History
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DODGE WC-64KD
HISTORY
One of the rarest of the World War II military vehicles is
the limited-production WC-64 "Knockdown" ambulance,
commonly referred to as the "KD ambulance." This vehicle
was designed and built by the Dodge Division of Chrysler Corporation
in Mound Park Michigan, apparently in response to two problems:
heavy losses of cargo ships and the military vehicles that were
on board to German submarines early in the war and the lack
of an air-transportable ambulance.
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Dodge
WC-54 Ambulance 1942-1944 |
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The WC-64 Ambulance (KD) was developed in 1944 because its predecessor
the WC-54 occupied to many space during shipping due to the one
piece box-like body. In early 1943 the Ordnance Department and the
Medical Department Equipment Laboratory started work on what was
to become the WC-64 "knock-down" (KD) ambulance. On this
vehicle, the rear body really was a box which could be easily dismantled
into a series of flat panels to reduce the required shipping place.
Once assembled, it was not intended to get disassembled again.
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KNOCKDOWN
The KD was designed to be shipped in a "knocked-down"
condition that would allow two ambulances to be shipped in the
same space that would hold only one conventional vehicle (see
photo 1). The reduced size would also allow air transportation.
The engine, transmission and transfer case were basically the
same as the WC-54 and the other trucks in the three-quarter
series but the special reinforced chassis was longer and the
WC-64 had much comfortable riding performance because of it's
better springs and oil filled shock absorbers.
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PHOTO
1 Two WC-64sready for shipment |
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PHOTO
2 WC-64s assembled and ready to be used |
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According to Dodge Military Vehicles, 1940-1945,
Collection No. 1, the WC-64 ambulance was standardized
on March 24, 1944 with the production scheduled to begin in early
1945 and production of the Dodge WC-54 ambulance was phased out
in April l of 1944. Deliveries of the WC-64 KD design began soon
after and the design was declared as "standard" on 29
March 1944 with the WC-54 being downgraded to "limited standard".
This indicates that the total production of 3/4-ton Dodge ambulances
in 1945, 3,500 units, was all WC-64s. Nearly all of the KD’s
were shipped to Europe, although a few of them remained in the U.S.
Apparently most (and maybe all) KD’s are registered as 1942,
1943 and 1944 models. The reason for this is unclear, however, since
the WC-64 didn't go into production until early 1945. |
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| PROTOTYPES
Developing the WC64 began actually in 1943. At first
not as a Ambulance but as a Command vehicle. The reason
for that was that the Command Cars (WC 56-56), because
of there shape, were to easy to spot for the enemy. So
a CP that looked more like a WC51/52 would be the solution.
So the first prototype was based on a WC52 and it had
many of the familiar feathers later used on the KD, see
photo’s 3 and 4.
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The red circles in the
photo's 3 and 4 indicate later WC-64 feathers
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A second prototype
had already a longer wheelbase and was also first used as
a CP and transportation vehicle. Later one these prototypes
where mend to be Ambulances that could be easily disassembled
by using a canvas tilt. This canvas was replaced by isolated
panels to create a more comfortable shelter space for the
wounded. This eventually resulted in the first Knock Down. |
| PHOTO 4 Early Knock Down Ambulance
with canvas tilt |
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In 1944 the early prototypes of the KD were apparently
built on a WC-53 carryall chassis with the 114-inch wheelbase (or
even the WC-52 weapons carrier 98-inch wheelbase) rather than the
later WC-54 ambulance 121-inch wheelbase. As can be seen in Photos
5 thru 7, this resulted in a very short driver's compartment.
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PHOT0 5
Ambulance, 3/4 Ton 4x4, 3/4 Left Front View. This photo¬graph
was almost certainly taken at a proving ground |
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Photo 5, titled "Ambulance, 3/4 Ton, 4x4 - 3/4
Left Front View" was almost certainly taken at a proving ground.
This KD prototype shows a number of differences from the production
version:
It is apparently built on a shorter chassis than the WC-54 ambulance
121-inch wheelbase, which was used for the KD. There is barely room
for the spare tire between the front fender and rear body, which
would make it very difficult for the driver to enter and exit. Entry
from the driver's side would be almost impossible if the doors were
installed. |
Less obvious evidence of the short chassis is
the single vertical seam ahead of the rear wheel-well where the
production version has two seams. The running board in Photo 5
is short, and does not extend to the rear of the cab. No spotlight
is fitted. The canvas top appears to be essentially the final
version, but without the sheet metal "box" framework
that later models used.
Photo 5 also shows two roof vents, rather than the three that
were in the production model. There is a vent above the canvas
top that may have been for the heater that was later installed
below the front emergency door. The lower location would be
far better in keeping dirt and rain out of the rear compartment.
There is a side vent at the rear of the side panel that did
not appear in the production version.
The insignia in Photo 5 are all different from the production
model, with the front vent being placed where the later version
had the word "AMBULANCE." The front red crosses are
much larger, although located in about the same place, than in
later versions. The side red cross occupies about 1/4 the area
of the later version. The caduceus is an earlier version that
was not used on the KD. |
| Photo 6, titled "ORDNANCE OPERATION
- STUDEBAKER PROVING GROUND PGO-2003 2-26-45 Vehicle Test Miles
0 S.P.G Proj. & Veh.#2-519 (K-2-27) - Truck, 3/4 Ton, 4x4,
Ambulance (KD) - Dodge U.S. Reg #7441763/4 Right front view of
vehicle". Shows another view of an early model (Serial #744176),
possibly a later prototype, with the same short wheelbase as in
Photo 5, but with lat¬er markings on both front and sides.
The upper front vent is gone, indicat¬ing that the heater
has been relocated. The three roof vents are there, but were painted
white, so only the front half of the front vent shows up in the
photo. The door storage pocket on the top apparently now has the
intern al reinforcing box. |
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PHOT0 6 This
KD prototype was photographed at the Studebaker Proving
Ground on February 26th, 1945. It appears to be approaching
the final design |
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PHOT0
8 This appears to be another photograph of the prototype
shown in photograph 7 |
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Photos 7 and 8 show a prototype of a model
of KD that was apparently never produced - the airborne version.
Photo 7, titled "ABERDEEN PROV¬ING GROUNDS A30304 23
Jul 45 Project No. 6212/8-1-7-1. 3/4 Ton 4x4 K.D. Airborne Ambulance.
Installing side panel." This shows the ambulance with a
partially-assembled rear box. It has a vertical flange (on the
frame just behind the cab) that would allow it to be broken
down into two parts for air transport, and reassembled in the
field. The front emergency door can be seen in this view.
Photo 8, titled "ABERDEEN PROVING GROUNDS A30629 1 Aug
1945 Proj. No. 6212/8-1-7-1. Ambulance, 3/4-Ton 4x4, KD, Airborne.
Left front view". This is apparently the same vehicle that
is seen in Photo 7. This shows an ambulance with the later wheelbase
(as indicated by three verti¬cal seams on the side), but
with a bolted vertical flange on the body above the rear wheel
well, ahead of the tire centre line. Otherwise this vehicle
looks like the final version. I know of no evidence that any
finished copies of this version were built.
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Photo 9 lacks source or date informtion,
but is the later version, possibly a prototype, although the military
serial number (745872) is present, indicating that it may have
been in service.
| Photo 10 shows a row of vehicles
of a model apparently not documented as a military vehicle.
These 20 ambulances appear to be composed of KD cabs and
modified WC-54 bodies mounted on Dodge chassis. The front
of the WC-54 body appears to have been cut off behind the
driver's seat and a new front panel and emergency door added.
The running board seems to be WC-54, with no depression
for the spare tire, but the KD cab still has a notch at
the bottom for the spare tire mounting bracket. These would
have had a canvas top like the KD. The work is so well done
that it looks like a factory product, although 1 suppose
it could be a field modification.
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PHOT0
9 Later version, possibly a prototype |
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PHOTO
10 KD cabs and modified WC-54 bodies |
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PHOTO
11 is a blow-up of Photo 10 and shows some details
better |
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| SURVIVORS
3,500 units were made from begin 1945 until the end of
WW2. Nearly all of the KD’s were shipped to Europe,
although a few of them remained in the U.S.A. As far as
we know, no KD's went to the Pacific during WWII. It has
been reported that a number of KD’s were refurbished
after WWII and returned to service during the Korean war(1950-1953)
and never came back. There is no documentation of this
except an existing photo’s that show KD’s,
supposedly in Korea, without a red cross on its side,
but with several bullet holes in it. Apparently the Koreans
weren't bound by the Geneva Convention and considered
ambulances to be combat vehicles. |
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PHOT0
12 Two WC-64 in Korea |
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After the war in Europe most WC-64’s were used by army's
of different countries. For example in France, Norway, Greece,
The Netherlands and Belgian, some were used until the late 60's.
The comparatively fragile construction of the WC-64 makes them
much harder to find nowadays than the WC-54 of which about 23.000
were produced. As far is we know only about 20 restored WC-64
have survived and you can find most of them in Europe.
How much are the worth? |
| Unrestorated and not driveable |
10.000 Euro* |
| Not restorated but driveable |
13.000 Euro |
| Restorated collectors item |
25.000 Euro |
| Concours style |
30.000 Euro |
* just a indication by Hubert Arboux (F) Manual
Tech. Dodge 42-45, prices in Europe are much lower (about 40%)
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REFERENCES
© MVPA written by Glenn D. Harris Mesa, Arizona, 1994
Mike Hitchens, Kent, England
Lou Moore, Shawnee, Kansas
Russell Pratt, Bahama, North Carolina.
Jean-Michel Boniface, DODGE sur les voies de la liberte
Dodge Military Vehicles, 1940-1945, Collection No. 1 by T. Richards,
Brooklands Books, England
Ordnance Supply Catalog, ORD 9 SNL G-502, Truck, 3/4 Ton, 4x4 (Dodge)
(Model T-214), 1 May 1945.
Do you have any more info?
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