First Convoy Across USA

This is a great movie about the first US Army convoy right across USA. There were no roads in several sections.

THe link does not appear to work for me.

Just fixed it.

They are a mix of WW1 Liberty Standard Truck and Mack. The cars are Dodge. The motorcycles ??

Thanks for that one Lang. I have posted it on the HMVF where I expect it will be favourably received.

Jarrod.

ASW,

I spotted your post this morning and wondered who it was.

The crawlers get a good workout too. Love the unloading technique at abt 6.25 in,

Noticed a couple of FWDs mixed in the convoy.

I wonder how many of them young army drivers were inspired by the trip to go out and start up their own trucking service..

I shared this video on the Mack truck forum a day or so ago

Have a look at the response, very interesting, or at least I thought it was

www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/63273-first-convoy-across-america/
Paul

1919 Motor Transport Corps convoy
The 1919 Motor Transport Corps convoy was a "Truck Train" of the US Army Motor Transport Corps that drove over 3,000 mi (4,800 km) from Washington, D.C. (departing July 7 and arriving September 6), to Oakland, California, and ferried to San Francisco. In addition to 230 road incidents (stops for adjustments, extrications, breakdowns, & accidents) resulting in 9 vehicles retiring, the convoy of "24 expeditionary officers, 15 War Department staff observation officers (e.g., Bvt Lt Col Dwight D. Eisenhower of the Tank Corps), and 258 enlisted men" had 21 injured en route who did not complete the trip. Although some "were really competent drivers" by the end, the majority of soldiers were "raw recruits with little or no military training"; and except for the Motor Supply Company E commander (1st Lt Daniel H. Martin), troop officers had "meager knowledge" of "handling men in the field".


1919 Motor Transport Corps convoy car at a service station in a western desert town.
The route taken by the convoy began at the Zero Milestone in Washington DC. The convoy proceeded to Gettysburg, where it met up with the Lincoln Highway. They then followed the Lincoln Highway all the way to San Francisco.

The convoy broke and repaired 88 wooden bridges:10 in Wyoming), and "practically" all roadways were unpaved from Illinois through Nevada. The convoy logged 3,250 miles (5,230 km) in 573.5 hours (5.67 mph avg.). and 6 rest days without convoy travel were used. Convoy delays required extra encampments and, at Oakland, California, the convoy was 7 days behind schedule, ferrying the next morning on the last travel day.