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Despite the great times Sacrifice World War II was also a time of uncertainty. amazing innovation. Much of what we take for granted today was developed as part of the war effort, faced on two fronts against a sophisticated and determined enemy. With amphibious assaults playing an important role in the Pacific, Italy, and France, the U.S. military has developed a way to submerge Jeeps near coastlines to dislodge aircraft. flexible threat. The way they achieved this was pure genius.

See how one company gives the modern Toyota Tacoma a throwback look here.

According to a Department of the Army video, this method allowed the Jeep to travel for up to six minutes in approximately 3.5 feet of water.maybe not It seems like there are a lot But at the time it was revolutionary. Remember that we are standing on the shoulders of those who came before us.And this innovation became clear evolved over time.

In the film below, a soldier explains the waterproofing process.This is because there are multiple steps Turn on the switch. I’m not sure if the average car owner would even start trying something like this, since most people these days can’t seem to even turn a wrench.

To the horror of many, a key element in the waterproofing process is an asbestos compound. In the video, soldiers can be seen working with the compound like clay with their bare hands. Is it any wonder that so many World War II veterans died of cancer?

Another interesting component of a waterproofing kit for a Jeep is flexible tubing that doesn’t look much different than what you would use to extend a rain gutter downspout. This is essentially an early predecessor to the modern off-road snorkel, a device that not only prevents water from entering the rig’s engine, but also allows the air intake to be placed above the water. dust line If you frequently drive on dirt roads.

Sealing the various components under the hood of a Jeep was something military personnel could not do in a hurry or sloppily. Inadequate coating of asbestos compounds can cause engine failure and turn your Jeep into a sitting duck in water. After all, one of the reasons Jeeps were so annoying to the Japanese, Germans, and Italians was their nimble and agile nature. The driver and passengers are sitting exposed to small arms fire, so they’re not really supposed to take a lot of hits.

It’s amazing to think how innovative this admittedly somewhat tedious waterproofing process was for its time. What’s even more amazing is to think how far we’ve come since then, with technological innovations that allow off-road rigs to travel deep water without having to make a series of last-minute temporary changes.

Check out the process yourself.