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Prior to and during World War II the United States Army called several tractors M1 light tractor. Under the Ordnance Corps these commercial off-the-shelf tractors were meant to tow artillery pieces so were not equipped with blades like their Engineer counterparts. Eventually these were replaced by purpose-built high-speed tractors (HSTs). Some tractors were equipped with crane attachments for ammunition, and material handling.

Variants

• G015 M1 light ordnance tractor
• G036 light tractor, 3.5-ton, Cletrac 20c
• Light tractor Caterpillar R-4
• G151 light tractor Caterpillar D-4 (not yet known for sure if it was called M1)
• G099 light tractor IH TD-9 (called M1?)

Gallery

• G36 Light tractor Cletrac model 20c
• Caterpillar tractor, crawler, gasoline, model R4 from TB 5-9720-11, 1944
• Right view of Caterpillar D4 tractor, crawler, diesel
• International TD-9 tractor, crawler, diesel from TB 5-9720-11, 1944

Detailed information on Caterpillar D4

TB 5-9720-11 (1944) gives the following detailed information:

TRACTOR, CRAWLER, DIESEL, 35 TO 40-DBHP, STANDARD, CATERPILLAR, D4

Manufacturer: Caterpillar Tractor Co. Stock No.: 78-8138.0-44 Peoria, Illinois Model: D4

1. General. — The D4 is designed for towing and all types of general construction work. Accurately located frame-holes are provided for attaching varied tractor equipment to adapt it for use in earth moving, road clearance, and airport construction work.

2. References. — For further information regarding this equipment, refer to: TM 5-3110; ASF Catalog, Section ENG 7-T31, ENG 8-T31.

3. Engine. — Make: Caterpillar. Model: D4. Fuel: Diesel commercial. Cylinders: 4. Bore and Stroke: 4}£ x 5K-in. Governed speed: 1400 rpm. Valve adjustment: 0.010-in. Firing order: 1-3-4-2. Equipped with Independent, 2-cylinder, 4-stroke-cycle gasoline starting engine.

4. Fuel, coolant, and lubrication data. — Fuel tank: 25-gal fuel oil. Radiator: 11 -gal water. Crankcase: 4-gal engine oil. Transmission: 5-gal gear oil. Final drive cases: 1%-gal gear oil each. Engine oil grade: OE-30 above 32 F, OE-10 below 32 °F. Gear oil grade: GO-90 above 32 F, GO-80 below 32 °F.

5. Speeds and drawbar pull. — Five forward speeds and one reverse. Reverse speed: 1.9 mph. Forward speeds with maximum drawbar pull are: 1st: 1.7 mph, 7852 lb. 2nd: 2.4 mph, 5811 lb. 3rd: 3.0 mph, 4541 lb. 4th: 3.7 mph, 3471 lb. 5th: 5.4-mph, 2230-lb.

6. Clutch. — Power is transmitted through dry type flywheel clutch to selective type change speed gear set. Each track is controlled by slow speed, heavy duty, dry multiple disc clutch.

7. Brakes. — Contracting band brakes.

8. Crawlers. — Gage, center to center of tracks: 44-in. Track length: 61%-in. Track shoe width: 13-in. Grouser height: 2 in. Track shoes, each side: 31. Ground contact: 1589 sq in.

9. Attachments. — The following attachments are issued as standard equipment with the D4 Caterpillar: ANGLEDOZER, LaPlante-Choate 4R. ANGLEDOZER, LeTourneau C-4. BULL- DOZER, LaPlante-Choate or LeTourneau A-4. POWER CONTROL UNIT, LeTourneau T-4. COMBINATION POWER CONTROL UNIT AND WINCH, LeTourneau, HN. WINCH, Hyster D-4A. WINCH, Hyster D4.

10. Dimensions. — Length: 121% 6 in. Width: 62 in. Height: 60% in. Drawbar height: 13%-in. Turning radius: 74-in.

11. Working weight. — Without attachments: 10,000-lb.

12. Shipping data. — Boxed for export (tractor only), completely assembled. No. of boxes: 1. Length: 126-in. Width: 68-in. Height: 69-in. Cubage: 343 cu ft. Weight: 11,600-lb.

Military service

An iconic vehicle used by the Seabees during Seabee. Often seen with the term "Natasha", the name of the bulldozer in the John Wayne movie "The Fighting Seabees"The Fighting Seabees. It was equipped with a plow and shipped off to islands in the Pacific to help build a variety of items, including airstrips, supply depots, and roads.

See also

• List of U.S. military vehicles by model number
• List of U.S. military vehicles by supply catalog designation
• M2 light tractor
• M1 heavy tractor
• M1 medium tractor

References

• * TM 5-3222 IHC T-9 TRACTOR
• TM 5-3110 Caterpillar D4

v t e US military soft-skinned vehicles of World War II
1⁄4–3⁄4 ton vehicles	Dodge WC series Dodge WC54 Ford Pygmy Willys MB / Ford GPW
11⁄2–4 ton trucks	Austin K2/Y Chevrolet G506 Diamond T 4-ton 6×6 truck Dodge T-234 "Burma truck" Dodge WC-62 and WC-63 Ford GTB 'Burma jeep' GMC CCKW Studebaker US6
5–10 ton trucks	6-ton 6×6 truck Autocar U7144-T & U8144-T K-30 truck K-31 truck Federal G-692 Kenworth M1 Wrecker M425 and 426 tractor trucks Mack EH series Mack LMSW Mack NJU Mack NM Mack NO
Tank transporters	M19 tank transporter M25 tank transporter 'Dragon Wagon'
Amphibious vehicles	Ford GPA "Seep" GMC DUKW "Duck" Landing Vehicle Tracked
Tracked tractors & carriers	M1 heavy tractor M1 light tractor M1 medium tractor M2 high-speed tractor M2 light tractor M4 high-speed tractor M5 13-ton high-speed tractor M6 high-speed tractor M7 snow tractor M29 Weasel
Motorcycles	Harley-Davidson WLA
Trailers	Ben Hur trailer Jeep trailer K-36 trailer K-38 trailer M5 bomb trailer
World War II vehicles of the United States List of soft-skinned vehicles of the US military

• World War II vehicles of the United States