M152 Radio Command Truck

The M152 is loosely described as a "panel utility truck" on the data plate and user manuals. Others have described it as a Canadian version ambulance, which is quite wrong. While similar in looks and basic construction to the M43 ambulance, the similarities end there. The first difference which you notice right away is the four windows on each side of the rear section of the truck. Also, it has one rear door, instead of the two, like on the M43.

The M152 was designed as a radio truck for the Canadian military. Only a few were made for the US military (100-150) as an experimental version and were designated the XM152. They never went into any great production in the US as they preferred the M42 radio truck. The M42 was chosen as it performed the same function as the XM152, but was cheaper as it was offered as a conversion kit for many standard M37's. The Canadian and US version are easily differentiated by the rear door, as the Canadian version has one rear door and the US version has a double set of doors like the M43 ambulance. 1038 of these trucks were produced for the Canadian military by Chrysler in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Inside sat a radio operator which directed radio traffic and transmitted orders across the battlefield.

These trucks usually were located close to the commander in a forward or rear command post. They were needed close by to give information of what was happening to the commander and to give out orders to the soldiers in the field. Some were even outfitted with a pole system on the roof which a tent was connected to. This let the soldiers connect a tent to the rear of the vehicle for others to work under. In the manuals for this truck, there is mention of a trailer for it to haul that would contain a generator and extra battery backup system. It is not sure if these trailers were ever used as not everything listed in military manuals was actually implemented.

Inside the back of the truck, a radio operator sat in the middle of a U shaped desk covered in radio equipment. The table ran from behind the front cab, up the right side and jetted back out into the middle of the space. On the left hand side, over the wheel well and to the back of the truck was a shelf unit which held more radio equipment and spare parts. Several lights were installed in the ceiling, letting the operator see what he was doing. A switch was connected to the rear door, shutting the lights off if the door was opened as not to give away their position in the dark. Roll down canvas shades over the windows also helped in blocking out the light. The door that led from the front cab to the rear was not very practical as the table and radio equipment blocked someone from walking through. Yet there was enough room for someone to squirm through in case they needed.

On the exterior of the truck was mounted several antennas, a heater on the front drivers-side fender to provide heat in the cab, and a small generator on the passenger-side fender. All M152's also had a spare tire mounted on the drivers side door just like the M43 ambulance. This detail was even drawn onto the data plate for the truck, which is unusual as most data plates only show the basic outline for a vehicle.

***More detailed information about this vehicle and others on the site will be added in time***

M152 Manuals

We have added a selection of technical manuals for the M37/M43/M152 line of trucks available for download. These manuals are offered free of charge. We are the only place making these manuals free of charge for download. Every other place we have found requires that you pay for the manuals. We believe that since these manuals are in the public domain, they should be available for everyone to download.

Please only download the manuals you need. Downloading unneeded manuals takes bandwidth which we pay for, yet are allowing you to use for free. If we find that people are taking advantage of us and taking up too much bandwidth downloading all the manuals every time, we will have to remove them from our website, making things difficult for others looking for the same manuals.

Almost all the manuals are from the US military, but apply to Canadian military vehicles, as they are basically the same vehicle. Canadian manuals in digital form for the M37/M43/M152 line of trucks is not yet available. Be warned that the Canadian M152 had a slightly different style engine and transmission. Please take that into consideration when using the provided manuals.

-7610-21-102-2737
Operators Handbook C42/42/52 Truck Panel Utility 3/4 TON CDN M152 (Kindly donated by JD Baillie) VERY RARE.
6 November 1961

19.4MB .pdf file

-L 290/2
Installation Kit, Electronic Equipment, AF/IC-67 Radio Set, Truck Panel Utility M152
17 Febuary 1964

992KB .pdf file

-CND-VEH-D114
M37/M43/M152 Operator's Manual CANADIAN MODELS
January, 1954
Trucks 3/4Ton 4x4 Dodge
Cargo M37 CDN
Command M42 CDN
Ambulance M43 CDN
***NOTE: This is the rare Canadian repair manual. Graciously provided to us by Andrew.W***

252MB .pdf file ***WARNING VERY LARGE FILE***

-TM 9-2320-212-10
M37 Operator's Manual
November 30, 1973
Truck, Cargo: 3/4 Ton, 4X4, M37, M37B1
Truck, Ambulance: 4X4, M43, M43B1
Truck, Maintenance: 4X4, M201, M201B1

5.84MB .pdf file

-TM 9-8030 (TO 36A-1-411)
Operation and Organizational Maintenance
May 1955
3/4 Ton 4X4 Cargo Truck M37
3/4 Ton 4X4 Command Truck
3/4 Ton 4X4 Ambulance Truck M43
3/4 Ton 4X4 Telephone Installation Light Maintenance and Cable Splicing Truck V-41 /GT

41.6MB .pdf file

-TM 9-2320-212-20
Organizational Maintenance Manual For:
Truck, Cargo: 3/4 Ton 4X4, M37 and M37B1
Truck, Ambulance: 3/4 Ton 4X4, M43 and M43B1
Truck, Maintenance: 3/4 Ton 4X4, M201 and M201B1
November 1973

33.1MB .pdf file

-TM 9-8031-2 (TO 19-75-A-100) ****WE ARE THE ONLY PLACE GIVING IT AWAY FOR FREE****
Power Train Body and Frame
March 1953
3/4 Ton 4X4 Cargo Truck M37
3/4 Ton 4X4 Command Truck
3/4 Ton 4X4 Ambulance Truck M43
3/4 Ton 4X4 Telephone Maintenace Truck V-41

29.5MB .pdf file

-TM 9-1840A (TO 19-75B-15)
Ordnance Maintenance Engine (Dodge Model T-245) Clutch (Borg and Beck Model 11828)
June 1952

14.1MB .pdf file

-TM 9-2520-232-35
Ordnance Field and Depot Maintenance Transmission, Mechanical Assembly - (2520-627-8308) (New Process Model No. 420)
July 1959
3/4 Ton 4X4 Chassis M56, M56B1 and M56C
3/4 Ton 4X4 Trucks M37, M37B1, M43, M43B1, M152 and M201 TM 9-8030

5.11MB .pdf file

-TB 9-2855-45 (TO 36Y17-5-1-7)
Instructions Installation Of Hot Water Personnel Heater Kit
3/4 Ton 4X4 Chasis M56 and M56C
Ambulance Truck M43
Cargo Truck M37
Command Truck M42
Maintenance Truck M201 (Signal Corps Model V-41/GT)
Panel truck M152
19 December 1956

2.52MB .pdf file

More to come....

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