The Class-B Standardized Military Truck or "Liberty Truck" was a heavy-duty truck produced by the United States Army during World War I. It was designed by the Quartermaster Corps with help from the Society of Automotive Engineers in 1917 in an effort to help standardize the immense parts catalogue and multiple types of vehicles then in use by the US military, as well as create a truck which possessed all the best features of heavy truck technology then available. It was the first official standardized motor vehicle adopted and produced by the US Military.
3rd Division soldiers somewhere in France with First-series Liberty truck, 1918
The Liberty truck was designed by the Motor Transport section of the Quartermaster Corps in cooperation with the members of the civilian Society of Automotive Engineers.
Prototype design of the 3–5 ton truck began in mid-1917, and the first two running prototypes appeared 69 days after the design was finalized in mid-1917. Both trucks were assembled and driven over 400 miles from their assembly locations to Washington D.C., arriving without any major breakages or halts on October 19, 1917 and presented to Secretary of War Newton D. Baker. Following its approval and subsequent small changes to some design and technical aspects, official production of the First-type truck began in January 1918 with parts being produced by 150 different suppliers and assembly contracts awarded to 15 companies.[1] The following are numbers produced in total prior to the signing of the Armistice of 11 November 1918:
Of the 9,364 produced prior to the Armistice, several made it to French shores all of the 1st Series variant with electric lights. The first trucks arrived in early October 1918 and steadily flowed into French ports before and after the Armistice.[3] Few made it into frontline service by wars end. Contracts for an additional 43,000 vehicles were canceled in December 1918 and production halted on trucks entirely by 1919. Following the war, many Class-B Liberty trucks were sold-off surplus to the civilian market and other militaries. Some trucks would see use by foreign armies such as the early Polish Airforce and Army during the Polish-Bolshevik War of 1920-21, as well as with the American Expeditionary Force, Siberia.[4] However, several trucks would continue service with the US Military into the lean days of the late 20s and early 30s receiving engine, body and tire upgrades transforming them into wholly different trucks. The trucks seem to have generally disappeared from military use by 1940.
First Series Liberty Truck in use by Polish AirForce ca. 1919-20First-series truck with AEF in Siberia near Narwa, ca. 1919
Ball and coil spring device to hold starter crank up in front
Primarily wooden spoke wheels vs. more robust steel wheels but Steel wheels were issued on 1st variant in later production (reference photo of Indiana manufacturing plant storage lot)
Single clamp hold-down radiator cap threaded in the center into the radiator
Electric side lights
Electric Guide lights up front on the frame horn members inside wheel area
Electric tail lamp
Electrical troubleshooting lamp plug in dash
Dual ignition switch on dash for battery and magneto ignition simultaneous operation.
Ammeter in dash switch cluster (lights/battery/mag, the gauge and a plug socket for a trouble light)
Single dash-mounted fuel tank which gravity fed the carburetor
Series II
Magneto only, (distributor, battery, generator and electrical light systems removed)Second-Series Liberty Truck showing oil side lamps and gas searchlight
Pressed steel spring clip to hold starting crank, vs. ball under spring clamp
Carbide Gas illuminated spot/driving light in the center of the dashboard powered by 'Solar' brand gas generator
Oil wick illuminated side lights (possible transition from electric as they dropped the battery system)
Oil wick rear taillamp
Spring-mounted oil fill caps raised to vertical level for easier filling on suspension
Oil filler for engine moved to rear of block
Radiator uses flip-type cap with hinge to rear and lock bolts on the sides
Reserve fuel tank under passenger seat
Manual fuel transfer hand pump on extreme right of cab for transferring fuel from the underseat-mounted reserve tank to primary dash mounted tank (co-driver job)
A 'Class-C' 6-wheeled truck based upon the Class-B Liberty design was also proposed, but never manufactured during WW1. The extension of the frame and addition of a 3rd axle was a common alteration made to several surplus Class-B trucks in civilian and industrial service. The truck was also commonly encountered in other civilian-built variations with frame-mounted equipment such as drills, cranes, and liquid transport tanks.
The Standard B "Liberty" truck's powertrain utilized a gasoline powered 425 cubic-inch L-head inline four cylinder engine that put out 52 horsepower, a 4 speed transmission, and a 4 X 2 drive setup. The Liberty's four-speed coupled with its engine gave the truck a top speed of about 15 miles per hour (24 km/h).[5] The engine was a collaboration amongst 5 different companies including the Buda Engine Co. (timing gear), Waukesha Engine (timing gear, governor, cylinders), Continental (cylinders, crank case), the Hercules Engine Company (pistons), and the Wisconsin Motor Manufacturing Company (timing gear, oiling system). This was just one example of the collaborative effort involved in designing the truck which helped to speed its production and design.[6]
Liberty Truck Engine, Offset right-side Cut-AwayLiberty Truck Engine, Right-side Cut-Awayshowing crankshaft and pistonsRestored Liberty Truck at the National Museum of the USAF in Dayton, OH
The engine consumed standard gasoline at a rate of about 3.5 to 7 miles per gallon depending on terrain, speed and driving ability. The truck has a maximum fuel capacity of around 22 gallons which includes the primary dash-mounted fuel tank and a larger reserve tank mounted under the right-hand side of the seat box.
One First-series truck in Dorset, UK under private ownership (restoration on-going) Cantigny Park Liberty Truck, 2018One First-series truck owned by the Texas Department of Transportation, restored to 1930s civilian configuration
^Mroz, Albert.American Military Vehicles of World War I: An Illustrated History of Armored Cars, Staff Cars, Motorcycles, Ambulances, Trucks, Tractors and Tanks, Jefferson N.C.: McFarland & Company Inc., 2009. pg. 232-4.
^Mroz, Albert.The Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Trucks and Commercial Vehicles, Iola, WI: Kraus Publications, 1996. pg. 246-7.
^The Stars and Stripes Newspaper, 'Liberty Truck, Americas Best, Reaches France'. October 4, 1918. Vol. 1, No. 35, p. 8.
^Tarczyński, Jan, Barbaski Krzysztof, and Jońka, Adam. Pojazdy w Wojsku Polskim: 1918-1939.Londyn: Komisja Historyczna b. Sztabu Głównego PSZ, Oficyna Wydawnicza "Ajaks", 1995.
