The American Automobile Industry in World War Two
An American Auto Industry Heritage Tribute by David D Jackson

 Overview      Lansing Michigan in World War Two   The U.S. Auto Industry at the Normandy Invasion, June 6, 1944    The U.S. Auto Industry and the B-29 Bomber   U.S. Auto Industry Army-Navy "E" Award Winners   The Complete listing of All Army-Navy "E" Award Winners   Sherman Tanks of the American Auto Industry   Tank Destroyers of the American Auto Industry    M26 Pershing Tanks of the American Auto Industry   M36 Tank Destroyers of the American Auto Industry   Serial Numbers for WWII Tanks built by the American Auto Industry   Surviving LCVP Landing Craft    WWII Landing Craft Hull Numbers   Airborne Extra-Light Jeep Photos  The American Auto Industry vs. the German V-1 in WWII   American Auto Industry-Built Anti-Aircraft Guns in WWII   VT Proximity Manufacturers of WWII   World War One Era Motor Vehicles   National Museum of Military Vehicles   Revisions   Links

 Automobile and Body Manufacturers:  American Bantam Car Company   Briggs Manufacturing Company   Checker Car Company   Chrysler Corporation   Crosley Corporation   Ford Motor Car Company   General Motors Corporation   Graham-Paige Motors Corporation   Hudson Motor Car Company   Murray Corporation of America   Nash-Kelvinator   Packard Motor Car Company      Studebaker    Willys-Overland Motors

General Motors Divisions:  AC Spark Plug   Aeroproducts   Allison   Brown-Lipe-Chapin   Buick   Cadillac   Chevrolet   Cleveland Diesel   Delco Appliance   Delco Products   Delco Radio   Delco-Remy   Detroit Diesel   Detroit Transmission   Electro-Motive   Fisher Body   Frigidaire   GM Proving Grounds   GM of Canada   GMC   GMI   Guide Lamp   Harrison Radiator   Hyatt Bearings   Inland   Moraine Products   New Departure   Oldsmobile   Packard Electric   Pontiac   Saginaw Malleable Iron   Saginaw Steering Gear   Southern California Division   Rochester Products   Ternstedt Manufacturing Division   United Motors Service   Vauxhall Motors

 Indiana Companies:  Bailey Products Corporation   Chrysler Kokomo Plant   Continental Steel Corporation  Converto Manufacturing    Cummins Engine Company   Diamond Chain and Manufacturing Company   Delta Electric Company   Durham Manufacturing Company   Farnsworth Television and Radio Corporation   General Electric Kokomo Plant   Haynes Stellite Company   Hercules Body Company   Horton Manufacturing Company   Howe Fire Apparatus   International Machine Tool Company   J.D. Adams Company   Kokomo Spring Company   Magnavox   Muncie Gear Works   Pierce Governor Company   Portland Forge and Foundry   Reliance Manufacturing Company-Kokomo Plant   Reliance Manufacturing Company-Washington Plant   Republic Aviation Corporation - Indiana Division   Ross Gear and Tool Company   S.F. Bowser & Co.   Sherrill Research Corporation   Tokheim Oil Tank and Pump Company   Warner Gear   Wayne Pump Company   Wayne Works

Commercial Truck and Fire Apparatus Manufacturers:  American LaFrance   Autocar   Biederman Motors Corporation   Brockway Motor Company   Detroit General   Diamond T   Duplex Truck Company   Federal Motor Truck   Four Wheel Drive Auto Company(FWD)   International Harvester   John Bean   Mack Truck   Marmon-Herrington Company   Michigan Power Shovel Company   Oshkosh Motor Truck Corporation   Pacific Car and Foundry   "Quick-Way" Truck Shovel Company  Reo Motor Car Company  Seagrave Fire Apparatus   Sterling Motor Truck Company    Ward LaFrance Truck Corporation   White Motor Company

Aviation Companies:  Abrams Instrument Corporation    Frankfort Sailplane Company   Hughes Aircraft Company   Kellett Aviation Corporation   Laister-Kauffman Aircraft Corporation   Naval Aircraft Factory   P-V Engineering Forum, Inc.    Rudolf Wurlitzer Company-DeKalb Division  Schweizer Aircraft Corporation   Sikorsky Division of United Aircraft Corporation   St. Louis Aircraft Corporation   Timm Aircraft Corporation

Other World War Two Manufacturers:  Air King Products   Allis-Chalmers   American Car and Foundry   American Locomotive   American Stove Company   Annapolis Yacht Yard   Andover Motors Company   B.F. Goodrich   Baker War Industries   Baldwin Locomotive Works   Blood Brothers Machine Company   Boyertown Auto Body Works   Briggs & Stratton   Burke Electric Company   Caterpillar   Cheney Bigelow Wire Works   Centrifugal Fusing   Chris-Craft   Clark Equipment Company   Cleaver-Brooks Company   Cleveland Tractor Company   Continental Motors   Cushman Motor Works   Crocker-Wheeler   Dail Steel Products   Detroit Wax Paper Company   Detrola   Engineering & Research Corporation   Farrand Optical Company   Federal Telephone and Radio Corp.   Firestone Tire and Rubber Company   Fruehauf Trailer Company   Fuller Manufacturing   Galvin Manufacturing   Gemmer Manufacturing Company   General Railway Signal Company   Gerstenslager Company   Gibson Guitar   Gibson Refrigerator Company   Goodyear   Hall-Scott   Hanson Clutch and Machinery Company   Harley-Davidson   Harris-Seybold-Potter   Herreshoff Manufacturing Company   Higgins Industries    Highway Traile    Hill Diesel Company   Holland Hitch Company   Homelite Company   Horace E. Dodge Boat and Plane Corporation   Huffman Manufacturing   Indian Motorcycle   Ingersoll Steel and Disk   Iron Fireman Manufacturing Company   John Deere   Johnson Automatics Manufacturing Company   Kimberly-Clark   Kohler Company   Kold-Hold Company   Landers, Frary & Clark  Lima Locomotive Works   Lundberg Screw Products   MacKenzie Muffler Company   Massey-Harris   Matthews Company   McCord Radiator & Mfg. Company   Metal Mouldings Corporation   Miller Printing Machinery Company   Morse Instrument Company   Motor Products Corporation   Motor Wheel Corporation   National Cash Resgister Company   Novo Engine Company   O'Keefe & Merritt Company   Olofsson Tool and Die Company   Oneida Ltd   Otis Elevator   Owens Yacht   Pressed Steel Car Company   Pressed Steel Tank Company   Queen City Manufacturing Company   R.G. LeTourneau   Richardson Boat Company   R.L. Drake Company   St. Clair Rubber Company   Samson United Corporation   Shakespeare Company   Sight Feed Generator Company   Simplex Manufacturing Company   Steel Products Engineering Company   St. Louis Car Company   Twin Disc Company   Victor Adding Machine Company   Vilter Manufacturing Company   Wells-Gardner   W.L. Maxson Corporation   W.W. Boes Company   Westfield Manufacturing Company   York-Hoover Body Company   York-Shipley, Inc.   Youngstown Steel Door Company  
   

Fighting Trucks
Diamond T Motor Car Company in World War Two
Chicago, IL
1905-1967
Rest in Peace

This page updated 12-19-2021.

Diamond T produced automobiles from 1905-1911, before concentrating strictly on trucks.  In 1967 it merged with Reo in Lansing, MI to become Diamond Reo.  By that time, White Motors owned both companies.  In 1975 Diamond Reo went out of business.

World War One:  Diamond T was one of fifteen companies that made 9,364 standardized 4x2 Liberty trucks for the U.S. Army in 1917-1918.  Diamond T built 638 of the 650 for which it was contracted.  These were part of a total of 3,400 3-5-ton trucks that the company was contracted to build.  By the end of the war, Diamond T had produced approximately 1,700 trucks, including the 638 Liberty trucks.


During the first World War, Diamond T was contracted to build 650 Class B Standard Motor Trucks. This was more commonly known as the Liberty Truck.  Document courtesy of Warren Richardson.


This World War One Class B Liberty Truck has been restored to operating condition by the First Division Museum in Wheaton, IL.  Author's photo.


This is a pre-World War Two Diamond T Paddy Wagon.  Author's Photo.

World War Two:  The R.E. Olds Transportation Museum also has the only copy of a 1943 Diamond T publication entitled "Fighting Trucks" that I have ever found.  It can be found in the link "Fighting Trucks" at the top of this page. 

The R.E. Olds Transportation Museum in Lansing, MI also has a Diamond T World War Two scrapbook.  The scrapbook contains several clippings from Chicago newspapers announcing the awarding of Diamond T Army truck contracts.  The truck contract clippings are from late 1940.  The clippings are indicative of the sudden and urgent efforts by the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps to equip the Army with modern trucks for the anticipated war.

  • August 1940 - It was announced that Diamond T had received an order for 2,000 trucks worth $14,220,000.  These were 4-ton 6x6 long wheelbase trucks that were going to be used to carry troops. 
     
    The article also noted that the government's first order to Diamond T was for 998 Model 967 4-ton 6x6 SWB with winch cargo trucks for $5,000,000 to pull 155mm howitzers. 

    The article concluded by noting that Diamond T had orders worth $19,220,000 for 2,998 trucks. 

     
     

  • This is an undated entry - Diamond T is listed as having been awarded $5,098,570 for 4-ton trucks.
     

  • This is an undated entry - Sometime in 1940, Diamond T was awarded $3,241,290 for 662 Model 967 4-ton 6x6 SWB with winch cargo trucks, $104,584 for 136 1-1/2-ton 4x4 Bomb Service M6 Trucks, and $1,557,377 for 336 Model 967 4-ton 6x6 SWB with winch cargo trucks.
     

  • September 28, 1940 - Diamond T was awarded $4,220,000 for 2,000 half-tracks.  The first half-track from this order was delivered May 23,1941.
     

  • November 17, 1940 -  Diamond T was awarded $6,311,085 for 4-ton 6x6 trucks.  These were 1,265 Model 968 4-ton 6x6 Cargo SWB with winch.  By the end of 1940, Diamond T had $25,000,000 in Army contracts.  First Deliveries of 4-ton trucks was in November 1940.
Diamond T won the Army-Navy "E" Award four times during World War Two.


This letter, dated August 8, 1942, notified Diamond T of its first "E" award.  Image courtesy of R.E. Olds Museum added 12-19-2021.


The presentation for the first "E" award at Diamond T took place on September 11, 1942.  Image courtesy of R.E. Olds Museum added 12-19-2021.


Diamond T was notified of its winning of its fourth award and third star to its "E" flag on June 7, 1945.  Image courtesy of R.E. Olds Museum added 12-19-2021.


The Diamond T Motor Car Company was located at 4401 West 26th Street in Chicago, IL on a 25 acre site.  Seven new buildings were added to meet the demand for trucks during the war.  The total plant size was 750,000 square feet.  Diamond T had three main products during World War Two.  They were 4-ton 6x6 trucks, 12-ton tank transporters, and half-tracks.  Image courtesy of R.E. Olds Museum added 12-19-2021.


This photo shows 4-ton 6x6 trucks on three parallel assembly lines.  Image courtesy of R.E. Olds Museum added 12-19-2021.
This is a photo of the twin half-track assembly lines at Diamond T.  Image courtesy of R.E. Olds Museum added 12-19-2021.


This is May 23, 1941, and the first M3 half-track manufactured by Diamond T.  Image courtesy of R.E. Olds Museum added 12-19-2021.


This is another photo of the first M3 half-track.  Image courtesy of R.E. Olds Museum added 12-19-2021.

Diamond T World War Two Production Numbers:  35,245 trucks of various size, 12,421 half-tracks, and 12 buses.  This information is from Tables 1 and 4.

Table 1 - Diamond T 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 Diamond T Model 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 Total
1/2-ton 4x2 Ammunition Body 201-S   2 1       3
1 1/2-ton 4x4 Bomb Service M6  201   136         136
1 1/2-ton 4x2 Ammunition Body 404-H 6           6
1 1/2-ton 4x2 Ammunition Body 404-S   3 11       14
1 1/2-ton 4x2 Cargo wo/w 404-H 10           10
2 1/2-ton 4x2 Dump 509-H 8           8
2 1/2-ton 4x2 Stake and Platform 406-H 1           1
2 1/2-ton 4x2 Stake and Platform 509-H 10           10
2 1/2-ton 4x2 Telephone Construction and Maintenance 614 7 6 8 47     68
3-ton 4x2 Dump 509-HS   2         2
4-ton 6x6 Cargo LWB w/w  970A   144 201 375 48 84 852
4-ton 6x6 Cargo SWB w/w 967, 968A 366 2,665 2,318 2,821 989 540 9,699
4-ton 6x6 Chassis Ponton LWB w/w 970       126 250 345 721
4-ton 6x6 Chassis SWB w/w 968A   19 99 343 613 402 1,476
4-ton 6x6 Dump SWB w/w 972       1,410 3,137 5,375 9,922
4-ton 6x6 Wrecker w/w 969, 969A, 969B   656 1,994 3,023 250 497 6,420
5-ton Truck 4x2 Ammunition Body 806-W-DR 1 3 16 1     21
5-ton Truck 4x2 Refrigerator 806-W-DR 1 4         5
12-ton 6x4 Tractor M20 980,981   425 1,623 1,198 1,779 846 5,871
40 Passenger Bus ? 12           12
Total   422 4,065 6,271 9,344 7,066 8,089 35,257

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 World War Two.  It also purchased vehicles for the USMC, US Navy, and 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. 

Tables 2 and 3 are from a one-page document found in the collection of the at the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum.  Table 2 is a tabulation of the number of vehicles that Diamond T shipped in 1945.  The 1,564 trucks listed as shipped is not even close to the 8,089 shown in Table 1 for 1945.  As the rest of the records for the other years and other trucks is missing, the numbers in Table 2 are interesting but no doubt incomplete.  Another interesting point is that the document indicates that the number of trucks shipped per month was identical to the number contracted.

The Diamond T Key to the vehicles in Table 2 and 3:
968A LB - (SWB) Chassis and Cab W/W - A.S.P Critical
969A - (SWB) Wrecker W/W
970A - ( LWB) Cargo W/W
970A LB - (LWB) Chassis & Cab W/W - A.S.P Critical
970C - (LWB) 1200 Gallon Fuel and Oil Servicing W/W
970D - (LWB) 1200 Gallon Fuel and Oil Servicing WO/W
972 - (SWB) Dump W/W - A.S.P Critical

Table 2 shows the vehicles contracted for and shipped through July.  These are known to have been built and shipped according to the document.

Table 2 -
"Diamond T Motor Car Company
 Four Ton (6x6) Estimated Schedule of Shipments
Based According ot A.S.P. of August 1, 1945"
Part 1
Month 968A-LB 969A 970A 970A-LB 972 Total
January 29         29
February 29     2   31
March 29     20   49
April 104     20   124
May       39   39
June 95 33   15 92 235
July 96 33 50 94 784 1,057
Total 382 66 50 190 876 1,564

Table 3 is more interesting, as it shows that the U.S. Army was expecting a long campaign in the invasion of Japan and  vehicles ordered through the end of December 1946.  All Diamond T contracts were cancelled on August 14, 1945.  It is unknown whether jobs already completed in early August were accepted by the U.S. Army.  Most likely, unfinished in process jobs were scrapped or sold on the civilian market.  This table shows that the U.S. Army was expecting the need to move a considerable amount of rubble during the invasion of Japan, as Model 972 dump trucks were the majority of the trucks on order.

This table also has columns and scheduled for a 970C and 970D.  Both were proposed 1,200 gallon fuel and oil servicing trucks that had not been previously built.

Table 3 -
"Diamond T Motor Car Company
 Four Ton (6x6) Estimated Schedule of Shipments
Based According ot A.S.P. of August 1, 1945"
Part 2
Month 968A-LB 969A 970A 970A LB 972 970C 970D Total
August 19 41 147 27 766     1,000
September   144 74   932   50 1,200
October   10 74   1041 25 50 1,200
November   11 73   1241 75   1,400
December   101 73   1566     1,740
1945 Total Cancelled Trucks 19 307 144 27 5,546 100 100 6,540
January 21 41 106 15 1,008     1,191
February 21 41 106 15 1,008     1,191
March 21 41 106 15 1,008     1,191
April 20 41 106 15 1,008     1,191
May 20 41 106 15 1,009     1,191
June 20 41 106 15 1,009     1,191
July 14 28           42
August 14 28           42
September 14 28           42
October 14 20           34
November 13             34
December 13             13
1946 Total Cancelled Trucks 205 350 636 90 6,050     7,331
Grand Total Cancelled Trucks 224 657 780 117 11,596 100 100 13,871

 

Table 4 - Diamond T World War Two Half-tracks 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 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 Total
M3   1,087 3,985 3,581     8,573
M3A1       1,737 825   2,562
T48 57mmm Gun Carriage     50 912     962
T19 105mm Howitzer     324       324
Total   1,087 4,279 6,230 825   12,421

Diamond T specifications of 4-ton 6x6 World War Two-built Trucks:  The document shown below was found in the Diamond T information at the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum.  The document is shown in three photos due to its size and the amount of information it contains.


Image courtesy of R.E. Olds Museum added 12-19-2021.


Image courtesy of R.E. Olds Museum added 12-19-2021.


Image courtesy of R.E. Olds Museum added 12-19-2021.

Diamond T Factory Photos:  These are also from the collection at the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum.  With the exception of one or two photos, there was no date or truck model information associated with the photos.  While it is assumed these are World War Two photos, there were several photos in the collection dated 1950.  These photos showed truck drivetrains on trucks for the new country of Pakistan.

The Diamond T Model 982:


The next series of photos show the 982 tractor with a fifth-wheel, as noted in the spreadsheet above.  It is shown in the far right column.  These may be the only photos of this vehicle.  I have not found any other photos of this tractor in the historical record.  Image courtesy of R.E. Olds Museum added 12-19-2021.


Image courtesy of R.E. Olds Museum added 12-19-2021.


Image courtesy of R.E. Olds Museum added 12-19-2021.


Image courtesy of R.E. Olds Museum added 12-19-2021.


The Diamond T Model 981:


This is a 981 and shows the resemblance to the 982 tractor above with the fifth wheel.  This photo was marked in error. This photo was identified as a 969A wrecker.  However, it is a Diamond T Model 981.  Image courtesy of R.E. Olds Museum added 12-19-2021.


This photo shows the inside of the body of a Model 981.  In the background are several Model 968s.  Photo courtesy of the RE Olds Transportation Museum added 12-10-2021. 

  
The Diamond T Model 968:


This 1942 Diamond T factory photo shows the Model 968.  This was a short wheelbase 4-ton 6x6.  Photo courtesy of the RE Olds Transportation Museum added 12-10-2021. 

The Diamond T Model 970A:


This was identified on the back of the photo as a 970A which is a long wheelbase cargo truck.  This is a 1945 photo as are the next four photos.  Photo courtesy of the RE Olds Transportation Museum added 12-10-2021. 


Photo courtesy of the RE Olds Transportation Museum added 12-10-2021. 


Photo courtesy of the RE Olds Transportation Museum added 12-10-2021. 


Photo courtesy of the RE Olds Transportation Museum added 12-10-2021. 

Diamond T M3 Half-tracks:  


This Diamond T M3 half-track built during the Second World War was on display at the 2014 Spirit of St. Louis Air Show.  Author's photo.


Diamond T built 8,573 M3 half-tracks for the war effort.  Author's photo.


Author's photo.


Author's photo.


This photo is looking into the back through the front passenger window.  Author's photo.


Author's photo.


This 1943 Diamond T M3 half-track was seen at the MVPA gathering in Portland, IN on September 20, 2014.  Author's photo added on 9-27-2014.


Author's photo added on 9-27-2014.


Author's photo added on 9-27-2014.

Diamond T M3A1 Half-tracks:  


This Diamond T M3A1 is part of the Museum of American Armor in Bethpage, NY.  Author's photo added 4-20-2020.


Author's photo added 4-20-2020.


This Diamond T half-track was built in 1941 as part of a group of M3s with serial numbers 1904-3903.  It was then one of 1,045 Diamond T M3s that were converted to M3A1s in 1944 by Bowen and McLaughlin.  These vehicles were allowed to keep their original Diamond T serial numbers.  Author's photo added 4-20-2020.


This M3A1 was photographed in the Armor Museum Restoration Shop's paint building at Fort Benning, GA.  Author's photo added 9-20-2018. 


This M3A1 is serial number 1834W which does not match up with any that are associated with Diamond T.  Yet this does appear to be an original Diamond T data plate.  Author's photo added 9-20-2018. 


Author's photo added 9-20-2018. 


Author's photo added 9-20-2018. 


Author's photo added 9-20-2018. 


Author's photo added 9-20-2018. 


This Diamond T M3A1 is on display at the Russell Military Museum in Zion, IL.  Author's photo added 4-20-2020.


Author's photo added 4-20-2020.

Diamond T Model 969A 4-ton 6x6 Wrecker:

 


The Museum of American Armor in Old Bethpage, Long Island, NY has this very nice restoration of a Diamond T 6x6 four-ton wrecker.  Author's photo added 6-11-2018.


 Author's photo added 6-11-2018.


 Author's photo added 6-11-2018.


This 1942 Diamond T 969A wrecker is on display at the Army Transportation Museum at Fort Eustis, VA.  Author's photo added 8-8-2021.


 Author's photo added 8-8-2021.


This Diamond T 969A belongs to a private owner in Michigan and is serial number 3479.  Author's photo added 9-25-2020.


Author's photo added 9-25-2020.


This Diamond-T wrecker was on display in the re-enactor area at  2019 Conneaut D-Day 75 at Conneaut, OH.  This wrecker saw service in Europe during World War Two, was re-conditioned by the U.S. Army in Germany in 1950, and then returned to the United States in the 1970s.  It is currently owed by Ryan Sekerski of Cochranton, PA.  Author's photo added 8-21-2019.


This 1943 Diamond T Wrecker was seen at the MVPA 2013 Rally at the Ropkey Armor Museum.  Author's photo.


 Author's photo.


This Diamond T Model 969 Wrecker, or Breakdown Truck as the Canadians call it, is on display at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, ONT.  Author's photo added 9-13-2016.


This Diamond T Model 969 Wrecker was on display at the 2017 WWII Weekend in Reading, PA.  Author's photo added 6-14-2017.


Author's photo added 6-14-2017.


The distinctive "T" for Diamond T is on the radiator grill.  Author's photo added 6-14-2017.


This derelict Diamond T World War Two wrecker is located at the Fort Economy Museum in Hallsville, OH.  Author's photo added on 1-24-2016.


 Author's photo added on 1-24-2016.


A Diamond T wrecker pulls, what appears to be, a 4 or 5 ton 4x2 tractor into a maintenance area.


A Diamond T wrecker is towing a captured German tank.

Diamond T Models 980, 981 12-ton 6x4 Tractor M20:  The M20 was designed to be mated with a 45-ton M9 trailer for the transport of medium and heavy tanks.  The combined unit was the M19 heavy tank transporter.  The Model 980 did not have a foreword operating winch, and the Model 981 did.


This is an M19 Heavy Tank Transporter with the Diamond T M20 and a M9 trailer.  This M20 was a later model 981 produced with a soft top cab which was introduced as a cost savings.  The original M20s had hard top cabs and were designated as model 980.  Note the opening in the left front bumper for the winch.

Author's note:  These two pieces of equipment were photographed at the National Military Historical Center in Auburn, IN in 2013.  They are no longer at this museum as they were sold in 2017 or 2018.  The photos will be left on this website as this is the only complete M19 Heavy Tank Transporter I have found to date.
DDJ 6-11-2018


The Diamond T symbol is on the front of the hood.


Between the cab and the bed is the winch that in the Model 981 runs to the front of the truck and the back.  The primary purpose of the winch was to pull disabled tanks onto the M9 trailer.


The next five photos detail this Diamond T closed cab Model 980 truck built in 1943.


There are no headlights, but it does have one blackout lamp.  The Model 980 had a hole in the front bumper for use of the winch to the front.


The Diamond T logo is still mounted on the hood.  In 1942-43 the military directed that manufacturer's IDs be removed from all vehicles, making this one of the last to still have the logo.


This truck was photographed at the MVPA 2013 Rally at the Ropkey Armor Museum in Crawfordsville, IN.  The winch  is located between the cab and the bed.


This photo shows where the winch cables come out of the rear of the truck.  The bed could be used for ballast if needed.


This Diamond T model 980 is at the Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes, IN.  Author's photo added 1-23-2019.  It is missing the bed and winch.


This was built after the Army Ordnance decreed that the manufacturer's identification could not be on the truck.  The Diamond T symbol is not on the front of the vehicle, as it is in the above examples.  Author's photo added 1-23-2019.


Author's photo added 1-23-2019.


The M20s were powered by a Hercules DFXE 895 cu. in. six-cylinder diesel engine of 185 h.p.  However, this truck has a Hall-Scott 440 1090 cu. in. six-cylinder gasoline powered engine producing 240 h.p.  The Hall-Scott 440 was only used in the M26 Dragon Wagon.  Author's photo added 1-23-2019.


 Author's photo added 1-23-2019.

Diamond T Model 975A Type M Machinery Truck:


This Diamond T is on display at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, ONT.  It is designated as a Model 975A Type M Machinery Truck.  Author's photo added 9-13-2016.


 Author's photo added 9-13-2016.


 The Diamond T Model 975A provided the Canadian Military with a chassis for a mobile machine shop. Author's photo added 9-13-2016.

 

 

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