Where were all the M38s sent to?

Harleygaz · Post by **Harleygaz** » Sat Sep 07, 2019 4:23 pm

Hi. I’ve read that very few M38s went to Korea so where did they go? Is there a database that shows how many went where maybe by registration number?

Post by **wesk** » Sat Sep 07, 2019 11:33 pm

I’ve read that very few M38s went to Korea so where did they go?

Keep in mind that we were in a new war 5 years after WWII ended. We mobilized and used what we had on hand. What we had for jeeps were 6 year old and older WWII jeeps. No where near the 600,000 built during WWII since we attritted a large portion of those during that war and transferred another large portion to surviving western countries at the end of the war as part of the postwar downsizing of our military. We had to rob WWII jeeps from our stateside units to keep the combat troops supplied with enough jeeps.

The Army knows it needs more jeeps and contracts with Willys to build the M38. These jeeps were very different from the MB's and GPW's. They were 24 V waterproof electrical, 7.00-16 tires instead of 6.00-16 tires, T90 instead of T86 transmissions and the Army's logistic system would not support the introduction of this new jeep in the battlefield environment so the bulk of the new M38's replaced the shortages in the stateside units.

Is there a database that shows how many went where maybe by registration number?

No. We have been unable to locate any assignment data for the M38's and all their individual motor pool records were destroyed 6 months after each jeep was surplussed out.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Sun Sep 08, 2019 6:32 am

The other piece to that is the government set up in Japan rebuild and refurbishment operations. They moved many suitable vehicles picked up on the battlefields and other Asian areas there to be rebuilt. Some, maybe many of these vehicles ended up in Korea.

kenperkins · Post by **kenperkins** » Sun Sep 08, 2019 8:59 am

lots of pictures of M38s in Europe, don't see many from Japan

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon Sep 09, 2019 6:05 am

Hi Ken!
In the historical photos here are a couple photos of an M38 that turned over in a road. It is labeled as being in Japan I believe.

charlesfitton · Post by **charlesfitton** » Wed Sep 11, 2019 11:09 am

I had a link to a you tube video about OPERATION ROUND-UP...

Harleygaz · Post by **Harleygaz** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 7:01 am

Thx for the replies. I had read that most jeeps in Korea were WWII issue but wondered if any M38 went to Europe.