The Fordson WOT (from War Office 'type' or 'truck') was a military truck line produced by Ford of Britain in the Second World War. From 1939 to 1945, around 130,000 units (almost half being the WOT2) were produced at Ford Dagenham, where Fordson tractors for the British market were produced since 1933.
Five models, WOT1, WOT2, WOT3, WOT6 and WOT8 were produced. The WOT1, 2 and 3 were rear-wheel drive and had the cab behind the engine; WOT6 and 8 were all-wheel drive with a cab forward configuration. The same engine was used across the range - 3.6L Ford sidevalve V-8 petrol engine delivering 85 hp at 3,800 rpm. The transmission was a four-speed manual with an additional reduction gearbox for the four wheel drive models as well as the WOT 3D.
Models
WOT1 6x4, WOT1A was a wheelbase version. 85 bhp V-8 engine four forward and one reverse gearbox with a x2 transfer box WOT1 and 1A was mostly used by RAF eg as Fire Tenders "Ambulance, Heavy, 6x4 (Fordson WOT1) p134-135 Conventional "long-nose" 4x2 lines
WOT2 4x2, 15-cwt WOT2A - first model WOT2B and WOT2D - "tilt covered van body" WOT2C - horizontal windscreen WOT2E - late style cab WOT2F - steel body, no tilt WOT2H - like WOT2E Fitted with a flatbed rear and 20mm gun it was "Truck, 15cwt, 4x2 AA" WOT3 4x2, 30-cwt. used by RAF
Cab-over 4x4 lines
WOT6 4x4, 60-cwt (3 ton). 11 ft 11 in wheelbase Produced January 1942 to September 1945 Cab top could be removed to reduce overall height for shippingVanderveen 1969 p151 WOT8 4x4, 30-cwt. 85 bhp V-8 engine four forward and one reverse gearbox derived from WOT6 9 ft 10 inch wheelbase 16 ft 8 in long, 7 ft 6 in wide, 9 ft 2 in high 3 tons 16 cwt fixed cab roof Used as artillery tractor in North African campaign. Also with office body. Supplied to USSR where it was used for Katyusha rocket launchers
Production
+ Vehicle production by Ford of Britain, 1939-1945Load capacity (cwt)WheelbaseGross Vehicle WeightTotal quantity producedProduction periodWOT8 30 cwt 299 cm9 ft 10 in 2,5161941 – 1942WOT6 60 cwt 360 cm11 ft 11.5 in 29,693January 1942 – September 1945
Notes
References
External links
Ford WOT6 - 3 ton 4 x 4 truck WOT8 30-cwt 4x4 and WOA1 4x2 WOT8 - "Katyusha" Rocket Launcher BM-13-16