Sterling Motor
Truck Company in World War Two
Milwaukee, WI
1907-1951
Rest in Peace
This page
updated 11-13-2020.
The
Sternberg Motor Truck Company was started in 1907 by William Sternberg.
Sternberg was replaced in the company's name in 1916 due to anti-German
sentiment in the country at that time. In 1918 Sterling Motor
Truck Company produced 479 Liberty trucks. During World War Two
Sterling supplied the U.S. Navy and the Army Corps of Engineers with
several types of trucks.
The
White Motor Company purchased Sterling on June 1, 1951. Sterling
then became the Sterling-White Division of the White Motor Company and
all Sterling trucks were supposed to have been produced under the name
Sterling-White. However, some of the trucks may have been built as
Sterlings right after the purchase. On July 1, 1953, all production was
moved from Milwaukee to the White plant in Cleveland. By the end
of 1953, Sterling-White production had ceased, although existing orders
for Sterling-White trucks were built until in early 1954. Sterling
and Sterling-White had also been building crane carriers for
Bucyrus-Erie. Existing orders for these trucks continued until
1957-58.
Freightliner resurrected the Sterling
name on a series of Class 8 trucks
built from 1997 to 2009.
World War One: Sterling was one of fifteen companies that built
9,364 standardized Class B Standard 4x2 Trucks, commonly known as Liberty trucks, for the U.S. Army in
1917-1918. Sterling built 479 of the trucks.
The two
pages below from the March 1918 issue of "The Motor Truck." This
provides invaluable information that reveals the types, numbers and
suppliers of motor vehicles and components that the U.S. Army
Quartermaster contracted for in World War One. The document shows
that Sterling was originally contracted for 500 Liberty trucks.
With the end of the war in November 1919, the contract was terminated at
479 units.

Document courtesy of Warren Richardson added
11-13-2020.

Document courtesy of Warren Richardson added
11-13-2020.

These two 1918 photos
show nine rows of three Sterling Liberty trucks lined up in a partially
developed residential area of Milwaukee, WI. Several of the
Sterling Motor Truck Company can see talking next to the nearest truck
in the second row. Something not seen much any more is laundry
drying on clotheslines at two houses in the background. Photo from
the National Archives.

This photo shows most of
the employees are in the trucks, with the exception of the one on right.
These photos were taken in July 16, 1918. There were two series of
Standard B trucks. These trucks are of the first series because they have
electrical lighting. Wires for the electrical current have been
routed from holes below the headlights. The second series
eliminated the electrical lighting and the associated battery,
distributor and generator. Photo from the National Archives.

In 2015 this World War One Liberty truck
chassis and drive train were undergoing restoration at the First
Division Museum in Wheaton, IL. This restoration is not
specifically associated with any of the fifteen companies that built the
Liberty truck because the parts are from various sources. Author's
photo.

This is the completed Standard B Liberty
truck is of the second series as photographed in 2019. The electrical headlights have
been replaced with oil wick lamps. A carbide gas spot light used
as a driving light is mounted on the top of the firewall. This
vehicle has been restored to operating condition and is driven around
the First Division Museum complex on special occasions.
Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

The copper tube from the gas generator for
the spot light can be seen coming out of the fire wall and being routed
to the light. A flexible rubber hose at the spot light allows it
to be aimed by the assistant driver. Author's photo.

The replica data plate shows the vehicle
having chassis no. 14480 and a date of 7-271918. Author's photo.
Sterling
World War Two Production:
Various models as shown below.
The DDS150, DDS225, and DDS235
were the only models specifically built for military use. The
HCS330 was highly modified for its use as a military truck. For
the military version the frame was 50% deeper, the suspension was
changed, and the sheet metal for the hood and fenders were modified.
It was almost a different vehicle. The others were civilian models
adapted for the military use.
Sterling Motor Truck
Company World War Production: Information on the number of
different types of trucks that Sterling built for the war effort is
sparse. Sterling supplied the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the
United States Army Air Force, and the U.S. Navy. Purchasing
records for these parts for the military during World War Two is not
available. Also, Sterling corporate records were lost when the
company was purchased by White Motors in 1951. Therefore, any information
on the number of trucks the company built is limited.
Table 1 shows that
Sterling had the capacity to produce over 700 trucks per year.
Table 2 shows that the known quantities of the 15 types of
trucks is not close to the 1,400 trucks it could or did produce during
1943-44.
Military procurement
records show 1940 as the start of World War Two. This is the year
Army Ordnance started recording the acceptance of military vehicles.
While no Sterling trucks were recorded in known military records, Table
1 shows that in 1941 and 1942, Sterling produced 596 and 579
civilian trucks, respectively. The production levels for these two
years is significantly higher than in 1939 and 1940. The increased
production was probably due to the combination of the economy starting
to improve as the Great Depression was ending and from the military
truck procurement. Most likely, the Army Corps of Engineers was
purchasing civilian Sterling trucks with which to build air bases in
Greenland and Iceland in 1941-42. Trucks had become a necessary
piece of equipment in the sudden surge to build new bases around the
world. Civilian trucks worked just as well as military types for many jobs. The U.S. Navy could also have been doing some of the same
in its procurement of Sterling trucks. In 1945 the War Production
Board allowed truck makers to start making civilian trucks again.
With an civilian output of 733 it is unlikely the company made very
many, if any, military trucks in 1945. This was also the maximum
number of trucks it produced during the war years and afterwards.
Table 1 - Sterling Motor Truck
Company Civilian Truck Production
Immediate Pre and Post-World War Two |
1939 |
1940 |
1941 |
1942 |
1945 |
1946 |
1947 |
1948 |
357 |
415 |
596 |
579 |
733 |
664 |
713 |
437 |
Table 2 has captured all
of the known information on Sterling Motor Company trucks used in World
War Two. Much of the information in Table 2 and many of the photos
on this page
are courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck and Warren Richardson.
In 1943-44 Sterling had
the capacity to build 700 trucks per year based on its performance
numbers from 1941, 1942 and 1945 in Table 1. This was 1,400 trucks
for 1943-44. Add 1,400 to the known 1941 and 1942 civilian-built
trucks total of 1,175 that could have gone into military use and one
arrives at a total of of 2,575. The " Known Quantity" column Table 2
does not reflect this and only shows 633 trucks. This leaves 1,942
units unaccounted for. Some or most of the unaccounted capacity
could have gone into the eighteen experimental trucks that Sterling
produced in 1945 and 1946. These vehicles would have used a considerable amount of engineering and
production capacity.
Table 2 - Sterling
Motor Truck Company World War Two Production
Most of the information below was provided by Warren
Richardson and Jeff Lakaszcyck. |
Model
Number |
Type |
Capacity |
Engine |
Known Quantity |
Known Serial Numbers |
Known Dates of Production |
Customer
|
Comments |
MC96 |
4x2 Chain Drive |
|
|
4 |
|
1940 |
Nick F
Helmers and McWilliams Dredging |
These
were used to by the civilian contractor to build the USAAF bases
in the North Atlantic during World War Two. |
HC144 |
4x2 Chain Drive |
7-11 Tons |
Waukesha 6SRKR |
5 |
144HC617-619, 144HC679, 144HC6148 are known |
1940, 1943 |
US
Navy |
There
may be more than the five identified serial numbers. These
are the only ones that historians have been able to
find. Historians have also found production dates in 1940
and 1943. There may be others. |
HC145 |
4x2 Chain Drive |
7-11 Tons |
Waukesha 6SRKR |
18 |
145HC680 and 145HC6101 |
1940
|
George
Fuller, Merritt, Chapman & Scott |
hese
were used to by the civilian contractor to build the USAAF bases
in the North Atlantic during World War Two. There are
sixteen known derelict HC145 at a former USAAF base in
Greenland. These were used to by civilian contractors to
build the base during World War Two. |
HC165 |
4x2 Chain Drive |
8-12
Tons |
Waukesha 6SRKR (in trucks used by USN) |
6 |
165HC663 and 165HC680- 684 |
1943
|
U.S. Navy Bureau of Yards & Docks |
Five tractors
were purchased by the Navy Bureau of Yards & Docks. It is assumed that the
Serial Numbers 165HC680- 684 were the five shipped to the Navy.
|
HC105 |
4x2 Chain Drive |
|
|
1 |
|
|
USAAF |
The
HC105 model was built into Class 750 fire
trucks with a covered cab. |
HD105 |
4x2 Drive Shaft |
|
Hercules WXLC3 |
25
|
105HD618 to 105HD643 |
1942 |
USAAF |
Howe Fire Apparatus built at
least one into a Class 750 fire truck with an open cab. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DD115 |
4x4 Drive shaft |
|
Waukesha 6SRKR |
50 |
115DD629 through 115DD678 |
|
U.S. Navy |
Four are still known to exist. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HCS297 |
6x4 was a dual chain drive |
15-20 Tons |
Waukesha 145GK |
|
|
|
|
|
HWS160H
|
6x4 with enclosed drive |
8-12 Tons |
Cummins Diesel |
1 |
|
|
U.S.
Army |
One
was USA 0063654. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DDS150 |
6x6 enclosed drive |
42,000 lbs. GVW |
Waukesha 6SRKR |
100 |
|
1943, 1945 |
U.S. Navy |
Torpedo crane truck. |
DDS225 |
6x6 enclosed drive |
|
Waukesha 6WA |
100 |
|
|
USAAF |
Cardox 150 enclosed cab fire crash
truck was purchased by the
Army Air Corps. |
DDS235 Cardox |
6x6 enclosed drive (drive shaft) |
48,000 GVW from cab plate |
Waukesha GK145 OHV gasoline engine |
40 |
235DDS6287
is one known s/n for a Navy Cardox unit |
|
U.S. Navy |
Navy Registration Numbers 86782-86821
Cardox Serial numbers 1229-1268
|
DDS235 Wrecker |
6x6 enclosed drive (drive shaft) |
48,000 GVW from cab plate |
Waukesha GK145 OHV gasoline engine |
250 |
235DDS601-6250 Inclusive
|
1943 |
U.S. Navy |
Aircraft crash recovery vehicle |
HCS330
|
6x6 dual chain
|
80,000 GVW from cab plate |
Waukesha GK145 OHV gasoline engine |
56 |
330HCS610 to the highest is 330HCS665
Inclusive |
1945 |
U.S. Navy |
This aircraft
recovery vehicle was used by the U.S. Navy for its bigger aircraft. |
DDS??? |
6x6 |
|
|
2 |
|
1942 |
U.S. Navy |
This is described U.S. Navy literature as
a Low Boy Tractor. It has an extended cab. |
Total Trucks |
|
|
|
633 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T26 |
8x8 |
20 Ton |
American LaFrance V12 275 HP |
1 |
|
Jan -
May 1946 |
US Army Ordnance Division |
This was originally built as a cargo
carrier and then converted into a tractor.
|
T26E1 |
8x8 |
20 Ton |
Ford GAA V8 525 HP |
3 |
|
|
US Army Ordnance Division |
This model was built in both the
cargo and tractor configurations. |
T26E2 |
8x8 |
20 Ton |
Ford GAA V8 525 HP |
2 |
|
|
US Army Ordnance Division |
This model was built in the wrecker
configuration. |
T26E3 |
8x8 |
20 Ton |
Ford GAA V8 525 HP |
1 |
|
|
US Army Ordnance Division |
This could have been built as either
a cargo carrier or a tractor. This was equipped with a
Fuller 5M920 five-speed transmission. |
T26E4 |
8x8 |
20 Ton |
Ford GAA V8 525 HP |
1 |
|
|
US Army Ordnance Division |
This could have been built as either
a cargo carrier or a tractor. This was equipped with a
Fuller 5A920 five-speed transmission with a hydraulic converter. |
T27E1 |
6x4 Chain Drive |
|
Hercules HXD (white 666 chassis) |
1 |
|
|
US Army Ordnance Division |
White 666 with
a dual chain
drive bogie mounted by Sterling. |
T28 T28E2 |
6x6 |
55,000 GVW |
Continental X6820 820 cubic inch
OHV 320 HP |
4 |
|
June - Sept 1945 |
US Army Ordnance Division |
One T28 Cargo Unit, One T28
Tractor, Two T28E2 Tractors |
T29 T29E1 |
6x6 |
25
Ton, 225,000 GTW |
Ford
GAA V8 engines (1100 cubic inch displacement, 525 HP) |
2 |
|
July
1945 |
US Army Ordnance Division |
T29E1
never built - re-designated as T46 |
T35 |
6x6 |
25
Ton, 335,000 GTW |
Ford
GAC V12 engines (1649 cubic inch displacement, 770 HP) |
1 |
T 351 |
Jan
1946 |
US Army Ordnance Division |
Dual
Chain Drive rear with shaft driven double reduction front axle |
T35E1 |
6x6 |
25
Ton, 335,000 GTW |
Ford
GAC V12 engines (1649 cubic inch displacement, 770 HP) |
1 |
|
Jan
1946 |
US Army Ordnance Division |
Planetary double reduction rear axles with double reduction
front axle |
T46 |
6x6 |
25
Ton, 85,000 GVW, 335,000 GTW |
Ford
GAA V8 engines (1100 cubic inch displacement, 525 HP) |
1 |
T 461 |
Sept
1946 |
US Army Ordnance Division |
From
T29E1 with increased capacity |
Total Experimental Trucks |
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
|

These two pages are from the 1944 booklet
"Sterling at War." Image courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck
added 11-13-2020.

Image courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck
added 11-13-2020.

Image courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck
added 11-13-2020.
Photos:
4x2:

The Sterling HC145 4x2 Chain Drive was
outfitted for coating gravel roads with dust reducing oil. They
were used by the Army Corps of Engineers for the construction of airbases
in the North Atlantic. Greenland and Iceland are two locations in
the North Atlantic where Army Aviation Battalions built airbases during
World War Two.

This
1944 HC165 4x2 is one of five that were purchased by the U.S. Navy
during World War Two. Image courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck.

This
1942 Sterling HD105 4x2 Class 750 fire truck served at Lewiston AAF
Base, MT during World War Two. Image courtesy of Warren
Richardson added 11-13-2020.

This Sterling HC105 on duty in the Aleutian
Islands during World War Two.

This Sterling HC105 with serial number 641.
Image courtesy of Warren Richardson added 11-13-2020.
4x4:

Fifty
DD115 4x4s were purchased by the U.S. Navy. Image courtesy of
Warren Richardson added 11-13-2020.
6x4:

The Sterling HCS297 6x4 was a dual chain
drive dump truck. It was used for airbase construction in the
North Atlantic.

The Sterling HWS160H 6x4 with a drive shaft
and differentials came with a stake body. It was powered by a
Cummins Diesel HB engine and utilized by the Army Corps of Engineers.

This
HWS-160 is USA 0063654. Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck
added 11-13-2020.
6x6:

Sterling built the DDS150 6x6 enclosed drive
torpedo crane truck for the U.S. Navy. Note the bracket on the bed
for tying down the torpedoes.

The Sterling DDS225 6x6 enclosed cab fire
crash rescue truck was purchased by the Army Air Corps. The one pictured above has
a Cardox fire suppression system. Sterling provided chassis and cab, and
Cardox added the rest of the equipment. It was powered by a
Waukesha 6WA gasoline engine.

This is a Sterling DDS225 6x6 before the
Cardox unit was added. Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck
added 11-13-2020.

This is a Sterling DDS 235 USN Cardox crash truck. Photo
courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck
added 11-13-2020.

This is another Sterling DDS 235 USN Cardox crash truck.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck
added 11-13-2020.

The Sterling DDS235 6x6 enclosed drive
(drive shaft) aircraft crash recovery vehicle was used by the U.S. Navy.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck
added 11-13-2020.

Today Sterling trucks from World War Two are
extremely rare. This example of a DDS235 is on display at the
Overloon Museum in the Netherlands. Photo courtesy of Alf van Beem.

Photo courtesy of Alf van Beem.

Photo courtesy of Alf van Beem.

This 1943 DDS235 serial number 235DDS602 was
purchased as surplus military equipment in 1947 by the Stuart Wrecker
Service. It was in constant service with the company for 60 years
and is the best looking and well-maintained of the surviving DDS235s in
the United States. Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck
added 11-13-2020.

Sterling's HCS330 dual chain aircraft
recovery vehicle was used by the U.S. Navy for its bigger aircraft.

The largest land based aircraft the US Navy
like these Consolidated PB4Ys would need the Sterling HCS330 aircraft
wrecker to move them in an emergency.
Author's photo.

This Sterling 6x6 is described in U.S. Navy
literature as a Low Boy Tractor. It has an extended cab. Photo
courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck
added 11-13-2020.
Experimental Vehicles: Sterling
built twelve heavy-duty tractors at the end of World War Two and into
1946. They were designed to pull trailers with the new heavy tanks
the Army was beginning to produce. None ever entered into
production.

The 8-ton 6x6 T28 tractor shown here and the
T26 and T35 series of trucks below were experimental trucks ordered by
Army Ordnance. There is no record Army Ordnance acceptances of either of these two types during
World War Two.

The Sterling 8-ton 6x6 T28
experimental truck.

Another experimental Sterling vehicle
produced for Army Ordnance was the 12-ton 8x8 T26 Truck which had
additional crew space. In today's vernacular it is a crew cab.

The 12-ton 8x8 T26E1 version of the truck does not have the
crew cab.

The Sterling 12-ton 8x8T26E1 Tractor.

The
25-ton 6x6 T35 Tractor.

The
25-ton T35E1 Tractor.
Surviving Sterling World War Two Era
Trucks:
The 1944 HC165 Sterling tractor shown below is owned
by John Gott. This was one of five HC165s that were used by the
U.S. Navy in World War Two. It is the only one that has survived.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck
added 10-26-2020.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck added
10-26-2020.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck added
10-26-2020.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck added
10-26-2020.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck added
10-26-2020.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck added
10-26-2020.
The 1947 HCS297H Sterling tractor shown below is owned
by a private owner in Maine. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers used some of
this type of civilian truck in Alaska.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck added
10-26-2020.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck added
10-26-2020.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck added
10-26-2020.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck
added 10-26-2020.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck added
10-26-2020.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck added
10-26-2020.

This photo was taken 2015 in Gary Sylvester's garage
which was the last time the two trucks were together. Ken Ochenkowski
photo via Jeff Lakaszcyck added 10-26-2020.

This derelict DDS225 was photographed in the
woods by the late Daryl Gushee and is the only known survivor of the
series. Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck added 11-13-2020.

This photo of a former Cardox DDS235 that was converted into a wrecker
is owned by a private owner in Virginia. Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck added 11-13-2020.
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