The History Research paper will consist of a topic pertaining to U.S. Military History(Harley Davidson during WWII)

Harley Davidson during WWII
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Abstract
Harley-Davidson is one of the most significant contributors during World War II. The company produced a variety of vehicle models designed to meet the US Military’ requirements for the battle. Some of the productions made include the XA, WLA, WSR, and the TA. These new models were modifications from previously existing ones such as the German BMW R71 and WL. The modified versions had improved qualities such as increased cooling and riding efficiencies so enable movement if poor environmental conditions including snowy, muddy or dusty regions. The army made suggestions for the designs which Harley Davidson’s engineers followed diligently, eventually earning the company several awards for its considerable participation in the conflict. Harley-Davidson manufactured about 88,000 vehicles during WWII era and made many spare parts enough to build 30,000 more cycles. And although the army rarely utilized the motorcycles for combat purposes, the primary objective included policing work, escort duty, and courier.
Harley Davidson during WWII
Harley Davidson is an American motorbike producer founded in 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company played a crucial role in the military history particularly during World War II by manufacturing motorcycles to a great scale for military use while at war. The United States Army specifications for the motorbikes’ model were WLA. This model was deemed best suited for army operations as well as its expansion plans.

While there were other means of transport utilized by the U.S. military including vessels, automobiles, and aircraft, the incorporation of motorcycles during WWII was an activity that significantly impacted by assisting the army in its operations. With thousands of vehicles believed to have been produced during the WWII era, Harley Davidson is an important part of American military history due to its employment by the army in combat.
World War II witnessed the biggest employment of motorbikes by American Military in an armed battle. Harley Davidson Inc. was responsible for manufacturing a bulk of those machines who supplied the United States as well as the country’s collaborators with the now widely known model WLA. Even though precise amount of produced bikes remain unknown to this date, estimates suggest that more than 88,000 WLA machines alongside the WLCs, their Canadian equivalent, during the conflict (Roza 2014). Additionally, the company manufactured spare parts enough to produce new 30,000 bikes (Potts 2015). It is important to note that in contrast to the BMW purpose by the German troops, the US Military and its Allies used these bikes mainly as a messenger or reconnaissance vehicle. Additionally, the motorcycles lead army convoys frequently meaning that they were the first cars to get into newly freed cities and towns as a result earning the bikes their title “Liberators” (Daily History 2016). Humvees, tanks, and armored force carriers were the regular characteristics of military vehicles while in the war field. And although today’s army involvement in a majority of fights seldom includes the use of cycles, the case was different during early combats. The first motorcycles made the first significant influence by petrol-powered equipment in contemporary conflict. It is also evident that army motorbikes continue their role more than a century after their first invention.
World War II Harley Davidson’s Prototypes
Despite the large-scale manufacturing amount, the company’s engineers constantly kept on the starting point attempting to design more bikes that could meet the American Military’s ever changing needs. As a result, the organization manufactured a variety of unique vehicles, with several remarkably deviating from Harley Davidson’s first motorbikes. Some of the firm’s most innovative machines produced during World War II include Harley-Davidson TA and Harley-Davidson XA. Other products include Harley-Davidson XS and Harley-Davidson WSR.
Harley-Davidson TA
Utilization of motorcycles during WWII was beneficial although it had its disadvantage in which the users needed expat training to operate and ultimately engage in any force activities. In fact, operating a motorcycle was more intricate compared to automobiles such as jeep which finally replaced bikes and therefore, not all troops were able to ride one. In efforts to ease this issue, Harley-Davidson designed the TA version, a three-wheeled bike that was easier to use (Panhead 2014). The TA model characteristics included a sturdy 68 cubic inch overhead regulator attached to a hand-moved transmission with reverse. Several issues, however, were evident in the first TAs such as numerous oil leaks and intense vibrations thought engineers, later on, fixed them manufacturing about 18 units (Panhead 2014).
Harley-Davidson XA Despite the capabilities the WLA had, the US Army acknowledged various benefits BMW R71, a German production (Panhead 2014). For example, the opposed twin motor employed by the R71 situated the cylinders for improved cooling. Also, this machine had an enclosed pipe drive which improved reliability as well as reduced the maintenance of drive train (Roza 2014). With the battle heading to African deserts, these capabilities seemed ideal for the US Military, hence the request for the forces for Harley-Davidson to build a model with BMW specifics. Model XA was the final result based on BMW, and it superseded the existing WLA. The bike users were able to operate while maintaining both hands on the handlebars throughout, a clear benefit especially when riding involved rugged landscapes. Additionally, Panhead (2014) suggests that the bike included a radio secured ignition, a larger fuel tank for range expansion, and an air box mounted at the center. Moreover, the motorcycle had a wet sump to remove the outer oil tank and a bigger capacity battery. Roza (2014) indicates that the machine’s lower center of gravity allowed improved usage and the engine ran nearly 100 degrees cooler compared to WLA. Versions produced later were the first of the company’s to employ a contracting fork front end. Panhead (2014) indicates that the XA manufacturing was the leading World War II prototypes with more than a thousand units generated for armed forces’ testing. The bike’s engine proved its reliability in other motor driven equipment including water pumps and generators.
Harley-Davidson XS
While exploiting the latest XA motorbike model, Harley Davidson manufactured the XS version that significantly resembled the XA drivetrain but with a sidecar (Panhead 2014). Nonetheless, this model was the firm’s efforts to develop a two-wheel drive vehicle. XS utilized a rear hinge for powering the sidecar wheel off of the back wheel which is same as today’s Ural Patrol (Panhead 2014). The end product was an increasingly proficient all-terrain vehicle. However, it is important to note that while Harley Davidson Company worked on this machine, Panhead (2014) points out that the jeep had already begun filling this requirement for the US Military, hence resulting in only three samples of these machines were ever developed.
Harley-Davidson WSR Russia is one of the countries that benefitted from this US bike production in which it acquired about 26,000 units as part of an initiative known as Lend-Lease Program among other allies (Potts 2015). Also, the Russian Army requested Harley Davidson as the war approached the end to develop a new prototype that met particular requirements of the Russian front (Panhead 2014). This incident resulted in the development of faintly customized WLA outfitted with a sidecar known as the WSR prototype. This model, as Panhead (2014) alleges, had similar drive train like the one in WLA which comprised offside valve motor of 45 cubic inches although it had some slight modifications to its chassis to improve ground clearance. Panhead (2014) adds that this version had elongated front forks and changed frame assumed to enable the bike to move through mud and deep snow.
Similar to a majority of organizations in the United States, Harley Davidson worked tirelessly during World War II in attempts to support the ongoing battle effort. And while none of the company’s innovations made it to the forefront, they, however, present an example of the firm’s devotion to the American Military. Moreover, Harley Davidson’s work shows the company’s compliance to offering competent equipment for the US’ service women and men. This production, therefore, presents evidence that Harley Davidson played a significant role during the war by assisting the American military alongside its associates in winning the fight.
Harley-Davidson Entry into the US Army
Blackjack Pershing’s order marked the beginning of Harley Davidson’s involvement with the army in which his initial order was 12 machines (Daily History 2016). With the opening of Harley-Davidson Quartermasters School several years before World War II, the American Army leaders would directly instruct the firm’s engineers on the desired designs they wished to meet their war needs (Daily History 2016). Following the Great Depression in the 1920s, a majority of other motorcycle manufacturing companies collapsed leaving Harley Davidson’s one of the two major remaining producers. As a result, Harley-Davidson was the primary distributor when the United States Force was ready to undertake the biggest bike use in its history in WWII.
The organization’s engineers worked diligently in designing models that were capable of handling shore patrols in Europe, desert sands in North Africa, and forests in the Pacific Theatre. A majority of new prototypes integrated engineering garnered from a Bavarian Motor Works German BMW R71 bike previously captured. The company’s significant contribution to the war made it receive the esteemed “Army/Navy E Award for Excellence in Wartime Production” (Congressional Record 2003). Although German machines still regularly had fitted sidecars for gunners and were used in war, the Allies, as opposed to the case during World War I, no longer deployed unarmored machines into battle (Daily History 2016). Daily History (2016) points out how Harley-Davidsons military productions were ever present as scout vehicles as the leader in all force convoys such that they were frequently the first entrants into liberated regions across Europe hence earning the name “Liberators.”
Motorcycle’s Purpose during World War II
Given that the US Military had other means of transport; one may wonder what purpose bikes served during the battle especially since it offers little to no protection to the users. In fact, when compared to a tank or a jeep, a two-wheeled vehicle such as a bike that exposes its operator appears as a poor selection for a military transportation. However, a motorbike has a few valuable qualities that proved decisive in the war. A bike’s pace makes it perfect for inspection, messenger and reconnaissance abilities (Potts 2015). Additionally, Potts (2015) points out that the bikes were ideal for policing work, escort duty, and courier but they could seldom be deployed in combat. One advantage of a motorcycle is that the vehicle can journey where larger vehicles are incapable, requires less fuel compared to larger vehicles. Also, the army could fit a few of them into a single transport vehicle, thus allowing movement options once the larger vehicles reached an area they could not go through.
It is, however, essential to note that unfavorable weather conditions used to affect these bikes reducing their effectiveness in the battle considerably. But in efforts to counter these challenges, Harley Davidson’s specialized engineers used to invent new designs to meet the military needs better. For example, the production of XA prototype was a modification of the German’s BMW which served better compared to the previously generated version such as WLA. Harley Davidson’s engineers acquired an available public motorcycle named the WL and adjusted it inputting various modifications for army operations. Some changes included shaping the bikes in a unique way that instead of mud or snow flinging by the wheel getting clogged, they could exit from the sides (Potts 2015). Furthermore, Potts (2015) indicate that these newly modified motorbikes had a heavy duty courier rack fitted in the rear designed to support two radios and an ammunition box. Also, these bikes allowed hanging of saddlebags from the sides (Potts 2015).
A casing situated at the motorcycle’s front was big enough for its operator to stick a Thompson submachine rifle in it (Potts 2015). Potts (2015) adds that another ammunition box could be fastened on the other side of the fore wheel. The bikes also had blackout lights, some auxiliary lights incorporated to diffuse the light to minimize the motorcycles’ nocturnal visibility to onlookers (Potts 2015). Contemporary army blackout lights consist of a unique lockout switch model such that it prevents accidental switch on of the regular lights. Haley Davidson did some mechanical modifications to the bikes as well. In acceptance of the US Forces’ logistical requirements, an oil bath air cleaner replaced the bikes’ air filter, equipment mostly utilized in farm tractors in regions characterized by heavy dust (Potts 2015). This alteration was to simplify maintenance efforts such that instead of the company having to supply air filter replacements, the bike operator could just freshen up the filter through the addition of regular motor oil. And in attempts to minimize water consumption, the firm redesigned the crankcase such that the bike could not stall out even after fording 16 inches of water (Potts 2015). Other militarized characteristics of the WLA design entailed olive drab paint, blackout lights, altered fenders for mud buildup prevention, and metal leg shields
In conclusion, Harley Davidson is one of the major participants of the World War II that positively impacted the war through the production of motorbikes. The machines were customized from previously existing versions such that they could meet various military needs. Some of the notable productions that Harley Davidson made include the XA, WLA, WSR, and the TA. And while most of these machines never made it out after the World War II, they considerably served their purposed during the conflict and remains as the world’s best production of their kind in the military history. The United States Army offered the design ideas for these vehicles where Harley Davidson’s engineers worked diligently to ensure meeting these necessities earning the company various awards for its war contribution. During the conflict period, the firm is believed to have manufactured more than 88,000 cycles with extra spare parts enough to build nearly 30,000 additional bikes. And while the US military used some of these bikes, others were deployed by the US Allies such as Russia and other Soviet countries through the Lend-Lease program. It is, therefore, evident that Harley Davidson contributed significantly during WWII through the production of these machines that assisted in military work.
References
Congressional Record. (2003). Congressional Record, V. 149, Pt. 14, July 17, 2003 to July 25,
2003.
Daily History. (2016). What Role did the Motorcycle and Harley-Davidson play in Wartime?
Dailyhistory.org. Retrieved from http://dailyhistory.org/What_Role_did_the_Motorcycle_and_Harley-Davidson_play_in_Wartime%3FRoza, G. (2014). Harley-Davidson: An all-American legend.
Panhead, J. (2014).Top 5 Harley-Davidson Prototypes of WWII. Ride Apart. Retrieved from
https://rideapart.com/articles/harley-davidson-prototypes-wwiiPotts, J (2015). Communications during World War 2 and Korea hinged on robust machines like
the Harley Davidson WLA military motorcycle series. Military Factory. Retrieved from http://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=511