From 1943 on, the Soviet Union received almost 25,000 WC, mainly through the Persian Corridor, where the vehicles had been delivered in knocked-down state and assembled in the southern truck assembly plants of Korremshahr and Andimeshk (»Little Detroit«).
The vehicles became as ubiquitous on the Eastern battlefields as the Studebaker US6 and the Jeep and, though officially called »Weapons Carrier«, were primarly used as gun tractors and troop carriers.
However, the sample shown here rectifies its name as it carries one DShK 12.7mm HeavyMachineGun.

Developed in 1938 by Russian engineers Degtyarev and Shpagin (hence the abbreviation, the »K« for »krupnokaliberniy« = large calibre), the weapon proved highly successful against low-flying aircraft, soft targets and pillboxes.
It is even said that the machinegunned Dodge WCs sometimes accompanied tanks during street fightings in order to protect them against the dangerous German Panzerfaust ambushes.

Beside the WC52 shown here, and the WC51 (without winch), Lend-Lease to Russia included small amounts of the WC53 (»Carryall«) as well. The WC series is widely considered to be the most successful wheeled vehicle of WW2.

Note :
The vehicle shown here belongs to an early production badge as is indicated by :

• the firm embleme on the front hood,
• the early style radiator grill,
• the high-board rear body and
• the wide toolrack on the rear board.

Special thanks to Mr. Liucijus Suslavicius, Lithuania, for providing precious informations.