Ward LaFrance / Kenworth Heavy Wrecker M1 / M1A1
The Ward LaFrance / Kenworth Truck, Heavy Wrecker, 6-ton, 6x6 has two main variants,
Model M1 with a civilian metal cab and curved fenders, followed by the
Model M1A1 with a canvas soft top, military flat fenders and other changes.
The open cab model was often fitted with a machine gun ring mount. Within the two main models, the Ward La France and Kenworth production had a number of sub-models as explained below, with a total of 4,925 vehicles built.
The Ward LaFrance / Kenworth Heavy Wrecking Truck was a 6x6 chassis with a wrecker rated at 6 tons (10 tons in some documentation). In addition to the winches and crane, the trucks were fitted with outriggers and carried welding equipment plus a variety of recovery tools. The powerful wrecker was very successful in its role and was praised by the troops who used it. The main complaint had to do with the dual rear wheels which tended to pick up debris and were difficult to service or change.
Production of the Heavy Wrecking Truck M1 and M1A1 was divided between Ward La France and Kenworth, with each producing sub-models during the life cycle of the vehicle. By the end of the model changes, the final two trucks (Ward La France 1000-5 and Kenworth 573) had most parts interchangeable. This table presents the various models and sub-models.
Ward La France Model 1000 Series 1 M1 variant, Closed cab, 11.25-20 tires, dual spares behind cab, front winch only, manual crane (1941)
Ward La France Model 1000 Series 2 M1 variant, Closed cab, 11.00-20 tires, one spare behind cab, one on passenger side of crane, rear winch (1941-1942)
Ward La France Model 1000 Series 3 M1 variant, Eliminated trailer connections, British Lend-Lease only
Ward La France Model 1000 Series 4 M1 variant, Curved boom crane, military instruments on dash, larger fuel filler (Early 1943)
Ward La France Model 1000 Series 5 M1A1 variant, soft top cab, flat fenders, Gar Wood US6A power crane (May 1943 forward)
Kenworth Model 570 Ward La France Model 1000 Series 2 equivalent, with Kenworth design of PTO, transfer case and other parts. (1941)
Kenworth Model 571 Virtually the same as Model 570 with engine filter changes (1942-1943)
Kenworth Model 572 Closed cab with Gar Wood US6A power crane, military instruments (1943)
Kenworth Model 573 Ward La France Model 1000 Series 5 equivalent, Model M1A1 (1943)
The Ward LaFrance / Kenworth Truck, Heavy Wrecker, 6-ton, 6x6 has two main variants,
Model M1 with a civilian metal cab and curved fenders, followed by the
Model M1A1 with a canvas soft top, military flat fenders and other changes.
The open cab model was often fitted with a machine gun ring mount. Within the two main models, the Ward La France and Kenworth production had a number of sub-models as explained below, with a total of 4,925 vehicles built.
The Ward LaFrance / Kenworth Heavy Wrecking Truck was a 6x6 chassis with a wrecker rated at 6 tons (10 tons in some documentation). In addition to the winches and crane, the trucks were fitted with outriggers and carried welding equipment plus a variety of recovery tools. The powerful wrecker was very successful in its role and was praised by the troops who used it. The main complaint had to do with the dual rear wheels which tended to pick up debris and were difficult to service or change.
Production of the Heavy Wrecking Truck M1 and M1A1 was divided between Ward La France and Kenworth, with each producing sub-models during the life cycle of the vehicle. By the end of the model changes, the final two trucks (Ward La France 1000-5 and Kenworth 573) had most parts interchangeable. This table presents the various models and sub-models.
Ward La France Model 1000 Series 1 M1 variant, Closed cab, 11.25-20 tires, dual spares behind cab, front winch only, manual crane (1941)
Ward La France Model 1000 Series 2 M1 variant, Closed cab, 11.00-20 tires, one spare behind cab, one on passenger side of crane, rear winch (1941-1942)
Ward La France Model 1000 Series 3 M1 variant, Eliminated trailer connections, British Lend-Lease only
Ward La France Model 1000 Series 4 M1 variant, Curved boom crane, military instruments on dash, larger fuel filler (Early 1943)
Ward La France Model 1000 Series 5 M1A1 variant, soft top cab, flat fenders, Gar Wood US6A power crane (May 1943 forward)
Kenworth Model 570 Ward La France Model 1000 Series 2 equivalent, with Kenworth design of PTO, transfer case and other parts. (1941)
Kenworth Model 571 Virtually the same as Model 570 with engine filter changes (1942-1943)
Kenworth Model 572 Closed cab with Gar Wood US6A power crane, military instruments (1943)
Kenworth Model 573 Ward La France Model 1000 Series 5 equivalent, Model M1A1 (1943)