Ford GPA

Last updated
Ford GPA 'Seep' (Sea Jeep)
Ford GPA Amphibious Jeep pic1.JPG
Overview
Manufacturer Ford
Production12,778 (1942–1943)
AssemblyUnited States
Body and chassis
Class Amphibious military utility vehicle
Layout front-engine RWD / 4×4
Platform Ford GP
Related GAZ-46 (MAV)
Powertrain
Engine
  • 4-cyl. side valves
  • 134 cu in (2,200 cc), 60 hp
Transmission
  • 3-speed + 2-speed transfer case
  • Low range engages FWD
  • PTO propeller drive
Dimensions
Wheelbase 84 inches (2.13 m)
Length182 inches (4.62 m)
Width64 inches (1.63 m)
Height
  • 69 inches (1.75 m)
  • 45 inches (1.14 m) reducible
Curb weight
  • 1,110 kg
  • 1,610 kg (GWV)

The Ford GPA "Seep" (Government 'P' Amphibious, where 'P' stood for its 80-inch wheelbase), with supply catalog number G504, was an amphibious version of the World War II Ford GPW jeep. Over 12 thousand were made and they served with Allied forces in the many theatres of WW2, including the Pacific, Eastern front, and from D-day to the end. After the war as surplus they found many niche roles, and today examples can be found in museums collections or at military history shows.

Contents

Design features concept was similar to the larger and successful DUKW amphibious 212-ton truck were used on the GPA, but unlike these and the jeep, the 'seep' was not as successful a design. It was considered too slow and heavy on land, and lacked sufficient seagoing abilities in open water, due mainly to its low freeboard. [1] Despite this it did have widespread use across the theatres of WW2.

The Soviet Union received one third of the total GPA production under Lend Lease, and were sufficiently satisfied with its ability to cross calmer inland waters, that they produced a copy, the GAZ-46.

History and development

Wartime Ford GPA trials in the Detroit area Ford-GPA-trials.jpg
Wartime Ford GPA trials in the Detroit area

After having commissioned Willys, Ford and Bantam to build the first 4,500 jeeps (1500 each) in March 1941, the US Motor Transport Board set up a project under the direction of the National Defense Research Committee (NDRC) to be designated "QMC-4 1/4 Ton Truck Light Amphibian". [1]

Roderick Stephens Jr. of Sparkman & Stephens Inc. yacht designers was asked to design a shape for a 2,700-pound (1,200 kg) amphibious jeep, in the same vein as his later design for the DUKW six-wheel-drive amphibious truck. Stephens' hull design looked like a miniature version of that of the DUKW, and just like it, the 'Seep' was going to have a screw propeller, driven by a power take-off, operating in a dedicated tunnel faired into the rear end bodywork, as well as a proper rudder.

The construction of the vehicle was developed in competition by Marmon-Herrington and Ford Motor Company. Marmon-Herrington specialized in all-wheel-drive vehicles. [2] The Marmon-Herrington prototype's hull formed an integral unibody structure, created by cutting shapes out of steel sheet and welding those together. The Ford entry, however, used a sturdy chassis and internal frame, to which more or less regular automobile type sheet-steel was welded. This construction made the GPA some 400 pounds (180 kg) lighter than its competitor. The GPA's design was based on the Willys MB and Ford GPW standard Jeeps as much as possible, using many of the same parts. In 1944 the US Army issued a bulletin explaining how axles could be salvaged from unwanted GPAs and used to repair standard jeeps. [3] The GPA had an interior similar to that of the MB/GPW jeeps, although the driver's compartment had almost twice as many control levers: 2WD/4WD, hi-range/lo-range, capstan winch (on the bows), propeller deployment and rudder control. After a direct comparison of the two companies' prototypes, Ford received a contract for production starting in 1942.

The GPA was powered by an in-line 4 cylinder engine with carburetor, that could produce about 60 hp. It had 4 wheel drive with a 3 speed transmission and 2-speed transfer case. It had two live axles on a leaf suspension, with 4 wheel drum brakes. The engine also could power a prop and a bilge pump. It had a spray shield and windshield wiper. [4]

Service

Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey (left) and Major-General Percy Hobart stand by a Ford GPA during D-Day exercises in the United Kingdom, 1 May 1944. The British Army in the United Kingdom 1939-45 H38215.jpg
Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey (left) and Major-General Percy Hobart stand by a Ford GPA during D-Day exercises in the United Kingdom, 1 May 1944.

In contrast to the DUKW, the GPA did not perform well in the field. At some 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) the production truck had become much heavier than the original 1,200 kg (2,600 lb) specified in the design brief, but its volume had not been increased accordingly. As a consequence, a low freeboard in the water meant that the GPA could not handle more than a light chop or carry much cargo. The GPA's intended use of ferrying troops and cargo from ships off-shore, over a beach and continuing inland, was therefore very limited.[ citation needed ]

On land, the vehicle was too heavy and its body too unwieldy to be popular with the soldiers. GPAs would frequently get stuck in shallow waters, where the regular Willys MB's water fording abilities allowed it to drive straight through [5] [ page needed ]. Production was already halted in March 1943 after production of only 12,778 vehicles [1] due to financial quibbles between Ford and the US government, as well as bad reception of the vehicle in theatre. Some sources state that less than half of that number were ever completed [6] [ page needed ], serial numbers of surviving specimens suggest that the figure of around 12,700 is actually correct. [7]

GPAs participated in the Sicily landings of September 1943 after a small number were used in action earlier in North Africa. Some also saw service the Pacific theater. Under the Lend-Lease programme, some 4,486 GPAs were sent to US Allies. The largest recipients were the Soviet Union which received 3,520 and the British Commonwealth which received 852 GPAs. [8]

Postwar

With splash guard folded back Ford GPA.jpg
With splash guard folded back
With splash guard in forward position Ford GPA Amphibious Jeep pic4.JPG
With splash guard in forward position
Interior of preserved GPA, 2010 Ford GPA (2).jpg
Interior of preserved GPA, 2010
Engine compartment Ford quarter ton 4x4 Amphibian GPA truck (5637319032).jpg
Engine compartment

The USSR developed a derivative of the GPA after the war. The GAZ-46 MAV, which closely resembled the GPA, entered production in 1952. The GAZ-46 was exported to many [ citation needed ] USSR-allied countries.

GPAs were also sold as surplus and were purchased by farmers, ranchers, adventurers and others. By the 1970s, collectors had discovered them, and started restoring them back to their original specifications. They appear at various military vehicle shows.

The GPA was popular with adventurers, farmers, ranchers and by the 21st century about 200 survive of the 12,700+ production have survived, [9] although this may be as low as 100 surviving examples. The vehicle is popular with collectors, and well preserved examples have been sold at auction for 125 thousand USD in 2016. [4]

Half-Safe and other conversions

After World War II, several adventurers converted surplus GPAs into world-travelling machines.

The most famous one was during the 1950s when Australian Ben Carlin (1912–1981) sailed and drove a modified Seep, that he called "Half-Safe" [10] [11] on a journey around the world. The Guinness World Records recognises Carlin as having completed the "first and only circumnavigation by an amphibious vehicle". [12]

A young American couple, Helen and Frank Schreider, converted one which they called "La Tortuga" and traveled from Los Angeles to the Southern tip of South America (1954–1956). They later converted another one called "Tortuga II" which they used on National Geographic expeditions in India (1959) and Indonesia (1961). [13]

World War II British paratrooper veteran Lionel Force purchased a GPA from Levy's Surplus in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and called it "The Amphib". [14] Among many changes, he grafted on a roof from a Dodge station wagon and lengthened the hull at the stern. He used the top halves of the doors, but knowing that he might be tied up alongside a dock, he added a round roof hatch. He planned to travel from Toronto to England via the US, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, South America including Brazil, Africa, the Middle East, Greece and up to England. He got as far as Panama but turned back when he learned that the freighter upon which he intended to ship "The Amphib" from Brazil to Africa had been taken out of service.

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 "Ford GPA amphibious jeep story". www.m201.com.
  2. Spoelstra, Hanno. "Trucks converted with Marmon-Herrington All-Wheel Drive Conversion Kits". Marmon-Herrington Military Vehicles.
  3. Bass, Gordon (2017). The Last Great Australian Adventurer. Penguin Random House Australia. p. 60. ISBN   9781925324990.
  4. 1 2 "Bonhams Cars : 1942 FORD GPA AMPHIBIOUSChassis no. 3936Engine no. 3936". cars.bonhams.com. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  5. Pohl (1998)
  6. Pohl; 1989, Carlin,
  7. "FORD GPA AMPHIBIOUS JEEP".
  8. "HyperWar: Lend-Lease Shipments, World War II (Ordnance)".
  9. "Ford GPA Seep (1942-1943) - Museum of The American G.I." americangimuseum.org. 2015-04-14. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  10. "Half-Safe". members.iinet.com.au.
  11. Rukavina, Peter. "Half-Safe: Across the Atlantic by Jeep". ruk.ca.
  12. First circumnavigation by amphibious car Archived 14 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine – Guinness World Records. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  13. Helen and Frank Schreider, "20,000 Miles South, A Pan-American Adventure", Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden City, New York, 1957.
  14. "1942 GPA 4545".

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeep</span> American automobile brand

Jeep is an American automobile marque, now owned by multi-national corporation Stellantis. Jeep has been part of Chrysler since 1987, when Chrysler acquired the Jeep brand, along with other assets, from their previous owner American Motors Corporation (AMC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volkswagen Schwimmwagen</span> Amphibious transport

The Volkswagen Schwimmwagen is a light four-wheel drive amphibious car, used extensively by German ground forces during the Second World War. With over 15,000 units built, the Schwimmwagen is the most-produced amphibious car in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amphibious vehicle</span> Vehicle capable of transport on both land and over/under water

An amphibious vehicle is a vehicle that is a means of transport viable on land as well as on or under water. Amphibious vehicles include amphibious bicycles, ATVs, cars, buses, trucks, railway vehicles, combat vehicles and hovercraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Four-wheel drive</span> Type of drivetrain with four driven wheels

A four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 or 4WD, is a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer case providing an additional output drive shaft and, in many instances, additional gear ranges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DUKW</span> US amphibious transport

The DUKW is a six-wheel-drive amphibious modification of the 2+12-ton CCKW trucks used by the U.S. military during World War II and the Korean War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GAZ-69</span> Soviet four-wheel drive light truck

The GAZ-69 is a four-wheel drive off-road vehicle produced by GAZ between 1953 and 1956 and then by UAZ, in 1956–1972, though all of these light truck class vehicles were known as GAZ-69s. It was also produced in Romania until 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car</span> Armoured car

The Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car was a series of armoured vehicles that were produced in South Africa and adopted by the British Army during the Second World War. RAF Armoured Car companies possessed them, but seem never to have used them in action, making greater use of Rolls-Royce Armoured Cars and other types.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armoured Carrier Wheeled Indian Pattern</span> British Indian armoured car

Armoured Carrier, Wheeled, Indian Pattern (ACV-IP), known also as Indian Pattern Carrier or other similar names, was an armoured car produced in India during the Second World War. It was typically armed with a Bren light machine gun. Those produced by Tata Locomotives were called "Tatanagars" after the location of the works. 4,655 were produced, used by Indian units in the Far East and Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre, typically in divisional reconnaissance regiments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dingo (scout car)</span> Australian scout car

The Dingo Scout Car was a light armoured car built in Australia during World War II. They were produced by the Ford motor company during 1942.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willys MB</span> U.S. military vehicle of WWII ("Jeep")

The Willys MB and the Ford GPW, both formally called the U.S. Army Truck, 14‑ton, 4×4, Command Reconnaissance, commonly known as the Willys Jeep, Jeep, or jeep, and sometimes referred to by its Standard Army vehicle supply nr. G-503, were highly successful American off-road capable, light military utility vehicles. Well over 600,000 were built to a single standardized design, for the United States and the Allied forces in World War II, from 1941 until 1945. This also made it the world's first mass-produced four-wheel-drive car, built in six-figure numbers.

The Marmon-Herrington Company, Inc. is an American manufacturer of axles and transfer cases for trucks and other vehicles. Earlier, the company built military vehicles and some tanks during World War II, and until the late 1950s or early 1960s was a manufacturer of trucks and trolley buses. Marmon-Herrington had a partnership with Ford Motor Company, producing trucks and other commercial vehicles, such as buses. The company may be best known for its all-wheel-drive conversions to other truck maker's units, especially to Ford truck models. Founded in 1931, Marmon-Herrington was based in Indianapolis, Indiana, with a plant in Windsor, Ontario, and remained in Indianapolis until 1963. It is now based in Louisville, Kentucky.

NAPCO (Northwestern Auto Parts Company) was a four-wheel drive (4x4) vehicle parts manufacturing company founded in 1918 and based in Minneapolis, Minnesota USA. Besides four-wheel drive units, NAPCO also provided winches, auxiliary transmissions, tandem drive axles, hydrovac systems, and dump truck bodies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GAZ-46</span> Soviet amphibious military vehicle

The GAZ-46, army designation MAV, is a Soviet-made light four-wheel drive amphibious military vehicle that entered service in the 1950s and has been used by many Eastern Bloc allied forces since.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military light utility vehicle</span> Small, light, all-terrain military vehicle

Military light utility vehicle, or simply light utility vehicle (LUV), is a term used for the lightest weight class military vehicle category. A Jeep-like four-wheel drive vehicle for military use by definition lighter than other military trucks and vehicles, inherently compact and usually with light or no armour, with short body overhangs for nimble all-terrain mobility, and frequently around 4-passenger capacity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Su-Ki</span> Weapon

The Amphibious truck "Su-Ki" was a World War II Japanese military vehicle manufactured by the Toyota Motor Co., Ltd, similar in concept to the GMC DUKW. It entered service in 1943 and was used by Japanese forces in the Pacific during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Carlin</span> Australian engineer and adventurer (1912–1981)

Frederick Benjamin Carlin was an Australian adventurer who was the first person to circumnavigate the world in an amphibious vehicle. Born in Northam, Western Australia, Carlin attended Guildford Grammar School in Perth, and later studied mining engineering at the Kalgoorlie School of Mines. After qualifying as an engineer, he worked on the Goldfields before emigrating to China in 1939 to work in a British coal mine. In World War II, Carlin was posted to the Indian Army Corps of Engineers, serving in India, Italy, and throughout the Middle East. After his discharge from service in 1946, he emigrated to the United States with his American wife, Elinore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amphibious automobile</span> Vehicle viable on land and on/under water

An amphibious automobile is an automobile that is a means of transport viable on land as well as on or under water. They are unarmored for civilian use.

References