Terrapin

Point taken Michel, and apologies.

I should have been more verbose and gone beyond my brief reference to Adam's "#6".

Absolutely no slight meant, or inferred, to Trux' herculean efforts.

Again, apologies.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Jim,
No need for apologies, I was just teasing you

The forum is here to answer our questions, and even if some have already been answered, asking them again usually brings up new, more detailed answers (and new questions too!).

Michel

 

Terrapins in the pool but the DUKWS were in the pond.

 

Is there any information on when the Terrapin Mk II prototypes were constructed?

 

COHQ Bulletin X/26 - Amphibians, March 1944.

Includes specifications, plans/schematics and photographs of the Amphibious Jeep, DUKW, both Terrapin Marks, the LVT range and the M29 Weasel.

 

From my home region. Walsoorden 1944 : line-up of Terrapins before crossing the Scheldt :



Nieuw-Neuzenpolder :





Middelburg :





Arjan

 

Managed to find a COXE report on the Terrapin. I haven't gone through it in detail, but on the surface it doesn't seem to have performed badly:

 

in Woods' amphibious vehicles there are few photos and basic specs but next to nothing on operational use

 

I would be very interested in a set of good line drawings. Sarik hobbies offer a set of the Terrapin but I don't know if these are any good. Some more pics showing the Market square of Middelburg. These pics were taken in 1945 but the Terrapins no longer sport the sign of the 79th armoured division so probably post war .







Regards,

Arjan

 

Great photo! The marking RNP 1552 must mean Royal Naval Party 1552, which formed No.12 RN Landing Craft Recovery Unit (source: Naval Party, Royal Navy, 1942-1991 by Ben Warlow).

A nice confirmation of Trux' post Terrapins on Juno..

ONEAST/G.11 (Administrative Orders) specifies that

4....The L.C.R.U will arrive off the beaches as follows:-

Nos. 4 & 5...Second Tide.....'D' Day.
No. 6........Third Tide......'D' + 1.
No. 12.......Lifting Tide....'D' + 2.​

Michel

 

Ironically this Terrapin is obviously bogged in the infamous Blue Clay, and itself in dire need of recovery, although the next incoming tide will probably float it again.

 

A brief mention of the Terrapin in the 21 AG HQ report on the Battle of the Scheldt:



This combined with the COXE reports indicates to me that the Terrapin was basically OK.

 

Regarding this picture that was originally posted by reinaart above, can anyone suggest what colour scheme this might be?



I'm guessing the black-looking rectangle on which the WD serial number is displayed is the original olive drab camouflage, suggesting this Terrapin is ex-79th Armoured Division. But what is the new overcoat? I believe some DUKW's with the RASC transport companies were painted light blue. Could this be the same?

 

Perhaps grey like some of the Dukw's used on Walcheren in early 1945. Compare some pics of the two Dukw's used for Queen Wilhelmina's "liberation tour" on Walcheren.The Dukw behind the one carrying Wilhelmina is grey, note the colour contrast between these two Dukw's.




Grey :




Edit: By the way, the caption of the third image is incorrect. The date should be March 1945 not November 1944. What we get to see is not the liberation itself but Wilhelmina's visit.


Regards,

Arjan

 

The AoS of 1399 indicates that those DUKW's belonged to 323 Artillery Company. (From Michel Sabarly's table posted on Missing Lynx)

 

In Normandy there were grey Dukw's so why not on Walcheren ? This thread contains some colour footage .

Missing-Lynx-Ford GPA & DUKW's

Arjan