The GMC CCKW

While moving around some 5 Gal GI gas cans in the shed the other day, I was remembering WWII Red Ball Express truck photos with gas cans stacked over the top of the side racks on CCKW's.

Wondering how many full cans would load a GMC, I did a little research.
TM10-466 Handling POL describes the weight and loading of POL in WWII vehicles.

It calls for 125 cans per load in the 2 1/2 Ton cargo 6X6. Stacked standing up side by side, 12 across and the last 5 cross the back at the tailgate. 125 cans X 40 Lbs = 5,000 Lbs or 2.5 tons - the cross country rating of the Long Wheel Base GMC.

That's one layer in the cargo bed. Double the number to 250 full cans will bring the cargo weight to 5 tons. Cans in two layers will be just to the top of the side racks. Remember the rated load for the GMC is 2.5 Tons cross country and 5 Tons on impoved roads (Like the Red Ball operation)

Some books say the trucks on The Red Ball were "100% overloaded" Which is not really true for operation on impoved roads. They would be at capacity.

Space limits to 40, the number of cans for the 1 Ton trailer or 1600 Lbs. Just short of the 1 Ton cross country rating.

My wife (the assistant driver) wonders why I keep buying 5 gal cans at yard sales and farm auctions? Becuase we need to finish the load.

Cat Man

At one time I had thought of taking a bunch of bottom leaking cans and cutting them in half top to bottom and attaching them to a piece of plywood that when installed just inside of the tailgate would give the appearance of a load of cans.

AND if you were really clever, you could make a carefully cut door in between the plywood holding the cans. It would make a nice secure camper...

Gas Cans

An older gentlemen who lives down the street from me drove a CCKW and 1 ton trailer for Patton's Third Army. He remember placing about 200 cans in the truck bed and 40 in the 1 ton trailer. I have made a display placing 39 WWII gas cans in my Ben Hur; it looks quite impressive.

Found this photo in my files this morning.

Shows 5 Gal can load - two rows in the truck and 1 tow in the trailer.



Cat Man

I'm gonna need to buy ALOT more gas cans



John

Note the marble reflectors

Here some photo's out the book "Red Ball expres" writen by Pat Ware.



The tekst by this photo says:
"GMC trucks being loaded with jerrycans. The vehicle were peritted to be overloaded by 100% wich means that a GMC was capable of carrying 250 cans of fuel amounting to 1100 gallons (5001 litre). Some contemporary photographs suggest that it was possible to carry 360 cans in three layers of 120 each."