The Terrapin (officially 4-ton amphibian) was a British-manufactured amphibious transport vehicle of the Second World War. It was first used in 1944 at Antwerp during the Battle of the Scheldt.

Terrapins served with the Royal Engineer assault teams of the 79th Armoured Division and were used to carry infantry units (Canadian and British) over rivers.

Development

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. Some 500 Terrapin Mark 1 were built by Morris Commercial, the vehicle side of Morris Motors Limited.

Mark II

The Mark II was similar to the Mark 1, but had a forward driving position. It was a much longer vehicle, being long compared with the length of the Mark I, and had a 5-ton rating.

Use

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.

See also

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

Notes

References

  • 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
  • Veicolo anfibio Terrapin