The M1918 was developedduringWorld War One by the US Ordnance Corps using the very capableWhiteTEB-Oone-tonne truck chassis.Butwhatusewasafast reconnaissance vehicle in stagnanttrenchwarfare?
The aphorism “Time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted” has been variously attributed to the German Field Marshall Edwin Rommel, the Duke of Wellington and the sixth-century Chinese strategist Sun Tzu. Whoever first spoke the words, any military leader will tell you that establishing the strength and location of enemy forces, and determining the topography and terrain upon which they are situated, is crucial to achieving a successful outcome in battle.
In 1916, the US Army was rather painfully considering the move from horse transport to motor cars. Earlier campaigns in the arid conditions across the border in Mexico highlighted the many advantages that the motor truck had over the horse. Despite many objections and protests from senior officers, the most enthusiastic promoters of the internal combustion engine were the US Army Ordnance Corps. Until a unified system of purchasing vehicles was established by the Traffic Division of the General Staff, the US Engineers and Medical, Quartermaster, Signa…
