Studebaker US6
| Studebaker US6 | |
|---|---|
Studebaker US6 U4 Cargo truck
|
|
| Type |
2 1⁄2-ton 6x6 trucks and 5-ton 6x4 trucks |
| Place of origin | United States of America |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Studebaker |
| Manufacturer | Studebaker and REO |
| Produced | 1941 to 1945 |
| Number built | More than 200,000 |
| Specifications (U1 Cargo) | |
| Weight | 9,875 lb (4,479 kg) empty |
| Length | 20 ft 11 in (6.38 m) |
| Width | 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) |
| Height | 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) top of cab 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) overall |
|
|
|
| Engine | Hercules JXD |
| Transmission | 5 spd. x 2 range trf. case |
| Suspension | Beam axles on leaf springs |
|
Operational
range |
236 mi (379.8 km) |
| Speed | 45 mph (72 km/h) |
The Studebaker US6 (G630) was a series of 2½-ton 6x6 and 5-ton 6x4 trucks manufactured by the Studebaker Corporation and REO Motor Car Company during World War II. The basic cargo version was designed to transport a 5,000 lb (2,300 kg) cargo load over all types of terrain in all kinds of weather. Most of these were exported to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease by the USA during World War II.
In 1939-1940 the US Army Ordnance Corps was developing 2 1⁄2-ton (2,238 kg) tactical 6×6 trucks that could operate off-road in all weather. Studebaker, Yellow Coach (a GM company) and International Harvester all submitted designs that were accepted and went into production in 1941.
A total of 219,882 2 1⁄2-ton (2,268 kg) 6x6 trucks and similar 5-ton (4,536 kg) 6x4 versions in thirteen variations were built. Studebaker was the primary manufacturer, which built 197,678 of them at their South Bend IN plant, while REO produced 22,204 more at their Chicago IL plant from 1944 under a sub-contract. REO trucks are identical to Studebakers, but REO only built cargo-model trucks with the long wheelbase and without the front-mounted winch, more specifically referred to as the US6 U9. All production by both manufacturers ended in 1945.
The US6 was manufactured primarily for export under Lend-Lease. The Soviet Union would become the largest foreign operator. The first Studebaker US6 trucks arrived in the USSR in the autumn of 1941. The Red Army organized a test of eleven 6x6 "Studebekkers" (as they become referred to in the USSR) which took place between July 1942 and May 1943. The results were used to direct the enlargement of the payload from 2 1⁄2 tons (2,300 kg) to 4 tons (3,600 kg). In 1945, it was lowered to 3 1⁄2 tons (3,200 kg, although on improved roads they could carry up to a maximum of 5 tons (4,500 kg).
...
Wikipedia