Thread: When did Jeep first go intoaction in WWII

First prototype delivered to US military in 1940 and the first military accepted Jeeps (MB model) were produced/supplied in 1941 - I think built by Ford. (?)

PS - Just found out! Ford did build some - Jeep also set up (1941) in Ohio to make them.

The Bantam (Austin USA) prototype was presented to the US Army for testing on 21 September 1940.

The prototype was accepted in principle but the small Austin engine was too underpowered. The Bantam designs were then supplied to both Ford and Willys from that second round testing of the Willys Quad and Ford Pygmy were conducted and the Willys design was accepted in July 1941.

After it was identified that Willys did not have sufficient production capacity the Willys Military A (MA) design was handed to Ford in October 1941 who further redesigned the Willys into the Ford GPW (W=Willys).

Subsequently the Ford improvements, mainly the pressed grille, incorporated back to Willys becoming the MB model in April 1942.

There were Willys MA present at Pearl Harbour in December 1941 and likely also some GPW. (In 1941 1553 MA & 4456 GPW produced) so likely there were MA in the Philippines for the Japanese invasion.

So best ask which "Jeep" you are talking about and in who's service? i.e. If Ford production only started in October 1941, the chance of many GPW arriving in the Philippines by December would be low, however it is more likely that some of Willys MA production which started in July had arrived in the Philippines by December.

Originally Posted by Scallops

First prototype delivered to US military in 1940 and the first military accepted Jeeps were produced in 1941 - I think built by Ford. (?)

1940 Bantam Pilot- Prototype
1940 Bantam BRC-60- Prototype
1940 Willys Quad- Prototype
1940 Ford Pygmy- Prototype
1940 Budd Ford- Prototype
1941 Ford GP
1941 Willys MA
1941 Bantam BRC-40
1942 Willys MB (slat grille)

WWII Willys jeep 1942-1945 Willys MB (stamped grille)
1942-1945 Ford GPW

WWII jeep built by Ford, using the Willys-Overland design 1942-1943 Ford GPA

At a guess, Dec 7 1941 was it's first time in action

Baz.

IIRC about the only difference between the MB and GPW during production was the front crossmember, U section on one, tubular on the other, oh, and an F script on most bits on the GPW.

A machine shop in Sydney I used to know mixed and matched things like rods, etc between the engines, as the GPW used the design of the Willy's Go Devil engine, even though there were small detain differences to suit each companies production process it didn't affect fit and running.

Has anyone picked the flaw in the recent JEEP ad on TV?

They depict a WWII whatever (jeep) running around a test track with Bantam trailer. The supposededly period narration talks about the vehicle having "four forward gears and tested by Australians". Unfortunately, it seems that no one at Chrysler Jeep Aust. knows that the WWII jeeps had a three speed gearbox!

Diana

Oh, LMFAO!!!!! Nice one Diana!

Thank you all for replies, I knew Jeep were built by Ford and Willys but I didn't know they where available to the US forces that early in the war, Regards Frank.

Yes, I noticed it Diana, I cringed when i first heard it.

I come from a Jeep family, dear old Dad bought a Wagoneer in about 1970 or '71 (with a 3 speed g/box) his work truck was a 1970 J3000 (T98A 4 speed with 6.something:1 first gear) which later became mine and my first road registered car was a '74 CJ6 with a 3 speed T14A gearbox when I first started working.