The Radio tractor was a mobile Signal Corps Radio used by the U.S. Army for ground communications before and during World War I. Prior to World War I, trucks were referred to as "tractors", and there were also telegraph tractors, and telephone tractors.

Radio Tractor
Radio Tractor No. 3 on White Chassis
TypeRadio truck
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service1914-?
Used byUS Army
WarsWorld War I
Production history
Designed1914-?
ManufacturerFWD, White Motor Company
Produced1914
Variants3
Specifications
Mass1 1/2 ton
Crew7

Armornone
Main
armament
none

Very little information exists for these trucks, as most of the components were built before standardization. They first made their debut on the Mexican border in a radio intercept role, and later during World War I, some sets may have been reconfigured for RDF and other uses.

Components

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Variants

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Radio Tractor No.2

At least 3 variants are known:

The No.3 truck was also accompanied by a tender "Maintenance truck No. 5" later renumbered as K-5.

See also

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References

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  • Signal Corps Storage Catalog [1]
  • Annual Report 1919 [2] page 249
  • 1918 Military Signal Corps manual [3]
  • New York Times 1915 [4]
  • Electrical world vol. 66 [5]
  • The Wireless Age [6]
  • Automobile journal Vol. 39 [7]
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