Willys

Willys M38A1

The Willys MD, formally the M38A1 Truck, Utility: 1/4 ton, 4x4, or the G‑758 by its U.S. Army Standard Nomenclature supply catalog designation, was a four-wheel drive, military light utility vehicle, made by Willys and Willys Motors / Kaiser Jeep from 1952 to 1971. It was widely procured by the U.S. military from 1952 until 1957, after which U.S. purchases were reduced to the U.S. Marine Corps. The Marine version had minor differences from the units used by other branches. The MD was the first Willys jeep with a significantly restyled body, immediately recognizable by its rounded hood and fenders. It formed the basis for the civilian and commercial Jeep CJ‑5, built for three decades (1954–1983), and subsequent models, and called the first 'round-fendered' Jeep. Although hard doors were still not available, the soft-top could be complemented with soft side panels and little hinged doors, that consisted of a thin steel frame with cloth and plastic window. For the U.S. Army, the MD was replaced by the Ford M151 jeep, from 1960. Low volume production of M38A1s for export to friendly foreign governments continued through 1971. Production totalled 101,488 units (80,290 domestic / 21,198 foreign sales). M38A1 jeeps saw extensive service during the Korean War, Vietnam War and several other conflicts.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Willys M38 · Successor: M151 MUTT

All Willys M38A1 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Description

The M38A1 / MD was the second post-war evolution of the World War II Willys MB jeep (after the M38 or MC; F engine Prototypes), and the first Willys Jeep to feature the new rounded fenders and hood body design that would become the distinguishing body style of the 1955 CJ‑5, and which was carried through for decades on the CJ‑6, CJ‑7 and CJ‑8 Jeeps. The M38A1's wheelbase grew by a single inch (2.5cm), and overall length by some 6 in (15 cm). Drive train. The M38A1 was the first Army jeep to use the Willys Hurricane F-Head 134 inline-four engine. This engine was taller than the 'Go-Devil' engine that powered the WWII era jeeps and the M38, and was the reason for restyling the body over the higher power plant. Otherwise, the MD had a T-90 3-speed transmission, Dana 18 transfer case, either the Dana 25 or the Dana 27 front axle, and Dana 44 rear axle.

Variants

=== M38A1 (MD) === Basic utility version. Would regularly be equipped with M2 .50 cal machine gun and/or radio equipment and antenna-mount. On early units (1952–1953) the front grille was mounted with two 45 degree hinges, one at each frame rail, to flip it forward for maintenance. M38A1C. Modified version equipped with a M40A1 106 mm recoilless rifle. They were fitted with a .50 caliber M8C semi-automatic spotting rifle. The spotting would be fired first, to ensure a first round hit with the 106mm recoilless rifle. The .50 caliber spotter cartridge was 22mm shorter than the standard .50 caliber machine gun cartridge. A slot was provided in the windshield frame for the 106mm barrel when traveling. M38A1'D'. Several dozen M38A1s were converted, mounting a tactical nuclear Davy Crockett Weapon System, fired by a large diameter smoothbore recoilless rifle – either an M28 120 mm, or an M29 155 mm gun. The vehicle carried two M388 projectiles, mounting the Mk-54 nuclear warhead. The range of weapon was approximately 1.25 miles (2 km), with the M28 gun, or 2.5 miles (4 km) with the M29. This vehicle/weapon combination was also referred to as the "Battle Group Atomic Delivery System", and was allocated to airborne units. M38A1 Welding Unit. Just one unit is assumed to have been built, originally fitted with a Harger & Valentine field arc-welding system, powered by a power take-off driven generator. M170 ambulance. The M170 Frontline Ambulance variant of the M38A1, with a 20 in (51 cm) stretched wheelbase, formed the basis for the later civilian Willys Jeep CJ‑6. The spare tire was relocated in a special wheel well on the right interior side of the vehicle, and a larger 20 US gal (76 L) fuel tank was fitted. Capacity was six seated patients, or three lying on litters. A total

Operators

Bangladesh: M38A1 MD, M38A1C and South Korean-produced versions used by the Bangladesh Army. Brazil: M38A1 MD, M38A1C, CJ-5 and Brazilian-produced versions used by the Brazilian Army. Canada: M38A1 MD, M38A1Cdn, M38A1Cdn2 and M38A1Cdn3 Canadian-produced versions used by the Canadian Army. Chad: South Korean-produced Keohwa KH-5GA2 version used by the Chadian Armed Forces (FAT), Chadian National Armed Forces (FANT) and Chadian National Army (ANT). Cuba: M38A1 MD version used by the Cuban Army during the Cuban Revolution. Croatia: M38A1 MD and CJ-5 versions used by the Croatian National Guard during the Croatian War of Independence (1991‑1995). Denmark: M38A1 MD and M38A1C versions used by the Royal Danish Army. Egypt: Jeep CJ-7, Jeep CJ-8, Jeep TJ, Jeep JK, and Jeep J8 Egyptian-produced KADER versions used by the Egyptian Army. El Salvador: CJ-5 version used by the Salvadoran Army during the Salvadoran Civil War. Greece: M38A1 MD and M38A1C versions used by the Hellenic Army. Guatemala: Jeep CJ-7 (and Jeep J8 APV versions) used by the Armed Forces of Guatemala. Israel: M38A1 MD, M38A1C, and Israeli-modified versions used by the Israel Defense Forces and Israel security forces; replaced by the AIL Storm. Iran: M38A1 MD, M38A1C, South Korean-produced Kia KM410 and Iranian-produced Simoorgh versions. Kuwait: M38A1 MD version used by the Kuwait Police. Malaysia: South Korean-produced Kia KM410 version. Jordan: M38A1 MD and M38A1C versions used by the Jordanian Armed Forces. Katanga: M38A1 MD version used by the Katangese Gendarmerie during the Congo Crisis. Kingdom of Laos: M38A1 MD version used by the Royal Lao Armed Forces and the Royal Lao Police during the Laotian Civil War (1954-1975). Lebanon: M38A1 MD version used by the Regional Gendarmerie and the

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