Truck, ¼ Ton, 4X4- Willys MB Jeep (1941-1945)
Crew: 1+4
Main Armament: .30mm or .50mm Machine Gun (Optional)
Other Armament: None
Horsepower: 60
Speed: 65 mph (105 km/h)
Weight: 1.1 tons
Length: 10’11” (3.33 m)
Width: 5’2” (1.58 m)
Height: 6’0” (1.83 m)
Described by General Marshall as “America’s greatest contribution to modern warfare,” the Jeep is rivaled only by the Sherman tank as the most famous American vehicle of World War II. As the “go anywhere, do anything” truck, it fulfilled the Army’s need for a light cross-country reconnaissance vehicle. Its versatility was matched by its hardiness as it excelled in all theaters of the war. Production was handled by both Willys-Overland Motors as the Willys MB and Ford Motor Company as the Ford GP, with only minor difference between the two models.
Did you know?
The origination of the name “Jeep” has caused much confusion. Since as early as 1914, US Army mechanics had used the word to refer to new test vehicles. The first recorded use of Jeep for the truck was in 1941 in the Washington Daily News when Willys demonstrated its off-road capability by driving it up the steps of the US Capitol. When asked what the vehicle was called, the test driver Irving “Red” Haussman replied, “It’s a jeep.” The public exposure caused the military to drop the name for other vehicles and become solely associated with the little truck.