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Federal
Motor Truck Company in World War Two
Detroit, MI
1910-1959
This page updated 10-29-2020.
Federal Motor Truck Company
World War Two Production Statistics: (11,167) trucks and
tractors as accepted by Detroit Army Ordnance. See table below.
Federal Motor Truck Company also built an unknown quantity of Type C-2 7-1/2-ton 6x6 606 Wreckers for the Army Air Forces
and the U.S. Navy. These vehicles
are not comprehended in the records of Detroit Army Ordnance shown below,
and were ordered directly by the USAAF.
Federal Motor Truck Company won the
Army-Navy "E" award four times during WWII.
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Federal
Motor Truck
World War Two Trucks Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army
The information below comes from "Summary Report of
Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945"
Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of
Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and
Progress Branch
January 21, 1946. |
|
Type |
Federal Model |
1940 |
1941 |
1942 |
1943 |
1944 |
1945 |
Total |
| 2 1/2-ton
4x2 Dump * |
2G-4x2 |
|
|
|
1,268 |
225 |
|
1,493 |
|
2 1/2-ton 4x2 Telephone Construction and Maintenance** |
2G-4x2 |
|
|
|
|
35 |
|
35 |
| 2 1/2-ton
4x2 Tractor |
29-K |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
| 4-6-ton 4x4
Tractor COE*** |
94x43, 94x43B,
94x43C |
|
870 |
2,048 |
1,751 |
2,633 |
817 |
8,119 |
| 5-ton 4x4 Dump |
94x43C |
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
| 5-ton 4x2 Cargo |
55L |
|
12 |
|
|
|
|
12 |
| 5-ton 4x2 Dump |
55L |
|
40 |
|
|
|
|
40 |
| 5-ton 4x2 Stake
and Platform |
55L |
|
7 |
6 |
|
|
|
13 |
| 5-ton 4x2 Stake
and Platform w/w |
55L |
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
6 |
| 20-ton 6x4
Tractor |
604 |
|
|
833 |
130 |
480 |
|
1,443 |
|
Total |
|
4 |
931 |
2,893 |
3,149 |
3,373 |
817 |
11,167 |
Author's Note
and Disclaimer: The Detroit Office
of Ordnance of the U.S. Army was the primary purchasing entity for
vehicles for the U.S. Army during WWII. It also purchased vehicles
for the USMC, US Navy, and for Lend-Lease. However, there were
other organizations that also purchased vehicles including the Army
Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Air Force, U.S. Army Signal Corps, Navy
Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, and foreign countries
making direct purchases. This is exemplified by the Federal 605
Fuel Tractor and 606
Wrecker, which were ordered by the USAAF.
* The 2 1/2-ton 4x2 Dump Truck was the same as
the one produced by International Harvester, and was utilized for
administrative purposes at Army posts. Production stopped
9-30-1944.
**
2 1/2-ton 4x2 Telephone Construction and Maintenance was
utilized for administrative purposes at Army posts. Production
stopped 9-30-1944.
*** 4-6-ton 4x4
Tractor COE was the same at the Autocar and White trucks.
Federal differed as it had a Clark 326-VO transmission as opposed to the
other two which had an Autocar UU-5 transmission.
Federal Type Model 605 F-1 Aviation Fuel Tractors: Federal
built 200 of these, which were similar but not identical to the Reo 29XS
F1 fuel tractors.
Federal Type C-2 7-1/2-ton 6x6 606 Aircraft Wrecker: The C-2
was powered by a Hercules Model HXD six cylinder 855 cu. in. engine,
which enabled the truck to pull 12.5 tons when hooked up to a trailer.
The truck could perform several different tasks. However, its primary
job was to pick up disabled aircraft and place them on a trailer to take
to the repair facilities. It was also used extensively for
aircraft engine changes. Every AAF Air Base had at least one C-2.
While one C-2 could lift most aircraft on its own, it took two to lift a
B-17, so the bases with heavy bombers or transports like the C-54 would
have had two.
The document below shows that there were at
least 2,307 C-2s built. Other Federal C-2s were built after the
3-27-1944 date on the document, with deliveries continuing into 1945.
Therefore, the total number of Federal C-2s built is probably in the
range of over 2,500 units.
Document courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck.
|
Known Federal Truck C-2
Registration Numbers |
|
Registration Numbers |
Number of C-2s |
|
51489-51554 |
66 |
|
51489-51554 |
66 |
|
54162-54477 |
316 |
|
58038-59896 |
1,859 |
|
Total |
2,307 |
Jeff Lakaszcyck owns two Federal C-2
wreckers. The one on the left was built in 1943 and the other
in 1944. Photo courtesy of
Jeff Lakaszcyck.
Photo
courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck.
This is a Federal C-2 Model 606D
with USA registration number W-58315 and serial number 113278.
It was purchased a year after the C-2 shown below to use as a parts
truck to restore the 1944. However, after doing some engine
work and replacing some parts, it ran so well that Jeff has made it
road worthy and drives it to local car and truck shows. This
truck had previously been used by a garage in Elkhart, IN.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck.
Photo
courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck.
This
was used by a house moving company in New Jersey after World War
Two. This vehicle was built on 1-26-1944 and is a Federal C-2
Model 606D. The serial number is 113912 and USA Registration
W-58938. Due to lack of care by a previous owner, the engine
in the truck is not usable, but the rest of the truck is in very
good condition. Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck.
Photo
courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck.
The interior of the 1944 C-2 is in very
good shape. Photo courtesy
of Jeff Lakaszcyck.
This C-2 7.5 ton wrecker is owned by the
Stockton Field Aviation Museum. Photo courtesy of Taigh Ramey and
www.twinbeech.com.
Photo courtesy of Taigh Ramey and
www.twinbeech.com.
Federal Type 2G 4x2 2-1/2-ton Dump Truck: These are very rare
with only 1,493 being built in 1943-44. Below are photos of two
awaiting to be restored.
This Federal 2G dump truck is owned by Paul
Rea. It runs and is on the list to be restored. Photo
courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck added 10-29-2020.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck added
10-29-2020.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck added
10-29-2020.
The four photos below are courtesy of BAIV B.V in The Netherlands.
The Federal 2G dump truck is currently for sale by BAIV B.V.
This is one of only 4 surviving trucks of the 1,493 built during World War Two and would make
an excellent restoration addition for any serious collector. BAIV
B.V. can be contacted at:
https://www.baiv.nl/federal-model-2g-2-1-2-ton-dump-truck/
This truck is chassis number 18987.
Photo courtesy of BAIV B.V.
Photo courtesy of BAIV B.V.
Photo courtesy of BAIV B.V.
Photo courtesy of BAIV B.V.
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