These Vehicles Forever Changed How Wars Are Fought

The GMC Model 15 truck is thought to be the first land vehicle deployed on a large scale in the history of warfare. The British Army used some of the three-quarter ton trucks in World War I starting in 1916. When the U.S. joined the war the next year, troops were deployed to Europe with thousands of Model 16s, the follow-up to the Model 15. This was the start of world militaries using vehicles instead of horses and mules to move troops, provide tactical support, and serve as ambulances.

The trenches of World War I made it nearly impossible for troops to advance, as both sides had their weapons ready if anyone peered over the fortifications. The British Navy devised in 1915 a new type of armored vehicle that rolled on a continuous track. Communications referred to these vehicles as “tanks,” like water tanks, to ensure their secrecy. By 1916, British soldiers rolled the Mark I Tank into battle. Early models were unreliable, but by 1918, there were over 2,500 used in the war.

Though the British may have invented the earliest version of the tank, the French made their own version early on in World War I – except the French tank had significant attacking capabilities as well. The Renault FT light tank was the first tank to include the key addition of a 360° rotating turret, which has since become a standard feature in virtually every tank. More than 3,000 were used in World War I.

The very first Rolls-Royce Armoured Car was reportedly cobbled together in 1914. Ordered to help spot enemy troop movements, a Royal Naval Air Service squadron based in Ostend, Belgium, equipped a Rolls-Royce with a machine gun and boiler plates as armor. The vehicle proved to be so vital that more were ordered for battle. Though they were not suited for the trenches, Rolls-Royce ACs proved to be incredibly important in other types of fighting.

Liberty Trucks were large 5-ton transport units first developed for World War I. They are significant in the history of warfare because they were the U.S. military’s first ever standardized vehicle, meaning dozens of different factories produced parts, and 15 companies were all able to assemble identical trucks, streamlining the production and maintenance processes.

The Harley-Davidson WLA reigns as the most-produced military vehicle of all time, with over 90,000 motorcycles produced beginning in 1940. The bikes were created for quick maneuvering through all types of terrains, including North African deserts and European forests. Motorcycle couriers became one of the main communication lines in the war. The WLAs were often equipped with sidecars to quickly drive officers around,. Machine guns were sometimes attached to the WLAs as well.

The Willys MB was a tough, efficient 4×4 vehicle that is now better known as the first incarnation of the Jeep. U.S. Army chief of staff during World War II, Gen. George C. Marshall, called the vehicle “America’s greatest contribution to modern warfare.” The Jeep proved remarkably useful as a vehicle for combat, patrol, transit, ambulance duty, and much more. Its utility helped phase out the use of motorcycles and horses in warfare.

More M4 Sherman Tanks rolled off American production lines than any other tank in history – nearly 50,000 in total. Though it did not have the same quality of armor and guns that many other tanks of the era had, its main advantage was its simple design. This allowed multiple car manufacturers to mass-produce the M4 Sherman, giving U.S. troops a numbers advantage over the German Panzers.

The GMC DUKW, known as “The Duck,” was a partially-amphibious vehicle used in World War II. The U.S. Army needed a way to quickly traverse land and rivers across Europe as bridges were often destroyed. Enter the DUKW, a GMC 6×6 that was adapted to fit a customized boat hull. The vehicle allowed soldiers to cross land and water more efficiently than ever before.

The Dodge WC-54 Ambulance served as the main medical transport vehicle for the U.S. throughout World War II. The large trucks had room for six seated patients or four stretchers. Even after World War II, some WC-54s remained in service – the U.S. used a handful during the Korean War, and other European countries used them into the 1960s.

The White M-3 Half-Track was used as an armored personnel carrier used throughout World War II. The boxy vehicle was covered in armor plating and featured wheels on the front but a tank-like track on the back. This unique design allowed the half-tracks to push through all kinds of muddy or rocky terrain. They were also armed with machine guns, used to support assaults on enemy positions.

Though many of the vehicles on this list are renowned for their tactical capabilities, the vehicles that kept supply lines open during World War II, like the CCKW Hard Top, are also important during war. The 2.5-ton truck was the backbone of the famed Red Ball Express, which supplied Allied troops after they stormed the beaches on D-Day and made their way across Europe.

The LVT4 landing vehicle was so called because it was needed to help American troops land on islands held by Japan throughout the Pacific Theater of World War II. Initially known as Alligators, these vehicles were designed to power over sharp reefs around the islands, while their heavily-armored body protected troops from incoming fire. A ramp in the rear provided a safer way to exit while under fire.

It wasn’t just the U.S. and their allies that made important and impactful vehicles during World War II. Germany produced the Volkswagen Type 82 Kübelwagen – a 4×4 created to be resistant to all different types of weather like mud and snow. Its configuration also made it less susceptible to gunfire, while also featuring an auxiliary fuel tank to keep it running even in the cold of the Russian winter.

The Soviet T-34 is one of the most important vehicles in the history of war because its capability and firepower made it the most fearsome vehicle of the WWII era. It featured a 76.2 mm gun that could take out other tanks, while its armor could survive direct hits from existing anti-tank weapons. When the Germans advanced towards the Soviet Union, these tanks were key in repelling the German Army from the Eastern Front.

The Bradley Fighting Vehicle, designed to battle over long distances, is unique for its combination of durability and firepower. The BFV was first rolled out during the 1980s and saw its first action in the First Gulf War. It was later used in Iraq and Afghanistan. Though intended as an infantry fighting vehicle, the Bradley features both medium and long-range weapons with enough firepower to take on tanks.

“Humvee” is the nickname given to the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles used by the U.S. military beginning in 1989 in the invasion of Panama and later the Gulf War. The Humvee is designed to cover all kinds of terrain while shielding passengers from all manner of attacks – all while requiring minimal repairs. The Humvee, like the Jeep before it, went from a military vehicle to civilian in 1992, when General Motors rolled out the Hummer.

Improvised explosive devices were killing and injuring soldiers during the War on Terror in Afghanistan and Iraq. To deal with the threat of IEDs, General Dynamics devised the Cougar 6×6 MRAP, which stands for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected. The vehicle can withstand ballistic and explosive attacks, with room for up to 10 passengers.