? on fender light

[Smittykid]

Ok, I'm showing my military Jeep ignorance here - but I have a question. On M38's and other flat fender military Jeeps there is a light and a guard on top of the left front fender, but not on the rt. front fender - what is this light for? Thanks, Smittykid

[skyjeep50]

The light is the blackout drive light. It's purpose was to illuminate a small portion of the road ahead without shining out or up so as to give the location of the vehicle away to potential enemy forces. I've also read that the drive light would help illuminate white objects like the gloves worn by MP's if they were directing traffic. Also the light could be seen by the driver in the vehicle ahead in his rear view mirror. The light fixture itself consists of a small headlight masked over by a sheet metal cover - the cover has a small slit on the upper portion to let light out. A metal hood extends over the top of the fixture to prevent light from being seen overhead or even much in front. A heavy metal protective guard went over the light fixture to prevent damage. In the M38 and M38A1 the strap was a rather robust steel guard, in the M151 it was stamped sheet metal. I've driven my M38A1 with the drive light on and no headlights - couldn't see a thing. There really isn't much light but on a black night a little light would go far if you were in a convoy. The drive light was backed up by blackout position lights on the front and rear of the vehicle. Their soft red glow and special markings could not be seen from very far away and helped drivers know how far the next vehicle was in front or the rear. Military vehicles from the M-38 to today have pretty much the same light fixtures. But today soldiers also have night vision equipment so blackout lights are not needed.
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1951 M38