid-1954 63,000 of the vehicles had been produced. In 1958 a number of modifications to the design resulted in the new vehicles being designated as M37B1. From mid-1958 until the end of production 47,600 M37B1 vehicles were produced. Approximately 4,500 Canadian M37CDNs were also produced between 1951 and 1955. M37s continued in service worldwide in the Israeli and Greek militaries.
From 1968 onwards, the U.S. military replaced the M37 with the heavier-rated 1+1⁄4 (or five-quarter) ton Kaiser Jeep manufactured M715 family of vehicles. Rather than purpose-built tactical vehicles, these "militarized" commercial off-the-shelf ('COTS') trucks were considered underpowered and fragile compared to the M37.[3] After seeing service in the Vietnam War the M715 was replaced in 1976 by the similarly rated Dodge-built COTS M880 series.
In addition to those M37s that were sold or offered as military aid to allied foreign countries, many were transferred to civilian agencies or sold domestically at government auctions, becoming a not uncommon sight in government and private use in the 1970s and '80s; some are still seen today in rural areas.
Variants[edit]
- M42 command truck
- M43 ambulance
- M53 cab-chassis
- M56 tool truck, has a bumper-mounted winch
- MB2 Fire and Rescue Truck (M56 with Gichner body)
- R2 air field rescue truck (w/winch)
- M152 modified enclosed utility truck, Canadian variant
- M201 / V41 telephone maintenance vehicle
- M283 Long Wheel Base (LWB) Cargo Truck
- M506 truck, hydrogen peroxide servicer, PGM-11 Redstone
- V126 truck – for AN/MPX-7 radar
experimental:
- XM142 experimental bomb service truck
- XM152 experimental enclosed utility truck used in small numbers by the USAF
- XM195 experimental lighter, compact version of M37
- XM708 experimental dump truck used mostly by airborne units
- XM711 experimental wrecker truck
Specifications[edit]
Engine[edit]
The M37's flathead Chrysler Straight-6 engine was carried over from the World War II-era WC vehicle line, as was most of the drivetrain. Using an engine and drivetrain derived from a widely-produced 1930s era passenger vehicle was in line with a long-standing military procurement strategy that attempted to use commercially produced vehicle variants in military service.[citation needed]
Many deficiencies with aging design became apparent in the 1960s, including a tendency of the engine's connecting rods to fail at high rpms due to the long cylinder stroke of the undersquare engine. As the average speed of the vehicles in the military increased (overwhelmingly during peacetime, on sound roads) these engine failures became commonplace due to the low gear ratio of the vehicle, which was suited for a multipurpose vehicle capable of transporting heavy loads in rough terrain.
- Model: T245 Dodge
- Type: "L" Head, 6 cylinder
- Power: 78 bhp (58.2 kW) at 3200 rpm
- Displacement: 230 cubic inches (3.8 L) (Canadian version used the larger 250.6 cu in (4.1 L) engine)
- Bore: 3+1⁄4 in (82.6 mm), Stroke: 4+5⁄8 in (117 mm)
- Oil capacity: 6 U.S. quarts (5.7 L)
- Radiator capacity: 25 U.S. quarts (24 L)
- Carter carburetor Model ETW-1 downdraft
Driveline[edit]
Clutch
- Borg & Beck Model 11828 10 in (250 mm) single plate dry disc (Borg & Beck 11 inch clutch on Canadian version.)
Transmission
- New Process Model 88950 (or NP420)(Acme Model T-98 on Canadian version)
- 4-speed, Synchro-Shift in 3rd and 4th gear
Transfer Case
- New Process 88845 (or NP200)
- Ratio: High 1:1, low 1.96:1
- Twin lever operation, one for 4×4 or 4×2 selection, one for hi or low range
Drive Shaft
- MFG Universal Products
Axles
- Dodge Full Floating (hypoid), ratio 5.83:1
- Front Universal Drive New Process (Tracta joint)
Chassis[edit]
Fuel tank
- 24 U.S. gallons (91 L; 20 imp gal) tank (vented through engine air intake for fording purposes)
Electrical
- Ignition, starting, lights, 24 volts
Brakes
- Wagner hydraulic drum
- Parking—external contracting band, 48 square inches (310 cm2)
Steering
- Gemmer Model B-60, worm and sector type
Wheelbase
- Cargo Model M37 and Command Model M42: 112 in (2.8 m)
- Ambulance Model M43 and Tele. Maint. Model V41: 126 in (3.2 m)
Weight
- M37 without winch: 5,687 lb (2,580 kg), M37 with winch 5,987 lb (2,716 kg)
Tire Size
- 9.00 × 16 - 8 ply non-directional military
Winch
- Braden LU-4, PTO operated, 7,500 lb (3,400 kg) capacity (250’ of 7/16" wire rope [75 m by 11 mm] – 10’ [3 m] chain with hook)
Aborted replacement competition[edit]
During the late 1960s a competition was initiated by the Army, which requested the leading U.S. automotive companies to submit proposals as a replacement for the M37. Several prototype vehicles passed through the preliminary examination, eventually leading the military to accept General Motors XM705 11⁄4-ton Truck and derivative XM737 Ambulance, which were supposed to replace the M37, instead of the militarized COTS M715 series of trucks. However, Congress cut funds for the program, and the XM705 never reached the assembly line.[4]
Below table lists the comparative specifications of the vehicles involved.[5]
Vehicle | XM705 | M715 | M37 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Engine | Chevrolet 8-307 | Kaiser Jeep 6-230 | Chrysler T-245 | ||
Maximum horsepower | 200 at 4,600 rpm | 132.5 at 4,600 rpm | 94 at 3,400 rpm | ||
Net brake horsepower | 140 at 4.000 rpm | 116 at 4,000 rpm | 79 at 3,400 rpm | ||
Speed (miles per hour) on 31⁄2 percent slope with towed load in 4th gear | 41 | 0 | 0 | ||
Cruising range (miles) | 300 | 225 | 122 | ||
Weight distribution (percent) | Front | 44 | 36 | 42 | |
Rear | 56 | 64 | 58 | ||
Ground pressure (maximum) | 128 | 16.1 | 12.75 | ||
Ground clearance under axles (inches) | 11.8 | 10 | 10.75 | ||
Angle (degrees) of | Approach | With winch | 61 | 33 | 38 |
Without winch | 61 | 45 | 44 | ||
Departure | 45 | 25 | 32 |
Gallery[edit]
-
1953 M37 and 1953 M101 trailer[6]
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1953 straight six
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1953 M37
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Interior of 1953 M37
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M37 in front of a B-17G operated by the Experimental Aircraft Association.[7]
See also[edit]
- Dodge WC series
- G-numbers
- List of Dodge automobiles
- List of U.S. military vehicles by model number
- Weapons of the Salvadoran Civil War
References[edit]
- ^ TM-9-2320-212-10 Operator's Manual for M37 series trucks (PDF). Headquarters, Department of the Army. 30 November 1973. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ creinemann. "1953 M37 Dodge Restoration". Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
- ^ "M-715 Kaiser 5/4 Jeep – Olive-Drab". Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
- ^ Accessed 20 October, 2021 http://www.vintagemilitarytrucks.com/XM705_M705_Chevrolet_4x4_Military-Trucks_Page.htm
- ^ Statement of Maj. Gen. Henry A. Miley, Jr., Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, United States Army, Department of Defense Appropriations for 1970, pt.3, pp. 146-148.
- ^ Reinemann, Carl http://m37.crwdesigns.com/ Archived 15 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Reinemann, Carl http://dodgem37.com/ Archived 15 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- Crismon, Fred W. (2001). US Military Wheeled Vehicles (3 ed.). Victory WWII Publications. pp. 243–245. ISBN 0-970056-71-0.
- Doyle, David (2003). Standard catalog of U.S. Military Vehicles. Krause Publications. pp. 62–69. ISBN 0-87349-508-X.
- TM 9-2320-212-10 M37 Series Operator's Manual. US Dept. of the Army. 1973.
- TM 9-2800 Military Vehicles. US Dept. of the Army. February 1953. pp. 169, 172, 174. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- Reinemann, Carl. "Dodge M37 History, Restoration, Documentation". Retrieved 26 July 2007.
External links[edit]