Figure 1.--

The most important wheeled vehicle was th etruck. This would be as the principal American industrial contribution to the War. American trucks arrived in Europe nearly 3 years before American soldiers, but not in large numbers. Ford began working on trucks, almost a decade before the Model-T (1900). The Model-T Ford began to transform America (1909) and trucks quickly based on the Model-T soon appeared. Ford introduced the Model T One-Ton truck chassis, the first chassis built specifically for trucks (1917). Trucks were still a rarity in Europe but were becoming importnt in America. General Pershing had learned an important lesson in Mexico--the needed for interchangeable parts. As a result, the AEF brought with it 100,000 trucks--mostly the standard type V Liberty truck. As well as plenty of replacement parts. It was the major American industrial contribution to the War. While the Americans had not geared up their own weapons production, they did have trucks and the industrial capacity to produce them in large numbers. The trucks weren't practical in the mud at the front, but were widely used behind the front lines significantly improving the Allied logistical capability. We also see armored cars. They were important in the Middle East where mud was rarely a problem. World War I was the first war in which motorcyles were used to any significant extent. There became extensiveky used for messengers because radio communications were just beginning to be developed.
The most important wheeled vehicle was the . This would be as the principal American industrial contribution to the War. American trucks arrived in Europe nearly 3 years before American soldiers, but not in large numbers. Ford began working on trucks, almost a decade before the Model-T (1900). The Model-T Ford began to transform America (1909) and trucks quickly based on the Model-T soon appeared. Ford introduced the Model T One-Ton truck chassis, the first chassis built specifically for trucks (1917). Trucks were still a rarity in Europe but were becoming importnt in America. General Pershing had learned an important lesson in Mexico--the needed for interchangeable parts. As a result, the AEF brought with it 100,000 trucks--mostly the standard type V Liberty truck. As well as plenty of replacement parts. It was the major American industrial contribution to the War. While the Americans had not geared up their own weapons production, they did have trucks and the industrial caoacity to oriduce them in lrge numbers. The trucks weren't practical in the mud at the front, but were widely used behind the front lines sugnificntly improving the Allied logistical capability. We also see armored cars. They were important in the Middle East where mud was rarely a problem. World War I was the first war in which motorcyles were used to any significant extent. There became extensiveky used for messengers because radio communications were just beginning to be developed.

Trucks

The most important wheeled vehicle was the truck. This would be as the principal American industrial contribution to the War. American trucks arrived in Europe nearly 3 years before American soldiers, but not in large numbers. Ford began working on trucks, almost a decade before the Model-T (1900). The Model-T Ford began to transform America (1909) and trucks quickly based on the Model-T soon appeared. Ford introduced the Model T One-Ton truck chassis, the first chassis built specifically for trucks (1917). Trucks were still a rarity in Europe but were becoming importnt in America. General Pershing had learned an important lesson in Mexico--the needed for interchangeable parts. As a result, the AEF brought with it 100,000 trucks--mostly the standard type V Liberty truck. As well as plenty of replacement parts. It was the major American industrial contribution to the War. While the Americans had not geared up their own weapons production, they did have trucks and the industrial capacity to produce them in large numbers. The trucks weren't practical in the mud at the front, but were widely used behind the front lines significntly improving the Allied logistical capability. We also see armored cars. They were important in the Middle East where mud was rarely a problem.

Armored Trucks

Motorcycles

he motorcycle was important during World War I. There became extensively used for messengers because radio communications were just beginning to be developed. They served for dispatch riders and scouts and wuth a side car to transport individuals and particularly valuable supplies. But the primary use was communications. One of the greatest problems World War I commannders faced was how to communicate with units on the move, especailly advamcing units. By the time of World War I, the telegraph and telephine had improved military communicatiins. But they primarily required fixed land lines. Which advancing units did not have. Until these linges were established, advancing units wsere out of touch. Thus they had to fall back on the mounted mnessenger—in this case mounted on motor cycles. And they were also important for commuications with stationary units when documents and maps had to be delivered. There were wireless communication, but they required bulky sending and reciving stations beyond the means of advancing units. The U.S. Army began using motorcycles even before the War broke out in Europe. General John J. Pershing was ordered to arrest Pancho Villa who staged attacks across the border (1913). As part of that operation, American firces used Harley-Davidson motorcycles. One third of the company's production was solds to the military (1917). European armies also begun using the fast and agile motorcycles as reconnaissance, communication, and transport vehicles as well as ambulances. The European armies began the war with horse calvalry and transport, but this rapidly changed as the War progressed. Sidecars were developed which could be fitted on the cycles. These could carry individuals and could be used for weapons like machine guns. Thus when the United States finally entered the War (1917). the motorcycle was being widely used by the major combatant countries. The U.S. Army used an estimated 20,000 motorcycles during the War. The first American to enter Germany after the armistice is believed to have been motorcycle dispatch rider Cpl. Roy Holtz.

Created: 10:33 PM 8/30/2018
Last updated: 1:35 AM 8/13/2021