History information on GPA

[TadeO]

Hi,

maybe someone have information (can show article, link to article or smth) on:

1. how many GPA's survived till today?
2. how many of them were shipped to USSR by lend-lease?
3. and the exact number of how many of them were produced (we know that about 13.000 but different saurces present different numbers of them..)?

Information is needed on artical in local magazine. Appeciate your help.

Regards

[Jan Roelse]

TadeO,
A lot of this information you can find in websites or special GPA/Amphib-forums.
"Ford GPA "is the key-word.
But ....there are a lot of things still unknown and sure.
New figures are published nearly every day after serious research by GPA-owners.

However...on base of my idea and collected information:
Question 1: 200 to 250, 2: 3.000 to 3.500, and 3:12.788 (Book River Rouge-Ford's Industrial Colossus).
The best is once a member of this forum will find someday the official (US Government) documents for the last two questions.
The production figures of Ford are also "ABOUT" according different publications or doc's.
Jan

[Jim Gilmore]

".....The best is once a member of this forum will find someday the official (US Government) documents for the last two questions.....


Well,

I can't give you the exact info on question #2 but I can on #3.

There were exactly 12,774 Ford GPA units deliver by Ford.

This data comes from the Ford production Dept and Engineering Dept.

Also from original Govt Document - "Summary Report of Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material 1940-1945", Office Chief of Ordnance - Detroit, Engineering - Manufacturing Div. , Requirements and Progress Branch.

The original contracts called for 12,778 but there was a reduction of 4.

This does not include the three Ford QM-4 Pilot models built on OSRD -NDRC contracts.

Jim Gilmore

Jim Thorpe, PA.

[Jan Roelse]

Jim,
You are a gentleman!
Regards,
Jan

[TadeO]

Thanks a lot for information guys.

[Ian Grieve]

Gentlemen

Numbers are always interesting. My comments are as follows;

• Jan will be correct with 200 to 250 GPA’s existing worldwide. That number generally agrees with my records. They continue to creep out of the woodwork.
• There were 3,520 GPA’s shipped lend-lease to Russia.
• My research has indicated there were 12,774 standardized GPA’s produced.
• I believe the "Summary Report of Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material 1940-1945", Office Chief of Ordnance - Detroit, Engineering - Manufacturing Div., Requirements and Progress Branch has the figure of 12,774 vehicles.
• Ford Motor Company holds conflicting record of vehicles produced. Their Public Relations Department War record (La Croix) has the figure of 12,779, however, contracts were for 12, 778 vehicles. I am not sure of the 12,788 figure. La Croix reports have been shown to be incorrect elsewhere as well. The figure of 12,774 has been found in Ford Motor Company records as well.
• Personally, I am convinced that 12,774 is the correct number of standardized vehicles produced.
• Ford built 3 pilot vehicles and Marmon-Herrington 1.

All interesting numbers and I am keen to hear of references.

Ian

[TadeO]

Sorry, what is Marmon-Herrington?

[Jan Roelse]

Just a short reply.
Sourche: US Military Weeled Vehicles by Fred W. Chrismon/ Crestline
Regards,
Jan

[Jan Roelse]

First Bantam BRC40 GPA )
Regards,
http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675 ... den-raftan

[Jim Gilmore]

Ian,

12,774 is correct number. I made a typo when I posted that number.

Where does the number of exported GPA's come from?

National Archives Lend Lease files? Shipping records? ORD ?

Jim Gilmore

[Tom Wolboldt]

Hi Jim,

From your post above:

The original contracts called for 12,788 but there was a reduction of 4.

How does this equal 12774 ?

[Jim Gilmore]

Right!

That eight really got in the wrong places....that's two typos....I've gotta use both fingers to type next time!

Jim Gilmore

[scoutcarM3A1]

No big issue but I am glad to have one of the late types; my nr is 12288.....
Any one a later nr ???

grtz

Rudy

[Ian Grieve]

Jim

The figure of 3,520 GPA’s (and 723 DUKW’s) to Russia comes from the US War Department “Quantities of Lend-Lease Shipments World War 2” dated December 31, 1946. This figure represents 27.6% of GPA’s produced.

Another document, the US Department of State “Report on War Aid” records 3,510 GPA’s were sent to Russia. Other National Archives correspondence, however, confirms this figure to be incorrect.

Statistical Work Sheets from the Tank-Automotive Center (TAC) had 3,020 GPA’s dispatched to Russia by November 1, 1944, and correspondence of January and February, 1945, calling for another 500 vehicles to be boxed for export, these being overhauled vehicles. Interestingly, the vehicles were to be overhauled in the mid-west, freighted to Philadelphia for boxing, then shipped to the west coast for dispatch to Russia. In reality, the vehicles missed the trip to Philadelphia.

Unofficial reports have been published stating that 1,900 GPA’s for 1944 and 300 GPA’s for 1945 were sent to Russia.

Ian

[Jim Gilmore]

Ian,

Thanks for the info. These are a solid source of data .

"....Statistical Work Sheets from the Tank-Automotive Center (TAC) had 3,020 GPA’s dispatched to Russia by November 1, 1944, ..'

What is the date of the SWS that lists this?

My copy, dated 1, Sept 1945 only lists the GPA under completed contracts and does not give shipments to foreign Govt's or stock held in ORD depots as it does for the DUKW and other vehicles that were still in production.

I would like to call this version up next time I am at NARA.

BTW...what quantities does it give for UK shipments of GPA's?

Jim Gilmore

Jim Thorpe, PA.