It was introduced in 1938[3] and was the smallest diesel powered track-type tractor manufactured by Caterpillar.

The base frame of this model of tractor is a crawler, and it is equipped with five forward gears and one reverse gear.

[2] The D2's weight ranges from about 7,420 to 8,536 pounds (3,366 to 3,872 kilograms), depending upon the year it was manufactured.

[1] Caterpillar began producing this model (among others) in response to the "New Deal" programs that were initiated by President Franklin Roosevelt to stimulate America's economy.

A total of 26,454 D2's were made over the nineteen years they were in production.