The featured image ? a G-513 Federal 94x43B (Open cab) 4-ton U.S.
Army tractor is courtesy of xavnco2 whose excellent original picture can be found here. Many thanks to xavnco2 for allowing me to use his picture for this digital artwork.
The fine background picture is the property of PhotosNormandie and is licensed under: ?Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie / National Archives USA"and/or"Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie / National Archives Canada" and cannot be used, distributed or otherwise transacted for commercial purposes without the expressed written consent of the aforementioned licensor.
The lead tractor shown in the PhotoNormandie?s picture is actually a G-510 Autocar U7144-T model, very similar in design and appearance to the Federal tractor. The second tractor in the convoy is a G-513 Federal 94x43B/C. As indicated by the information furnished by PhotosNormandie this American Army convoy is part of what was known as the Red Ball Express. Additional information about the ?Red Ball Express? can be gathered here
G-513 Federal 94x43B/C 4-ton 4x4 tractor
The Federal 94x43 Tractor was a line haul tractor used by the US Army in World War II. The first model, the 94x43A featured a closed cab, and the later 94x43B and 94x43C had the standard military open cab with a canvas roof. When used by the Signal Corps in conjunction with a van trailer, it was known as a K-32. Federal built a total of 8,119 tractors. Towards the end of the war Kenworth and Marmon-Herrington undertook production of these trucks as well. Some of the open cab versions were fitted with a ring mount .50 caliber MGs as an anti-aircraft gun.
The Federal 94x43 was powered with a Hercules RXC 529 cubic inch, 112HP 6-cylinder gasoline engine. Its maximum towed capacity was * 30,000 lbs. The Federal 94x43 was operationally equivalent to the G-510 Autocar U-7144-T and the White manufactured 444T, even using many of the same chassis components.
Along with the Autocar U-7144-T, these tractors were a very important item in the 347th Ordnance Depot Company's motor pool. Since they were often times on the move, the men used the 35 foot trailers as storage sheds to house vehicle parts and tools.
Additional specifications:
? GROSS WEIGHT ................................................... 21,010 lbs.
? MAX TOW LOAD ................................................. 20,000 lbs. * (30,000 lbs. ?)
? LENGTH .................................................................. 203.5 in.
? WIDTH ..................................................................... 95 in.
? TRACK ..................................................................... 72 in.
? MAX SPEED (w/speed governor) ................... 40 mph (with governor removed ? who knows..........or who would tell!)
? FUEL CAP. .............................................................. 62 gal.
? RANGE LOADED .................................................. 280 mi.
? TRANSMISSION ..................................................... 5-forward
