History
Background
The 37-mm Gun Motor Carriage M6, commonly referred to as the M6 Fargo or the Dodge WC-55, was a modification of the ¾-ton 4x4 Dodge WC-52 truck. This vehicle was adapted to carry a rear-facing 37-mm M3 anti-tank gun mounted in its bed, transforming it into a mobile tank destroyer.
During World War II, the Dodge WC series of trucks became some of the most widely produced military vehicles. Between 1940 and 1945, over 380,000 Dodge trucks were built, making them a backbone of US military logistics. Dodge supplied the US Army with all ¾-ton trucks and 1 1⁄2-ton 6x6 trucks, while Willys manufactured more than 645,000 ¼-ton 4x4 jeeps. Among these, the ¾-ton models, known as the G-502 series, were particularly versatile and reliable. They served in roles ranging from cargo and troop transport to ambulance duties. One of the more specialized roles the WC series filled was as a platform for a mobile anti-tank weapon, which became the basis for the M6 Fargo.
In Search of Tank Destroyers
In late 1941, as the United States entered World War II, the Army faced an urgent need for a mobile anti-tank weapon to support infantry units. At that time, the 37-mm M3 anti-tank gun was the standard anti-tank weapon and was considered effective against German and Japanese tanks. Early tests involved mounting the M3 gun on a Willys/Ford jeep, but the recoil proved too much for the smaller vehicle, making it unsuitable for this role. A more robust platform was required, and the Dodge WC-52 ¾-ton truck was identified as an ideal solution. Its larger size and sturdier frame could handle the recoil of the 37-mm gun while also being readily available in large numbers for conversion.
The prototype, designated T21, was standardized as the 37-mm Gun Motor Carriage M6 in February 1942. Dodge manufactured it under the name WC-55, and production began in April 1942 and continued through October, resulting in 5,380 vehicles. The M6 Fargo was relatively inexpensive to produce and could quickly respond to the Army’s needs for mobile anti-tank platforms.
The M6’s rear-mounted 37-mm gun had a full 360-degree traverse, but it couldn’t be fully depressed when pointed forward due to the blast effect on the crew and vehicle windshield. The gun was equipped with a shield that provided some protection for the gunners, though it was only effective against small-arms fire up to .30 caliber. The vehicle carried 80 rounds of 37-mm ammunition onboard.
By late 1942, the M6 Fargo was deployed as a stopgap tank destroyer, aligned with the American doctrine of using tank destroyers defensively against armored assaults. The M6 made its combat debut during Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa, where it was fielded by the 601st and 701st Tank Destroyer Battalions of the 1st Infantry Division, “The Big Red One.” It saw major action during the Tunisia Campaign from late 1942 to early 1943, marking it as one of the US Army’s first tank destroyers to see combat.
However, the M6 Fargo quickly proved inadequate against improved enemy tanks in North Africa, as the 37-mm M3 gun was ineffective against more heavily armored German vehicles. Crews disliked the vehicle due to its vulnerability and lack of firepower. By March 1943, the introduction of the true tank destroyer, the M10 GMC Wolverine, armed with a newer 75-mm gun, had rendered the M6 Fargo obsolete. In addition, the M3 GMC half-track, another interim tank destroyer, performed better with its older 75-mm gun. Because of these, the M6 Fargo’s role as a tank destroyer was effectively over.
Following the Tunisia Campaign, many M6 Fargos had their guns removed and reverted to their original role as WC-52 cargo trucks for logistics purposes. However, some units were sent to the Pacific Theater, where they found limited success against lightly armored Japanese tanks and fortified positions. Several M6 Fargos were also transferred to the French Forces of the Interior after the liberation of France. By January 1945, the M6 Fargo was officially declared obsolete and was retired from US military service.
