Dodge T214-WC52 ’Beep’, Truck, 3/4 t, 4x4, Weapons Carrier, w/Winch

ROCO 1:87 Scale Vehicle Review

Dodge Weapons Carrier (Beep), 1:87 H0 Model Kit ROCO 252

Dodge Weapons Carrier serving with a US Infantry or Armoured Division. Vehicles like this one filled important transport roles at all levels of a formation, from Heavy Weapons Platoons to higher echelon Headquarters. Light trucks were fast and maneuverable enough to keep up with troops advancing across difficult terrain, they had more load capacity than a Jeep and their low silhouette made them much less conspicuous than a full-sized truck. The Weapons Carrier was popularly known as the Beep, probably because it appeared like a big or beefed-up Jeep.

Weapons Carriers formed the basis of many wartime conversion like the 4x4 Command Field Sedan (WC53), Ambulance (WC54), 37 mm Gun Motor Carriage (WC55), Command Reconnaissance Truck (WC56), Radio Truck, Signal Corps Light Maintainance and Installation Truck (WC59), Emergency Repair Truck (WC60), and Ambulance KD (WC64) which had a collapsible body (knock-down) to facilitate air transport.

Dodge T214-WC52, with canvas top
Type: Truck, 3/4 t, 4x4, Weapons Carrier, w/Winch
Wheelbase: 2.49 m
Length: 4.45 m
Width: 1.99 m
Height: 1.58 m, 2.07 m with top
Weight: 2554 kg
Load: Driver and 7 Passengers

Evaluation

Scale model with much raised detail, removable top and folding windshield.
Cheap source of an important vehicle for wargamers.
Fully assembled vehicle. Wheels need to be immobilized to prevent the vehicle from rolling around on wargame terrain pieces.
High quality model, minimal flash.
True HO scale, compatible with model railroad equipment.

Historical Employment

USA Weapons Carrier 1942-1950
Canadian Truck, 15-cwt, 4x4, GS, APT 1942
Lend-lease Weapons Carriers used by Soviet forces 1942-1945
Nato

Possible Conversions

Truck, 3/4 t, 4x4, Ambulance, KD (Dodge T214-WC64)
M6 Gun Motor Carriage with 37 mm Anti-Tank Gun

Jeeps and Weapons Carriers became an important part of the US Army motor pool, they provided excellent tactical mobility at platoon, company and battalion level. ROCO’s Beep is the only available vehicle of this type on the market. It is an accurate and very attractive model of the 3/4 t Weapons Carrier, requiring no assembly. Historic simulation gamers need many of these versatile trucks to tow light guns and to motorize machine gun and mortar sections.

Frequently Asked Questions

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US Army Miniatures of World War Two