14 Imported Military Vehicle Types Equipped in China During the War of Resistance

During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, China had no automobile industry and could not produce vehicles for the military. Therefore, the military's vehicles had to rely on imports or those received as aid from allied countries.

There were quite a few types of vehicles introduced and received as aid in China during this period. Approximately 14 types were recorded and commonly seen. Now, let's briefly introduce these 14 military vehicles.

1.KS-600 Heavy-Duty Motorcycle

This motorcycle originated from Germany and was launched by Zündapp in the 1930s, so it is also known as the Zündapp KS600 Heavy-Duty Motorcycle. It became one of the standard military motorcycles of the German Army before the outbreak of World War II.

In the 1930s, the Nationalist Government established military cooperation with Germany and imported many advanced weapons and various military vehicles from Germany, including a number of Zündapp KS-600 military motorcycles.

During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the KS-600 motorcycles were mainly equipped in the artillery units of the German-trained divisions of the National Revolutionary Army. Some were assigned to orderlies, and others to artillery observers.

2.KS-750 Sidecar Motorcycle

This is also a military motorcycle produced by Germany's Zündapp. Compared with the KS-600, it is heavier and larger in size, and also available in a three-wheeled sidecar version. It was introduced to China alongside the KS-600 in the 1930s and similarly equipped to the artillery units of the National Revolutionary Army's German-trained divisions.

In addition to being used for dispatching orders and observation, some three-wheeled sidecar versions were used for officer transportation and combat reconnaissance. With its excellent performance, the KS-750 was deeply loved by the officers and soldiers of the National Revolutionary Army during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

3.Willys MB Jeep

I think many people know this one! It was a jeep widely equipped by the U.S. military and allied forces during World War II, and of course, the most produced military jeep of that era. Alone, over 600,000 units of the Willys MB were manufactured, and many civilian SUVs after the war were designed based on its frame.

During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, both the Chinese Expeditionary Force and the Chinese Army in India received some Willys MB jeeps as aid from the United States. In addition to being used for officers' transportation, some were deployed for frontline combat.

In the 1940s, the mid-term of the War of Resistance, domestic troops also began to be equipped with the Willys MB jeep, but the quantity was not large. They were mainly prioritized for the use of officers at or above the regiment level of the National Revolutionary Army, and rarely used for soldiers' combat.

4.Dodge T-124 Off-Road Vehicle

This was also one of the most commonly used military off-road vehicles by the U.S. military during World War II. Launched by the American Dodge Motor Company in the early 1940s, it was widely equipped by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps starting from the mid-term of World War II.

Like the Willys MB, the Dodge T214 was classified as a jeep. However, due to its larger size, it was known as a "medium jeep".

Back then, it was first provided as aid to the Chinese Expeditionary Force and the Chinese Army in India. A small number were later introduced to China in the late stage of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Most of them were allocated for the use of officers at or above the regiment level of the National Revolutionary Army or the guards. There were almost no combat variants, except for a few T214s that served as field ambulances.

5.Horch 901 Officer's Passenger Car

This was an officer's passenger car equipped by Germany during World War II, also known as the "Kfz.15 Medium Multi-Purpose Vehicle". Launched by Horch Automobile Company-the predecessor of Audi-it came out in the 1930s, powered by an 82-horsepower V8 engine with a maximum road speed of 90 kilometers per hour.

During the Sino-German cooperation in the 1930s, a small number of Horch 901 officer's passenger cars were also introduced to China and equipped to the German-trained divisions of the National Revolutionary Army. Besides most being allocated for officers' transportation, some were used to tow field guns or anti-tank guns after the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

6.Krupp L2H143 Tractor

This was a 6×2 artillery tractor designed by Germany's Krupp in 1932. Initially named the L2H43, it was upgraded in 1936 and renamed the L2H143 artillery tractor.

In the mid-1930s, a small number of Krupp L2H143 artillery tractors were also introduced to China and equipped to the artillery units of the National Revolutionary Army's German-trained divisions. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, they were mainly used to tow the German-style artillery purchased at that time.

7.ZIS-5 Truck

This was the most commonly used military truck by the Soviet Army during World War II, also known as the ZIL-5 or ZIS-5 truck. Put into production by the Stalin Automobile Plant in the early 1930s, it was widely equipped by the Red Army after the outbreak of World War II. In addition to the transport version, there were also modified variants such as tankers, artillery tractors, medical vehicles, command vehicles, and models equipped with Katyusha rocket launchers.

In the 1940s, the late stage of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union also provided about 2,000 ZIS-5 trucks as aid to China. These trucks were mainly equipped to the Soviet-equipped divisions of the National Revolutionary Army, such as the 2nd Army and the 10th Army.

Although the power and performance of the ZIS-5 truck were not as good as those of American-made trucks at that time, it still made contributions to China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

8.Dodge T-234 Light Transport Truck

This was a transport truck specially designed by the American Dodge Company for the Chinese Expeditionary Force. Developed in 1942, a total of 15,000 units were successively produced for China between 1944 and 1946.

In the late stage of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, most of these trucks were used for transportation on the Burma Road, delivering various combat supplies to the Chinese Expeditionary Force and allied troops on the frontline. Later, some of them also entered China and were mainly equipped to the transport units of the National Revolutionary Army.

9.Opel "Blitz" Truck

This was a 3-ton military truck put into production by Germany's Opel Automobile Company in the mid-1930s. During World War II, it basically became the mainstay truck of the German military. It was not only used for troop transport but also for towing artillery, serving as medical vehicles, fuel supply trucks, and so on-all in all, it had a wide range of uses.

During the Sino-German cooperation in the 1930s, some Opel "Blitz" trucks were also introduced to China, mainly equipped to the German-equipped units of the National Revolutionary Army. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, they were mainly tasked with transporting supplies and soldiers. Before the introduction of American-made trucks, this model was the most popular among the officers and soldiers of the National Revolutionary Army.

10.Mercedes-Benz L4500A Transport Truck

This was the second most commonly used truck by the German military during World War II. Launched by Mercedes-Benz in the early 1940s, it shared the same positioning as the Opel "Blitz" truck-used for transporting goods, soldiers, and towing artillery. Additionally, the troop transport variant was equipped with a canvas roof to protect soldiers inside from harsh weather.

In the early 1940s, a small number of Mercedes-Benz L4500A trucks began to be introduced to China. Similarly, they were equipped to the German-equipped divisions during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. These were also the last batch of trucks and German-style equipment imported from Germany, as Germany allied with Japan in 1941, prompting the Nationalist Government to sever diplomatic relations with Germany, and no further German-made equipment was imported afterward.

11.Henschel 33 Artillery Tractor\

The Henschel 33 was a 6×6 artillery tractor launched in 1928. It underwent multiple upgrades in the 1930s and was widely equipped by the German military after the outbreak of World War II, mainly used to tow various types of heavy artillery.

During the Sino-German cooperation in the 1930s, the German-equipped divisions of the National Revolutionary Army also imported a number of Henschel 33 tractors. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, they were mainly used to tow the sFH.18 howitzers purchased from Germany.

12.CCKW-353 Transport Truck

The CCKW-353 was a 6×6 military truck extensively used by the U.S. military during World War II. Put into service in the early 1940s, its biggest features were strong horsepower and sturdiness and durability.

In the mid-term of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Chinese Expeditionary Force and the Chinese Army in India received many CCKW-353 trucks as aid from the United States. Later, a small number also flowed into China, but they were not widely used until the subsequent Liberation War.

13.Studebaker US6 Truck

This was another 6×6 military truck developed by the United States after the CCKW-353. It also came out in the 1940s and was basically the same as the previous CCKW series in appearance and structure, available in both open-top and closed-cabin versions.

During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, a large number of these trucks were provided as aid to the Chinese Army in India. Later, domestic transport units also began to be equipped with a small number of them. Back then, this truck was also known as the "Ten-Wheeled Heavy Truck" in the National Revolutionary Army.

14.Sd.Kfz.6 Half-Track Tractor

In the 1930s and 1940s, Germany was a major power in half-track vehicles worldwide. It produced not only combat-oriented half-tracks but also troop carriers, artillery-mounted variants, and artillery-towing models-among which the Sd.Kfz.6 5-ton half-track tractor was commonly used.

This model was launched in the mid-1930s, primarily designed for towing heavy artillery. During the Sino-German cooperation period, the artillery units of the National Revolutionary Army's German-equipped divisions also imported a small number of Sd.Kfz.6 half-tracks to tow the 150mm sFH.18 howitzers. However, the quantity was very limited, totaling fewer than 50 units.

The above are the 14 types of imported military vehicles equipped in China during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. If there are any errors or deficiencies in the text, we welcome your comments and suggestions for improvement. For more content, please remember to follow us-we will continue to update in the next issue.