Terrapin

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by Don Juan, Mar 11, 2021.

  1. Don Juan

    Don Juan Well-Known Member

    There is a VAST amount of archival documentation available for the Neptune, and I should know because I've got a large proportion of it. You would not believe how much development effort went into (was wasted on) that particular machine.

    I think the problem with the Terrapin is that it was a 'B' vehicle, and so would have been covered by the DG.Mech.E and the WVEE, rather than the AFV Division and the FVPE. The papers of the two former organisations do not appear to have been passed on to the National Archives, as far as I'm aware, and I am presuming they have been lost.
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2021
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  2. Don Juan

    Don Juan Well-Known Member

    Sadly that US report only indicates the suitability of, rather than usage of, the Terrapin for Plunder.

    That said, we seem to have confirmation of Terrapin use for D-Day, Switchback, Vitality and Veritable, so Plunder is looking increasingly plausible.
     
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  3. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    No, no, no, no! Time for an eye test methinks (and strike one for off topic stuff - sorry folks),

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.

    Oooops wrong Terrapin.jpg
     
  4. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

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  5. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    I know my eyesight's shot to bits but that is two parked nose-to-tail isn't it Adam, and not some hybrid behemoth?

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.
     
  6. Richelieu

    Richelieu Well-Known Member

    Although not in LAC’s catalogue, my research suggests that there was a Canadian file on the Terrapin, referenced: 55/1353/1. If it survived, it could possibly be on microfilm reel C-5783, which is not yet available on Héritage.
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2021
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  7. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Any useful COXE stuff extant, since they seem to have been in charge of trials? I don't understand the NA catalogue enough to dig in properly in the Combined Ops/Amphibious Warfare area.
    (Funny they were at Appledore, and Wheatcroft just bought a large chunk of it. Might give impetus to getting his Terrapin restored.)
     
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  8. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Yes! Two of them.
    Skid steering, with wheels, and suspension only in the tyres... Bizarre. (And maybe not that surprising it was found wanting.)
     
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  9. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    Another Nederlander sourced photo here (endeavouring to redeem myself for the rocket photo)

    Driver's "observer" at front maybe.

    Kind Regards, always,

    Jim.

    Walcheren, 68455
     
  10. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    Taxi!

    Post-war maybe?


    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.

    Postwar Transport maybe.jpeg
     
  11. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    Exhausted Nederland archives photo wise. I'll give my eyes a rest and have a go at the French archives later to see if there are any gems hiding there.

    Here are the other four photos I've found there, three of same name (maybe from movie footage originally?) and one other differently named Terrapin. Transport and Casevac. respectively.

    And whoever (whomever?) was responsible for the naming had knowledge of classical mythology.

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.

    Terrapin Neptunes Trident.jpeg

    Terrapin Neptunes Trident 2.jpeg

    Terrapin Neptunes Trident 3.jpeg

    Terrapin Ceres Terneuzen 13th 10 1944.jpg
     
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  12. Don Juan

    Don Juan Well-Known Member

    There were COXE trials and FVPE trials, plus seemingly endless FVPE workshop reports. I could easily write a 200 or 300 page book on the Neptune, although I won't because I would be lucky to sell more than five copies.

    Basically, the Neptune was great in the water (better than the LVT's) but hopeless on land due to persistent suspension weakness. I am tempted to blame Nuffield Mechanizations, who were very much the Ministry of Supply's 'D' team when it came to development. On the other hand, because the MoS had so little faith in them, NM were always given the most difficult and least important projects, so it may have been the case that they were being asked to do the impossible in the first place.
     
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  13. Don Juan

    Don Juan Well-Known Member

    The important thing, though, is that it looked really cool, and had a pretty cool name to go with it.
     
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  14. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Now intrigued who the other four are.
    Think I might know a couple of them... :unsure:
     
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  15. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

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  16. Don Juan

    Don Juan Well-Known Member

    Interesting snippet from the history of the 1st Assault Brigade regarding the Terrapins in Operation Vitality:

    Vitality.jpg

    Apparently the Soviet liaison officers with 21 Army Group were very impressed by the Scheldt operations. They seem to be very underrated, probably due to the historical assumption that they shouldn't have been necessary in the first place.
     
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  17. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    Hello Don Juan, re your initial post in this thread, and VPs post #6.

    Burnt many an hour of midnight oil (gladly) in pursuit of firming up the possible presence/use of Terrapin(s) on 6th June '44, said midnight oil burning prompted by finding a single reference to a Terrapin in a pdf from website D-Day 6 June 1944 - Operation Overlord - Landings and Battle of Normandy

    Reference to a Terrapin found on page 199 of aforementioned website's pdf titled "Operation Overlord/Neptune Force "J" - JUNO BEACH" (please see below) in the manifest for "Landing Craft Recovery Unit, RN". Thank goodness that once downloaded the pdf was "searchable"!

    Much viewing of IWM film footage and photographs relating to D-Day and beyond taken place since, but no sight of a Terrapin yet to confirm, but as ever I am optimistic of finding certain proof somewhere (maybe!).

    Below are the extracts from the quoted pdf. (my blue box-outs).

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.

    GROUP L5.jpg

    Landing Craft Recovery Unit RN.jpg
     
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  18. Don Juan

    Don Juan Well-Known Member

    I've been thinking about a real outside possibility - that Terrapins might have been used in the last amphibious operations in the Far East, i.e. Operations Dracula, Zipper, and Tiderace.

    This means entering the Final Boss level of WW2 obscurity.
     
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  19. idler

    idler GeneralList

    From the snappily-titled: Fighting, Support and Transport Vehicles, and the War Office Organization for Their Provision: Part I: Common Problems (p213):

    IMG_20210312_201321680~3.jpg

    There are also a couple of pages on it in Futter's The Funnies.
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2021
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  20. Jim,

    This pdf file was compiled using some of Trux's herculean works, so better give Caesar was belongs to Caesar (I know, that's an awkward mix of Greek mythological and Roman/Christian references :rolleyes:) and see Trux's original thread on this very forum here:
    JUNO BEACH.

    By the way, you could have saved yourself some oil by following the link in vP's Post #6 you quoted, where Trux gave the answer to that issue. Direct link to Mike's post:
    Terrapins on Juno.

    Michel
     
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