Terrapin (amphibious vehicle)

Due to a shortage of US-manufactured DUKWs, the British Ministry of Supply commissioned Thornycroft to design an amphibious vehicle capable of ferrying supplies and troops from ship to shore for the D-Day landings.Brissette, Richard and Bannerman, Mark: "The Terrapin", Military Modelling Magazine, 29 Feb 2008, page 60.[https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/30th-november-1945/29/first-british-amphibian-war-machine First British Amphibian War Machine] archive.commercialmotor.com The Commercial Motor, 30 November 1945, Page 29 accessed 9 November 2021[https://www.sarikhobbies.com/product/ml146-terrapin-mk1-amphibian-4-ton-8-x-8/ Full Description ML146 Terrapin Mk1 Amphibian 4 ton 8 x 8] www.sarikhobbies.com, accessed 9 November 2021 Some 500 Terrapin Mark 1 were built by Morris Commercial, the vehicle side of Morris Motors Limited. A Mark 2 Terrapin with a number of improvements reached the prototype stage, but the war ended before it entered production.

The Terrapin was powered by two Ford V8 engines mounted side by side, with each motor driving the wheels on one side. Wheel braking was used to steer, the brakes being operated by levers. On a level surface, the vehicle was supported on the four middle wheels, the front and rear wheels remaining clear of the surface (the front pair being raised significantly, the rear pair only slightly). The front and rear wheels provided support and traction on soft surfaces and when climbing slopes, such as riverbanks. When driven in the water, it was propelled by two rear-mounted propellers.

File:Alligator amphibious vehicles passing Terrepin amphibious vehicles (to the left) during the Battle of the Scheldt - October 13, 1944.jpg passing Terrapin amphibious vehicles (to the left) during the Battle of the Scheldt, 13 October 1944.]]

The two centrally located engines split the cargo compartment in two and, though rated as a 4-ton vehicle, this prevented large loads, such as heavy artillery or vehicles, from being carried. In addition, the driver had poor visibility as he was centrally located inside the middle of the vehicle. This was compounded by the installation of a canvas cover over the forward hold. As a result, another crew member typically had to stand behind the driver and provide directions. In use, the vehicle was found to be rather slow, and was easily swamped in rough seas. The specification had limited the length to {{convert|23|ft}} and this made its seagoing characteristics inferior to the American DUKW.{{cite AV media |year=1943 |title=The Amphibious Jeep, Aqua Cheetah, DUKW, Terrapin (Part 1) |url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060020308 |time= 4.25|publisher=Directorate of Army Kinematography |via=iwm.org.uk |access-date=9 November 2021}}

The Mark II was similar to the Mark 1, but had a forward driving position. It was a much longer vehicle, being {{convert|31|ft}} long compared with the {{convert|23|ft}} length of the Mark I, and had a 5-ton rating. Only five of these vehicles were built.Ware, P World War II Military Vehicles – Transport & Halftracks p. 155

During the operations against Walcheren, Terrapins and Buffalo transports carried the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade in what was intended to be a diversionary attack across a mile wide inlet on 9 October 1944. A sufficiently large bridgehead was made that the attack became the main attempt and the German defences were turned.

Terrapins were used in Operation Vitality II on 26 October 1944 to carry units from the British 52nd (Lowland) Division across the Scheldt; Amphibious Sherman DD tanks led the attack.

After the war, Terrapins, together with DUKWs, were used as a form of public transport on the inundated island of Walcheren until circa 1946.

• DUKW
• Su-Ki
• Landing Vehicle Tracked, known as (Water) Buffalo in British service.
• Alvis Stalwart
• Argo (ATV manufacturer)

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• {{cite book |last= Trewhitt |first= Philip |title= Armored Fighting Vehicles |year= 1999 |page= 172 |publisher= Amber Books |location= New York, NY |isbn = 0-7607-1260-3}}

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{{Commons category|Terrapin amphibious truck}}

• [http://www.veterans-uk.info/pdfs/publications/comm_booklets/scheldt.pdf The Clearing of the Scheldt Estuary and the Liberation of Walcheren, UK Veterans Agency]
• [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060020308 Imperial War Museum: THE AMPHIBIOUS JEEP, AQUACHEETAH, DUKW, TERRAPIN (PART 1) 1943 movie showing various amphibious vehicles (including the Terrapin) under test; Imperial War Museum Collections]
• [http://www.veterans-uk.info/pdfs/publications/comm_booklets/scheldt.pdf World War II 60th Anniversary: The Clearing of the Scheldt Estuary and the Liberation of Walcheren 2 October – 7 November 1944]
• {{in lang|it}} [http://www.corazzati.it/scheda_terrapin.htm Veicolo anfibio Terrapin]

{{WWIIBritishAFVs}}

Category:Military trucks of the United Kingdom

Category:Wheeled amphibious vehicles

Category:Thornycroft military vehicles

Category:Amphibious vehicles of World War II

Category:Amphibious military vehicles

Category:Military vehicles introduced from 1940 to 1944