Cooperative Industry-Military Activities During World War II Related to Ordnance Transport and Combat Vehicles, Fuels and Lubricants

Liaison between the Coordinating Research Council (CRC) and the Military Forces began before World War II. It was implemented when an M3-A3 light tank was shipped to San Bernardino, California, to participate in the 1940 CFR Road Test Program. This resulted from earlier recognition that expertise developed in industry should be made available on problems anticipated in military war-time operations. Accordingly, early in 1942, CRC organized test teams to study problems in operations under extreme ambient conditions that were related to fuels and lubricants. The CRC War Advisory Committee was formed about the same time to coordinate and, through CRC, plan the programs. This paper briefly reviews the various CRC programs, relates happenings and results obtained and their significance to the ability of military vehicles to carry on war-time operations. A post-war social organization, the Desert Rats, stemmed from the World War II CRC activities and has existed for over 40 years.