Liberty trucks History
Liberty truck is the name of a truck used by the US armed forces in the First World War from 1917 to 1919.
History
During World War I The first experience of the Army with trucks as transport vehicles for military goods as well as towing vehicles for artillery in 1916 On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war on the German Reich. addition to some 2 million soldiers, they brought a variety of motor vehicles, including 51,554 trucks including 9452 Liberty trucks to Europe. The trucks were also left in large numbers to the allies. Liberty truck does not designate a car brand, but a model produced by several manufacturers.
Immediately after the entry of the United States, a body was created under the direction of the US Army Quartermaster Corps, which included the military and the Society of Automotive Engineers and the automotive industry. The aim was to create a simply constructed, particularly robust commercial vehicle with easily exchangeable components. Since model diversity leads to considerable disadvantages in every military operation, in particular with regard to spare parts stocking, maintenance and repair, it was decided to manufacture a manufacturer-independent vehicle by standardizing all components. As a result, a large number of companies involved volunteers in the development process.
Besides commercial vehicle manufacturers such as Diamond T, Selden, Pierce-Arrow, Sterling, Velia, Packard, Garford Company, Brockway Motor, Gram Amber, Republic and Bethlehem, a total of 62 automotive suppliers such as Waukesha Engines (Motors), Westinghouse Electric (Electrical Components), Continental Motors Company (Engines), Kelly-Springfield Tire Company (Full Tires), Splitdorf Electrical Co. (Magneto), Timken Company (Axis) and Muncie Gear Works (Transmission). Thanks to the special dedication of the volunteers, not least because of the patriotism that prevailed in the USA, it was possible to start serial production just a few months after the planning began. The first Liberty truck left the production hall on October 9, 1917.The vehicles were transported across the Atlantic to Saint-Nazaire, the main supply port of the United States in France. They served the American Expeditionary Forces as well as the Allies to deliver the enormous demand for ammunition, fuel, equipment and food to the front. Also, special water transport units (water tank train) have been set up, wherein a Liberty truck with three water tanks for each 250 gallons was equipped. In addition, there were versions with telecommunications equipment for the United States Army Signal Corps, mobile workshops, tow trucks and headlight vehicles; they also served officers as a transport opportunity (crews usually marched on foot). On the way back from the front, the vehicles carried heavily wounded soldiers; After the ceasefire in 1918, they were also used for the transfer of the first dead in temporary tombs brought war dead to permanent military cemeteries.
The United States Department of War had established a number of technical specifications in the contract award: Thus, to increase the off-road capability, a high ground clearance and a limited slip differential required. Since the vehicles predominantly as supply vehicles in slower file driving should be used, one was four-speed transmission with very low-translated creeper required as well as a large-sized cooler to prevent overheating of the engine. To increase the range was a large fuel tank intended.
All but one of the first vehicles had a Continental engine, with recourse to engine parts from a number of suppliers; for example, the cylinder heads were supplied by Waukesha Engines. Mandatory was also an engine mount at three points. The engines with 27 bhp (about 27 hp, 20 kW) on the Liberty Model A truck and 52 bhp (about 53 hp, 39 kW) on the Liberty Model B truck powered the rear axle. The latter allowed a maximum speed of 15 mph, which corresponded to the then usual standard for trucks. Also, the Solid rubber tires were then still considered the state of the art in commercial vehicles; some models were also equipped with wooden wheels that were studded with a metal ring. The overall dimensions of the vehicle were given as 6.52 × 2.1 × 1.87 m: the wheelbase was 4 m. Doors did not have the simply constructed vehicles.
The US Army as the customer paid a fixed price of $ 600 per vehicle. In order to avoid delays and other problems with possible royalties to owners of patents, an existing truck construction was used. The train was a design by the Gramm-Bernstein Motor Truck Company in Lima (Ohio). The Liberty truck, regardless of the manufacturer of the name United States contributed to the radiator, is one of the first robust automobiles, the economically supply could transport under the special conditions of war.
Use after the war
After the end of World War, most of the American war machine was returned to the United States. However, the repatriation of thousands of lorries and the marketing of vehicles that are also suitable for civilian use would have made the sale of new vehicles in the USA considerably more difficult in the medium term. As a result, the US government, including at the insistence of automotive industry stakeholders, renounced the repatriation of Liberty trucks. In the communication, cost reasons were given priority for this decision.
Many of the vehicles left behind in France and Belgium were converted to civilian trucks in Europe. The sale led to difficulties for French commercial vehicle manufacturers and contributed to the temporary insolvency of the large manufacturer Berlet. On the other hand, it allowed the creation and rise of new companies that bought the vehicles cheaply and specialized in the conversion and marketing of Liberty trucks. These included the French company Establishment Willem (which became one of the major commercial vehicle manufacturers in France) and the Belgian company Belge of the Liberty car-club (from which later became the Société Franco-belge of the car Liberty was born).
Thanks to the robust and - as usual at the beginning of the 20th century - construction designed for an unbroken lifespan, even today some Liberty trucks are in roadworthy condition - after almost 100 years. In addition, well-preserved vehicles are on display in several museums.
Models
- Liberty Standard AA 3/4 tons; 4 × 2 ("Model AA")
- Liberty Standard A 2 tons; 4 × 2 ("Model A")
- Liberty Standard B 3 tons; 4 × 2, rear dual tires ("Model B")
- Liberty Standard C 5 tons; 4 × 3, rear axles double tires ("Model C")
