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The jeep

Discussion in 'Allied Military vehicles used during WWII' started by Cabel1960, Jul 3, 2011.

  1. Cabel1960

    Cabel1960 recruit

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    The “jeep” was standardized as the “truck, 4x4, ¼ ton” in July 1941, and provided a lightweight, all-terrain utility vehicle. The requirement for the jeep goes back to 1936 when the infantry stated a need for a compact four-wheel-drive reconnaissance car to replace the motorcycle. Development of what would become the jeep ran from 1939 to 1941, with three firms submitting candidates: American Bantam Car Company’s Mk I and II; Willys-Overland’s Quad, MA and MB; and Ford Motor’s Pygmy and GP. After modifications gleaned from testing, the Willys (sometimes misspelled “Willis”) was standardized, but these were also built by Ford to total 640,000 vehicles.

    1940Bantam-a.jpg

    The origin of the jeep’s name has been much debated. “Jeep” is said to have been a nickname for mechanics in WWI, but fell from use in the 1930s. In March 1936 an unusual character was introduced in the Popeye cartoons, Eugene the jeep, whose only words were, “jeep, jeep.” The strange little creature could walk through walls or on ceilings, and go any place, and may well have been the source of the jeep’s name. Other vehicles named “jeep,” also believed to be derived from Eugene, included ½-ton Ford trucks modified by FWD Corporation as oil exploration/survey vehicles in 1936, and the Minneapolis Moline Company’s tractor-like UTX artillery prime-mover offering to the Army in 1940. It is also suggested that “jeep” may have been derived from the Ford GP, “gee-pee” (general-purpose). The name Jeep was not actually trademarked until 1950. Regardless, it stuck to the nimble little vehicle, also known as the “blitz wagon” or “blitz buggy,” “bantam car,” “peep,” or a “No. 14 roller skate with motor, windshield, mud-guards.” Ford also produced an amphibious version, the “seep.” War correspondent Ernie Pyle described the jeep as being “as faithful as a dog, as strong as a mule, and agile as a goat.”
     
  2. warhistory

    warhistory New Member

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    The jeep was the lightweight vehicle specializes in loading and for carrying humans from one place to another. When it was introduced, became a very helpful for traveling small areas with 2-4 persons.
     
  3. worldwar

    worldwar New Member

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    Not only this, this jeep was a important means of transport for 2-4 persons in now a days also, but it look has been changed to a stylish and heavy look.

    [​IMG]
     

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