Place of origin United States Produced 1941-1942 Variants NJU-2 | Manufacturer Mack Trucks No. built 692 (+8 NJU-2) | |
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Type 5- to 6-ton 4x4 semi-tractor | ||
The Mack NJU 5- to 6-ton 4x4 Ponton tractor (G639) was a semi-tractor designed to haul bridging equipment during World War II. Of the 700 built 119 were supplied to the British in Egypt, 8 were built with van bodies, and the rest were used as a substitute standard by the US Army.
Contents
History
In 1940 the US Army ordered 700 Mack 4 x 4 truck tractors, intended to tow pontoon-carrying semi-trailers. 694 were delivered in 1941 and the last 6 in 1942. An Autocar design was standardized by the US Army and only 700 NJUs were built.
692 NJU-1 tractors and 8 NJU-2 vans designed to tow topographical trailers were delivered.
In November 1941 119 semi-tractors were delivered to the British army in Egypt, where they bore War Department H-numbers.
Some NJU-1's went into French Army service post war.
Design
The design was a militarized version of a civilian Cab Over Engine (COE) model, partly redesigned to make it 4WD. A Mack engine and transmission were matched with a Timken 2-speed transfer case and double-reduction axles. The EN532 engine was a 532 cu in (8.7 L) L-head inline 6 cylinder gasoline engine developing 136 hp (101 kW) at 2500 rpm. The 5-speed transmission drove the separate transfer case.
A ladder frame had two live beam axles on leaf springs with a 155 inches (3.94 m) wheelbase. There was a 15,000 pounds (6,800 kg) winch behind the front bumper and a pintle hitch at the rear. A civilian type closed cab was used, right behind the cab was an open cargo box used to carry engineer tools, outboard motors, and other equipment.
Early semi-tractors and all vans used 9.75x20 tires, later semi-tractors had 12.00x20 tires. All trucks had dual rear tires. All trucks had full-air brakes.