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M6 37mm Gun Motor Carriage (WC-55)


Statistics

Country of Origin/Used by: United States
First Produced/Service Dates: 1942-1945
Manufactured by: Chrysler Corporation (Dodge Division)
Crew: 4
Armament: Main: (1) M3 37mm Cannon; Secondary: .50 cal Heavy Machine Gun (on some vehicles)
Engine: 6-Cylinder Gasoline (Dodge T-214)
Miscellaneous Info:

The M6 37mm Gun Motor Carriage (GMC), was the first variant produced in the ubiquitous Dodge 3/4 ton 4x4 truck family. In late 1941, the prototype vehicles were initially designated T21 37mm GMC and were envisioned to be built in two basic versions: differentiated by front-firing and rear firing guns.  However during testing, it became apparent that the front firing version had many limitations and was dropped in favor of a lone rear-firing gunned variant.  In early 1942, the T21 was standardized as the M4 GMC and was planned to be armed with the more complicated M6 37mm cannon.  Within weeks of the standardization, a decision was made to change the main gun to the more simple M3 cannon.  With that modification, the designation of the vehicle also changed to the M6 37mm GMC we are familiar with. 

Also designated WC-55 by Dodge, this vehicle was very similar to the more common Dodge WC-52 3/4 ton Weapons Carrier, although not identical.  In fact, in 1943 when production ended on the M6 GMC, many remaining vehicles were converted to WC-52 Weapons Carriers.  Despite the WC-55's declared obsolescence, some soldiered on until the end of the war in the more remote war theatres.

Data Sheet Available:   None Available

Photos

Reference Source/Provider
M6 37mm GMC Photos David Doyle - Memphis, Tennessee USA
  M6 37mm GMC Photo U.S. Army Signal Corps via the U.S. Library of Congress

References Available

Online

Reference Source/Provider
M6 37mm GMC Information and Photos Olive Drab.com
M6 37mm GMC Information and Photos Roberts Armory
M6 37mm GMC Line Drawings The-Blueprints.com

Printed

Reference Author
Armored Car: A History of American Wheeled Combat Vehicles R.P. Hunnicutt
Encyclopedia of Armoured Cars Duncan Crow and Robert J. Icks
Modeling US Army Tank Destroyers of World War Two (Osprey Modelling) Steve Zaloga
U.S. Dodge: The Development and Deployment of Dodge Military Trucks 1940-1975 (Book 1) (Ampersand Publishing) David Doyle
U.S. Military Wheeled Vehicles Fred W. Crismon

Hobby Modeling

Kits and Accessories

Model Kit Manufacturer Scale Other Information
M6 37mm GMC Model Kit (07361-3) Airfix 1/35 Injection Molded Plastic; Re-boxed Peerless Max Kit.
M6 37mm GMC Model Kit (991) Bilek/Italeri 1/35 Injection Molded Plastic; Re-boxed Peerless Max Kit.
M6 37mm GMC Model Kit (Two releases: 8040 & 8348)  Esci 1/72 Injection Molded Plastic.
GMC M6 Truck with WWII US Infantry (8610)  Esci 1/72 Injection Molded Plastic; Re-boxed with Italeri Infantry Figures.
M6 37mm GMC Model Kit (MB-134) Hasegawa 1/72 Injection Molded Plastic.
M6 37mm GMC Model Kit (HK72211)  Humbrol 1/72 Injection Molded Plastic.
M6 37mm GMC Model Kits (245) and (6555) Italeri 1/35 Injection Molded Plastic; Re-boxed Peerless Max Kits. #6555 re-released in 2018.
M6 37mm GMC Model Kit (7025) Italeri 1/72 Injection Molded Plastic.
M6 37mm GMC Model Kit (245) Peerless-Max 1/35 Injection Molded Plastic; Original Kit.
M6 37mm GMC Model Kit (839) Testors 1/35 Injection Molded Plastic; Re-boxed Peerless Max Kit.
       
Aftermarket Set Manufacturer Scale Other Information
M6 37mm GMC Conversion Set (AZI35105) ADV/Azimut 1/35 Conversion for AFV Club/Skybow WC-51/52 ¾ Ton Weapons Carrier Model Kit.
Dodge M6 GMC Detail Set (35-046) Eduard 1/35 Photo Etched Brass; for Italeri Kit 245, but should fit all other 1/35 kits.

Model Photos

Reference Source/Provider
1/35 M6 37mm GMC Diorama Photos (AFV Club & Italeri) John Staehle- Proprieter of the "Hobbies In A Barn" Facebook Page