2 1/2 Ton and 5 Ton U.S. Military Cargo Trucks
This page shows the classification of U.S. military cargo trucks into two large families, the 2 1/2 ton ("deuce and a half") and the five ton. Within those families, each generation of truck based on one chassis design is designated as a "series" which includes many variations on the base truck for various purposes. That is, one series of chassis will be provided with specialized bodies for cargo trucks, tank trucks, vans and so forth as well as long wheel base versions and other variants.
In World War II, the 2 1/2 ton trucks were the backbone of Allied transport but by the 1970s, 5-ton trucks began to be favored over 2 1/2 ton trucks in the U.S. military. The five ton vehicles offered greater power, double the payload, and larger cargo volume than their 2 1/2 ton equivalents. While 2 1/2 ton trucks remained in large scale use, there was a shift toward their heavier 5-ton counterparts.
A convoy of M-35 2 1/2 ton 6x6 cargo trucks on a road in Egypt, heading toward the port of Alexandria, during Exercise Bright Star '85, 1 August 1985.
The 2 1/2 ton and 5 ton trucks from WW II to the present are organized in the following table. The links in the table lead to individual pages with much more detail on the truck series. Photos and other details of specific trucks are found in the Olive-Drab.com Military Vehicle Charts -- Medium Trucks section. The specific trucks in the Charts are also linked from the page on their series, for your convenience.
| 2 1/2 ton Trucks | Five ton Trucks |
|---|---|
| WW II GMC, Studebaker, IH | |
| M135 Series | M39 Series |
| M35 Series | M809 Series |
| M939 Series | |
| FMTV LMTV | FMTV MTV |
Beginning in 2001, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps superseded the M-809 and M-939 series 5 ton trucks with the 7-ton Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR).
USMC M-923 5 Ton w/Trailer
Click photo for larger image.
Additional Information Resources for U.S. Military 2 1/2 Ton & 5 Ton Trucks
- An extensive table of specifications for 2 1/2 ton M-Series trucks. With thanks to Terry Staley.
- Links to websites with information regarding U.S. Military 2 1/2 Ton & 5 Ton Trucks.
Find More Information on the Web
There are many fine websites that have additional information on this topic, too many to list here and too many to keep up with as they come and go. Use this Google web search form to get an up to date report of what's out there.
For good results, try entering this: "military deuce or 2 1/2 ton". Then click the Search button.
