History, technical details and pictures

Harley-Davidson WLA history

On December 7 , 1941, the Japanese attacked the U.S. military base at Pearl Harbor and the United States entered the war: the U.S. Army immediately asked Harley-Davidson to equip its liaison officers and its military police with HD WLA motorcycles, first called HD XE ("Experimental").

While at first the company did not produced motorcycles for the army, the demand went so strong in 1943 that Harley-Davidson produced almost entirely its units for the allied military forces only. The Americans, but also the British and the Soviets were equipped with HD WLA motorcycles.

In 1945, at the end of World War II, nearly 60,000 units of the Harley-Davidson WLA were built and the production went still on for a few years: sales went on for the civilians, while several foreign armies bought WLA motorcycles.

Harley-Davidson WLA sheet

Creator: USA
Name: HD WLA

Rate of fire: 2,23 m
Width: 0,90 m
Height: 1,04 m
Weigth: 330 kg
Maximum speed: 95 km/h
Range: 350 km

Engine: Harley-Davidson WLA gazoline, 2-cylinder in V, 750 cc, 23 hp, 4 600 rpm