Oxford Diecast 76WMB002

Willys MB US Navy Seabees

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI images rather than photographs

Prototype Eras
Era 3 (1923 to 1947) The Big Four (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR)
Era 4 (1948 to 1956) British Railways Early Crest
Era 5 (1957 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest
Era 6 (1967 to 1972) British Rail Blue (Pre-TOPS)

Manufacturer description

This Willy's MB jeep appears as the World War II transport for the US Navy Seabees, Naval Construction Battalions (CBs), hence the name! The Battalion was founded in March 1942 as a military construction unit comprising 7000 active personnel and nearly 7000 reservists. Their almost cartoon-like logo featured a bee in flight, wearing flying goggles with each limb carrying a construction tool of some kind.

The men were skilled workers but also trained to take up arms and resume a military role when required. One of their several mottos is a reminder of this 'We build, we fight'. In 2017, the Seabees celebrated their 75 years of service without having changed from their original concept.

In celebration of the Seabees' role, our open top Willy MB Jeep is decorated in a rich naval blue with naval military markings in white and yellow and a pale grey interior. Given the task in hand, note the additional supply of aerials, tools and fuel tank. In real life, the first deployment of the Seabees was to Bora Bora following Pearl Harbor, which brought the USA into WWII.

 

Catalogue listing