Figure 1.--The Jeep was an American vehicle, but delivered in large numbers to Allied countries through Lend Lease. This press photo shows a jeep provided to the British in Italy. The press caption read, "Headed for Safety: Crammed into a British Army vehicle these women and children are being driven to a safe area during the Fifth Army's battle for Salerno. Living in the neighborhood of santa Santa Lucia, they came under German mortafr fire before British troops evacuated them from the area." The Allies began the invasion of Italy with Mongomery's Eighth Army in Calabria--the 'toe' of Italy (September 3). The Allies assumed that Kesseling would rush forward and engage him and the American Fifth Army would them attack from the rear when they labded at Salerno. He did not, however, take the bait and the Germans were prepared for the Americans when they landed at Salerno (Setember 9). American commanders complained that Montgomery advanced leisurely against token resistance while the issue at Salerno was in doubt. Notice the AFPU written on the side and front of the jeep. The Army Film and Photographic Unit was a specialised unit of the British armed establoshed to record the military operations of Britain and the Commonwealth. The photograph was dated October 9, 1943.

The Willys Jeep is the original all-terraine four-wheel vehicle. This vehicle type made its first appearance during the War. The U.S. Army introduced it in 1941. It is one of the iconic vehicles of the War. Soldiers christened it a 'jeep', no one knows just why. The best guesses are the initials GP, meaning general purpose. Another theory is ‘Eugene the Jeep,’ a small, mysterious animal of great resourcefulness and power, first appearing in the Popeye comic strip during 1936. The jeep was akind of small truck and aload carrying cart could be attached. The name thus carried over to the small escort crriers built by the United states--they became known as jeep carriers. Many American servicemen recall with affection the utilitarian jeep. It proved to be the most utilitarian vehicle of the War. The United States built an incredible 0.6 million and shipped large numbers to both the Britsh and Soviets. The Soviets were not impressed with American tanks, but trucks and jeeps were an entirely different matter. The Germans had a comparable vehicle--the VW Kübelsitzwagen. It was also an excellent vehicle, but the Germans did not have the industrial capacity to build them in anything like the same numbers as the Americans. This is the primary reason that the Germans used the motorcycle more extensively than the Allies. The vehicles were used for multiple purposes. Armored cars and small tanks were initially conceived as rconisance vehicles, but because of mobility limitaions, it was the ATV vehicles were often employed for reconisance, especially by the U.S. Army.

Created: 1:49 AM 1/27/2017
Last updated: 1:49 AM 1/27/2017