GMC CCKW 2.5t 6x6 Cargo Truck - Updated 160417

[Rubicon Models]

Something new for the Allies - GMC CCKW 2.5t 6x6 Cargo Truck!

A back end teaser view...



Will post more later!

[Yaquir]

Ver< nice Vehicle.

[Rubicon Models]

Thе GMC CCKW was a 2½ ton 6×6 US Army cargo truck that saw heavy service in both World War II and the Korean War. The original "Deuce and a Half", it formed the backbone of the famed Red Ball Express that kept Allied armies supplied as they pushed eastward after the Normandy invasion.

The CCKW came in many variants, including open or closed cab, long wheel base (LWB 353) and short (SWB 352), and over a score of specialized models. It began to be phased out with the deployment of the 6×6 M35 in 1950, but remained in active US service until the mid-1960s.

The name CCKW comes from GMC model nomenclature:
"C", designed in 1941
"C", conventional cab
"K", all-wheel drive
"W", dual rear axles

By the end of production in 1945, 562,750 CCKWs in all variants had been built, a total second only to the “Jeep” ...the “Jeep”!!!!


Our objective is to accurately create the CCKW will the following specifications:

- a 2 sprue plastic kit in 1/56 (28mm) scale
- option for a folded down windshield
- option for a MG gun ring
- option with and without front winch
- optional canvas top for the driver cabin
- optional canvas top for the rear trunk in open and close condition
- rear truck tailgate in open and close condition


Here is some more front view of the GMC truck...







Enjoy!

[Pinky]

Another great choice of subject - and it looks good too. 

Hopefully a British truck will follow at some point...

[elias.tibbs]

Looks good. Did they make any variants for it? Or was it pretty much a troop/cargo transporter?

[sandsmodels]

lots of variants, tractor truck, tanker, tipper, recovery, office, workshop and more.

[johan]

Don't forget : GMC Leroy and DUKW

[Rubicon Models]

We had come across something interesting, and would like some advice!


Seems like an average person is not able to man a Ma Deuce on the GMC truck even if he is standing on the passenger seat.


By digging further on the internet on Ma Deuce firing position, here is what we have...








Is this the possible positions for the gunner?





All comments and feedback welcome!

[ripley]

Remember the 50 cal was to be used for anti aircraft protection, the fact that it chewed up soft skin vehicles and troops was a bonus    . So the gunner would be lower in the truck with the barrel pointed sky ward, and the ring mount made tracking aircraft much easier than a post mount  . By the time these vehicles got into combat in Europe the Luftwaffe was hardly the threat it was  in the Blitzkrieg . In fact if you look at most US WW2 vehicles , you'll notice  the machine guns are  mounted this way . A lot of British/ Canadian  tankers removed the 50 from the Sherman as it was not needed for aircraft and it clogged the hatch if you had to bail out . That's where all the Canadian  Universal carriers got their 50s from  Note : your 1st picture is a Vietnam/ Grenada  era MUTT jeep not WWW2

[Pinky]

I'm not sure the relative dimensions are correct.  I think the .50 cal gunner stood higher than that.  Here's a sequence showing a relatively petite woman firing the .50 cal on a GMC - even allowing for the ring out being lower than it should be, it still looks as though an average man could fire the weapon while standing on the seat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N6pOB-CGBA

There are also photos of the .50 cal gunner sitting on the roof, but obviously that's not possible if the roof is down.

[Pinky]

A lot of British/ Canadian  tankers removed the 50 from the Sherman as it was not needed for aircraft and it clogged the hatch if you had to bail out . That's where all the Canadian  Universal carriers got their 50s from 

Actually, the Canadians seem to have liked their .50 cals.  British doctrine was to remove them because AA defence was supposed to be handed by specialised vehicles, but you still see some on British Shermans in Normandy.  3rd RTR (part of 11th Armoured) traded their .50 cals with 8th Armoured Brigade, who fitted them to their Carriers and Scout Cars.

[Rubicon Models]

Thanks for the initial comments.  Interesting!  The gun mount on the video seems to have been lowered when compared to the original specifications.

From our 4th reference photo (the GMC truck), the gunner seems to be stepping on the dashboard and leaning towards the back of the ring to get balance while holding the .50 cals.

Another possibility is there are boxes or additional items on top of the seat so that the gunner can stand taller.

Anyway, this is why we post this for more comments.

[Pinky]

I think further research is needed.  It seems unlikely that the gunner was unable to aim the .50 cal at ground targets.  That said, the first of your test designs looks better to me.

[elias.tibbs]

If I was in the truck, is be standing in a position similar to your 2nd test picture.

[H0ffmn]

I agree with the second pose as well. You'd be able to balance yourself easier than in the first pose, especially if traveling cross country