Fort Eustis in Newport News, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
M221 Truck, Tractor, 2½ Ton, 6×6
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 26, 2021
1. M221 Truck, Tractor, 2½ Ton, 6×6 Marker
The M221 was from a family of trucks designed by GMC to replace worn out World War II 2½ ton trucks still in service. GMC sought to provide a modern truck, equipped with a new eight speed Hydra-matic (Automatic) transmission, a rarity in military vehicles. The chassis of the M221 was a shortened version of the M207 frame; in fact, it was the shortest vehicle in the entire family. The length of the truck was an advantage in tight turns, but it sacrificed the ability to carry a spare tire to achieve its tight turning radius.
The M221s were tasked to pulling 6 ton semitrailers used by the Army after WWII. Production of the M207 family of vehicles lasted less than five years before being stopped in favor of the Reo M44 2½ ton family of trucks. The M221 was relegated to National Guard and Reserve units where it served into the early 1970s.
This truck served with Company D, 205th Support Battalion, 205th Infantry Brigade, US Army Reserves, pulling 6 ton semitrailer vans before being accepted into the Army Museum System. In 2011, the truck was transferred from the Fort Snelling Military Museum to the US Army Transportation Museum.
Erected by US Army Transportation Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles
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Location. 37° 9.921′ N, 76° 34.522′ W. Marker is in Newport News, Virginia. It is in Fort Eustis. Marker can be reached from Washington Boulevard, 0.2 miles south of Madison Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 Washington Blvd, Fort Eustis VA 23604, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. T-3, Rolling Liquid Transporter (RLT) (here, next to this marker); XM1109, Heavy Variant, Up-Armored, 4×4 (HMMWV) (here, next to this marker); M1097, Heavy Variant, 4×4 (HMMWV) (here, next to this marker); M151A2 Truck, Utility ¼ Ton 4×4 (MUTT) (here, next to this marker); 2000D Fleetstar, Truck, Tractor, 5 Ton, 4×2 (a few steps from this marker); DCO 205-H, Tractor, 5 Ton, 4×2 (a few steps from this marker); M151A1, Truck, Utility, ¼ Ton (MUTT) (a few steps from this marker); M129A1C, Semitrailer, Van, 12 Ton, 4 wheel (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newport News.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 1, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 156 times since then and 37 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on March 1, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
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