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Cushman Model 53 (G683)

1944 COLD WAR WORLD WAR 2

History

During the First World War (1914-1918), the ranks of various nations were already talking about the development of "airborne" troops - paratroopers - to attack enemy positions behind the front lines. This had little success until 1927, when the first "real" parachute landed over Italy.

World War II (1939-1945) saw the first large-scale deployment of paratroopers, many of which proved crucial in campaigns early and mid-war.

One of the unique challenges facing war planners is to equip these special forces with the materials they need to engage the enemy and to be in positions long enough for advancing ground forces to meet and protect those positions. Because these soldiers were jumping out of planes, they couldn't carry too much gear, and the gear they were wearing was designed to be very portable by nature. Gliders were eventually arranged to supply larger products such as jeeps, light tanks and artillery.

Eventually, a variety of infantry-oriented tools and weapons were developed for combatantsincluding the Cushman Model 53 (US Army Model G683) airborne scooter.

This two-wheeled system is light enough (and compact enough) to see an airdrop during flight operations. The car has a single suspension seat and a steerable front wheel with rearward crank handlebars. The small engine is mounted under the seat, and the cylindrical fuel tank is located behind the operator. Fenders cover the front and rear wheels from spray and other road debris.

A skeletal metal frame is placed over the scooter's engine, and a bracket supports the vehicle when parked. Total weight is 254 lbs.

The Cushman Type 53 was designed with US paratroopers in mind and has been proven to enable point-to-point transmission of road traffic and vital information. Capable of traveling at speeds of up to 40 mph, the system is powered by an in-house Cushman 16M71 1-cylinder 4-stroke 242cc engine producing 4.6 horsepower.

Cushman Motorworks took over engine and scooter production when it entered service in 1944. Production reached thousands before the end, and the civilian market form after the war became the "Type 53A" - that's how popular it was.