When the U.S. Army Became a Truck Manufacturer – the QMC Standard Fleet

[kscarbel2]

Long before freight company Consolidated Freightways decided to form Freightways Manufacturing in 1939 for the in-house design and production of trucks for their own use (badged as Freightliners from 1942), the United States Army became an American truckmaker in 1928.

Following the end of World War One in 1919, the U.S. military was demobilized. With numerous states requesting surplus military trucks for road work, Congress sold over 90,000 trucks at bargain prices, leaving the U.S. Army with less than 30,000 trucks by 1921.

The U.S. Army was facing a serious problem. The trucks that Congress allowed them to retain were wearing out quickly, and no funding was being authorized to purchase new units.

And importantly in the Army’s mind, most of their remaining trucks were essentially 4x2 MILCOTS (military commercial off-the-shelf), trucks that had no tactical cross-country capability.

An effort had been made to update World War One Standard B “Liberty” trucks to a more modern “3rd series” specification, but they remained obsolete in design and the conversion rate was too low.

In 1920, the U.S. Army Quartermaster Depot at Fort Holabird, Maryland began assembling cross-country vehicles and evaluating their performance. For the most part, components from existing vehicles were used.

At Fort Holabird, Army Captain and Chief Engineer Arthur W. Herrington realized that his people could develop and produce purpose-designed high performing cross-country trucks at substantially lower costs than what the automakers were charging the Army for their commercial trucks.

Though the automakers were anxious to profit from Army truck sales, few were building a suitable modern truck with all-wheel drive, particularly in the Army’s high volume one to three ton range.

In 1928, U.S. Army automotive engineers at Fort Holabird began work on prototypes that would lead to a range of trucks from a 1-1/4 ton 4x4 to a 12 ton 6x6.

The design team created five families of vehicles, Group I thru Group V, related to weight class.

Incorporating the latest components available at the time, the prototypes were extensively tested and far exceeded the Army’s expectations.

The result was the U.S. Army’s new “Standard Fleet”, one of the most impressive groups of purpose-built military tactical trucks ever built.

Introduced to the public in 1932, the Standard Fleet was breathtaking. Standing tall with chrome radiator shells and headlamps, they incorporated mechanical components from the industry’s leading suppliers. Featuring Continental, Duesenberg, Franklin, Hercules, Lycoming and Sterling engines, Brown-Lipe, Spicer and Warner transmissions, Wisconsin transfer cases, Rockwell, Timken and Wisconsin axles, Lockheed hydraulic brakes and Westinghouse air brakes, and Ross steering, the Army purchased quality and reliability.

Appropriately so, the trucks were badged with "USA" emblems atop the radiator grilles.

Tested in Maryland at both Fort Holabird and Aberdeen Proving Ground, the trucks were universally praised by all who used them.

Heat-treated frames, completely enclosed cabs, abundant power, high speed and modern drivetrains made the Standard Fleet far superior to the commercial models.

A total of 60 units were built, at a cost ranging from two-thirds to four-fifths of the costs of a commercial truck, if indeed there was an equivalent available.

Fire trucks and armored cars were also built on Standard Fleet chassis.

The U.S. automakers were alarmed by the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps’ efforts to build trucks in-house, and immediately lobbied Congress to put an end to further development and production.

The power and money of the U.S. automakers prevailed, and Congress forced the Army to largely abandon truck production (with the exception of fire trucks based on 3rd series Standard B truck chassis).

The most notable result stemming from the Standard Fleet undertaking was that the U.S. automakers finally began offering a wide range of all-wheel drive trucks to meet the Army’s needs. While FWD and Oshkosh had offered rugged all-wheel drive trucks, they were too expensive to purchase in large quantities.

All-wheel drive heavy trucks were made available by Biederman, Clydesdale, Corbitt, Hug and Indiana in 1933, followed later by Chevrolet, Diamond T, Dodge, Federal, Ford, GMC, International, Mack Trucks, Reo and Studebaker.

A newcomer in the truck business was Marmon-Herrington, created by combining the Indianapolis-based Marmon with Arthur W. Herrington’s truck designing expertise. Aggressive and innovative, Marmon-Herrington produced thousands of light, medium and heavy trucks for the U.S. Army.

To no one’s surprise, the final Standard Fleet models bore a strong resemblance to the 3 to 7-1/2 ton trucks later built by Marmon-Herrington.

Further reading -

http://forums.aths.org/PrintTopic101639.aspx

http://www.amazon.com/Military-Wheeled-Vehicles-Crestline-Automotive/dp/0912612215/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

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[41chevy]

Interesting choices of power plants over the years, very surprised top see Deusenberg and Franklin's used.

[kscarbel2]

Interesting choices of power plants over the years, very surprised top see Deusenberg and Franklin's used.

It's a fascinating part of America's truck making history that few Americans today are aware of. That the U.S. Army had truck designers, including some of Arthur Herrington's caliber, is also noteworthy.

[41chevy]

Designers, engineers and I remember a lecture by Dr Rainer at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds Ordnance Museum that in pre WWII, there was even limited manufacturing / assembly capacities. Very good article, much appreciated it being posted. Paul

[Dirtymilkman]

Even 100 years ago big business was in lawmakers pocket

[kscarbel2]

Even 100 years ago big business was in lawmakers pocket

Or more accurately, the lawmakers have always been in the pockets (under the control) of big business and the aristocracy.

[gxbxc]

Nothing has changed congressman get greased tax payer's get s#$&ed, along with the army.

The armies Mrap vehicles were first proto typed on Mack chassis at Fort Belvoir Va. I used to get  ar50 plate from  the dumptser for repairs in the boiler plant. They were building then across the street.