In 1940, some 1000 GMC ACKWX-353, 3-ton, 6x6 trucks, ordered by the French before their defeat and due to the latter not delivered anymore, were diverted to Britain.

These "ex-French-contracts" differed from those produced for the domestic US Quartermaster mainly by the type of cargo body, the smaller engine and the significantly longer (177in. to 164in.) longer wheelbase.

The British recipients deemed the ACKWX-353 unsuitable for military use due to its size and power.

The need to supply Russia with trucks from 1941 on therefore arose as a welcome means for the British to get rid of at least a certain amount of the trucks.

Of course, they later significantly changed their mind with regard to the direct successor of the ACKWX, the well-known "Deuce-and-a-half".

Sidenote :
The small brother of the ACKWX-353, in some sense an "ex-French" as well, the 1.5-ton 4x4 ACK-353 could also be seen on the Eastern Front as part of the Wehrmacht auto park.