Chevrolet G506

The Chevrolet G506 trucks were a series of  1 ¹⁄₂-ton 4x4 trucks produced by Chevrolet and used by the U.S. Army during and after World War II. This series had cargo and many specialist type bodies.

History

The G506 was a U.S Army Ordnance Corps supply catalog designation for the  1 ¹⁄₂-ton, 4X4, truck chassis built in large numbers by the Chevrolet Motor Division of GM.

During World War II, the USA sent 151,053  1 ¹⁄₂-ton trucks of the G506 type to the Soviet Union as part of the Lend-Lease program. The Soviet Red Army's logistics/transport capabilities improved dramatically in the spring and summer of 1943 largely as a result of the steady supply of American-made trucks (such as Studebaker US6s and the Chevrolet G506s) for the USSR.^[2]

Specifications

Engine and driveline

Chevolet BV-1001 engine
(left side, front of truck to left)

The G506 used a Chevrolet BV-1001-UP, a 235 cu in (3.9 L) overhead valve inline 6 cylinder gasoline engine developing 83 hp (62 kW) at 3100 rpm and 184 lbf·ft (249 N·m) of torque at 1,000 rpm. This is a smaller version of the engine used in the GMC CCKW.

All models had a 4 speed manual non-synchronized transmission and a two speed transfer case.^[3][4][5]

Chassis

The G506 had a ladder frame with two live beam axles on semi-elliptic leaf springs. GM banjo type axles were used, these axles were also used in later GMC CCKW  2 ¹⁄₂ ton (2,268kg) trucks. There were three wheelbases, 125 in (318 cm) extra short wheelbase used only on the G7128 Bomb servicer, 145 in (368 cm) short wheelbase, and the 175 in (444 cm) long wheelbase. All models had hydraulic brakes with vacuum boost, 7.50-20” tires and dual rear tires.^[3][4][5]

Body

Almost all G506s had a closed Chevrolet cab, except for three models. A panel van version was built for the signal corps, an open cab was used on Bomb servicers and a cab over engine type was used for long bodied cargo trucks.^[3][4][5]

Versions

Bomb server

Turret trainer

• Model G4103 Book Symbol YK - Stake and Platform COE, K-33 Truck
• Model G4112 Book Symbol YQ - truck cargo, LWB, 4X4,
• Model G4163 Book Symbol ZP - truck cargo, W/Winch, 4X4,
• Model G4174 Book Symbol ZQ - truck cargo, LWB, 4X4,
• Model G7103 Book Symbol NE - Cab
• Model G7105 Book Symbol NG - Panel Body, see also K-51, and K-70 van
• Model G7106 Book Symbol NH - Dump Body, Less Winch
• Model G7107 Book Symbol NJ - Cargo Body, Less Winch
• Model G7113 Book Symbol NK - Cab (Tractor)
• Model G7116 Book Symbol NL - Dump Body, With Winch
• Model G7117 Book Symbol NM - Cargo Body, With Winch
• Model G7127 Book Symbol NP - truck cargo, LWB
• Model G7128 Book Symbol NQ - M6 Bomb service truck G35
• Model G7132 Book Symbol NN - Stake and Platform COE, K-54 Truck
• Model G7163 Book Symbol NR - Telephone Body, With Earth Borer, see also K-44 truck

Pole setter

• Model G7173 Book Symbol NS - Telephone Maintenance Body, see also K-43 truck

Army Air Force versions

Turret trainers

• E5 Turret Trainer
• J3 field lighting truck
• J4 field lighting truck
• J5 field lighting truck
• fire truck, class 135, fog and foam

See also

• GMC CCKW
• List of U.S. military vehicles by supply catalog designation (G506)
• List of U.S. Signal Corps Vehicles

Notes

References

• Crismon, Fred W (2001). US Military Wheeled Vehicles (3 ed.). Victory WWII Pub. pp. 260–263. ISBN 0-970056-71-0. 
• Doyle, David (2003). Standard catalog of U.S. Military Vehicles. Kraus Publications. pp. 122–124. ISBN 0-87349-508-X. 
• Dunn, Walter Dunn (1995). The Soviet economy and the Red Army, 1930–1945. Greenwood Publishing Group. Retrieved 27 May 2014. 
• Ware, Pat (2014). The Illustrated Guide to Military Vehicles. Hermes House. p. 227. ISBN 978-1-78214-192-1. 
• TM 9-765 Bomb Service Truck M6 (Chevrolet). US War Dept. 1942. Retrieved 19 Dec 2014. 
• TM 9-805  1 ¹⁄₂ ton 4x4 Truck (Chevrolet). US War Dept. 1943. Retrieved 30 Aug 2015. 
• TM 9-2800 Standard Military Motor Vehicles. US War Dept. 1943. pp. 192–199. Retrieved 2 Dec 2014. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chevrolet G506 truck series.

• Chevrolet G506 at Olive-Drab.com
• US  1 ¹⁄₂-ton at Engines of the Red Army