Terrapin (amphibious vehicle)

A column of 'Alligator' amphibious vehicles passing Terrepin amphibious vehicles on the Scheldt River near Terneuzen, October 13th, 1944.

The Terrapin "4-ton amphibian" was a British-manufactured, amphibious armoured transport vehicle of the Second World War. It was first used at Antwerp in 1944, and to great effect during the Battle of the Scheldt.

The Terrapin served with the assault teams of Royal Engineers as part of the 79th Armoured Division. They were used to carry infantry units (Canadian and British) over the 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 commercial vehicle side of the Morris Motor Company.

A Mark 2 Terrapin with a number of improvements reached the prototype stage but the war ended before it entered production.

The British Morris-Commercial Terrapin MkI.

Design of the Mark 1

Despite success in its first military action, the Terrapin was not an overall successful design, and had many significant defects which were never overcome in service.

Because of the size of the tyres, the Terrapin was a relatively high vehicle, and though open-topped, it was difficult to enter and exit. Any soldier attempting to exit over the side faced both prolonged exposure to enemy fire as well as possible injury from the fall.
More important, like the Medium Mark A Whippet tank of WWI, the Terrapin had drive to all eight wheels powered by two separate engines (both Ford V8), mounted side-by-side with each motor driving the wheels on one side, controlled by lever steering. This arrangement did not work on the Whippet, and failed on the Terrapin as well. If one engine broke down the Terrapin tended to swing around violently.
The two centrally located engines also 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 use the vehicle was found to be rather slow, and was easily swamped in rough seas.
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.
One interesting feature was that when being driven 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.

These failings quickly led to the abandonment of the design in favor of the development of the Mark 2, but the growing availability of large numbers of the much more successful American DUKW made further development unnecessary.


Design of the Mark 2

This was similar to the Mark 1 but had a forward driving position. It was a much longer vehicle, being 31 feet (9.4 m) long compared with the 23 feet (7.0 m) length of the Mark 1.

Survivors

Kevin Wheatcroft, a collector in Great Britain, is known as being the owner of an unrestored Terrapin Mk1. John Belfield, a collector in Australia, also owns a Terrapin wreck, which still carries the original Australian Registration Number (ARN) 149391.

Terrapin

Type Armoured personnel carrier
Place of origin United Kingdom
Production history
Manufacturer Morris Commercial
Number built 200


Specifications

Weight 7 tonnes
Length 7.01 m
Width 2.67 m
Height 2.92 m
Crew 2
Armour mm
Primary armament none
Secondary armament none
Engine 2 x Ford V8 190 hp ( kW) in total
Power/weight hp/tonne
Operational range 240 km
Speed 24 km/h, 5 mph in water

Humber Light Reconnaissance Car

Humber I light reconnaissance car (Ironside I).

The Humber Light Reconnaissance Car, also known as Ironside, was a British armoured car produced during World War II.

Humber Mk III Light Reconnaissance Cars of 29th Independent Squadron, Reconnaissance Corps (attached to 214 Infantry Brigade) at Shanklin on the Isle of Wight, on the 5th of March 1942. The vehicles are armed with Bren guns and Boys anti-tank rifles. In the photo the front fenders run along the line of the armour, this suggests that it is in fact a Mk II.

Produced by the Rootes Group, the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car was an armoured car based on the 4x4 Humber Heavy Utility (Humber box) chassis. It was equipped with No. 19 radio set. From 1940 to 1943 over 3600 units were built.

The crew of a Humber Light Reconnaissance Car feeding pigeons in Hamburg on the 4th of May 1945.

The vehicle was used by Infantry Reconnaissance Regiments and the RAF Regiment in Tunisia, Italy and Western Europe. Three Mk I vehicles were modified for use by the British Royal Family and the Cabinet ministers and were known as Special Ironside Saloons. After the war, some vehicles remained in service with the British units in India and in the Far East. The LRC was used widely by the Reconnaissance Corps.

The pilot of a German aircraft, shot down while attacking an ammunition dump in the Anzio bridgehead, descends by parachute, on the 21st of March 1944. A Humber Mk III light reconnaissance car can be seen in the foreground.

Variants

Humber I light reconnaissance car (Ironside I).

Mk I - original version with open-topped hull.

Humber Light Reconnaissance Car Mk II

Mk II - received roof armour and machine gun turret.

Humber light reconnasissance car Mk III.

Mk III (1941) - four-by-four chassis. Externally similar to the Mk II.

Humber light reconnaissance car Mk IIIa.

Mk IIIA (1943) - had additional vision ports at the front angles of the hull.

Humber Light Reconnaissance Car Mk III

Surviving vehicles

Humber light reconnaissance car Mk IIIa.

Dutch Cavalry Museum has the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car in its exposition.

Humber Light Reconnaissance Car Mk II

Humber Light Reconnaissance Car

Production history
Manufacturer Humber
Number built 3,600

Humber light reconnaissance car Mk IIIa.

Specifications

Weight Mk I: 2.8 t
Mk II: 3 t
Length 4.37 m
Width 1.88 m
Height 2.08 m
Crew 3
Armour up to 12 mm
Primary armament Boys anti-tank rifle
Secondary armament 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Bren machine gun
Engine petrol 80-87 hp (60-65 kW)
Power/weight 29 hp/tonne
Suspension Mk I, II: 4 x 2 wheel
Mk III: 4 x 4 wheel
Operational range 180 km
Speed 72 km/h (45 mph)

Humber light reconnaissance car Mk IIIa.

Lanchester 6x4 Armoured Car

Lanchester Model A

Lanchester Armoured Car was a British armoured car produced in limited numbers in late 1920s and early 1930s. The vehicle remained in service with the Territorial Army and colonial units until early 1940s and saw action in the Battle of Malaya. It is often referred to as Lanchester 6x4 to distinguish it from an earlier four-wheeled design.

The crew of a Lanchester Mk II Armoured Car of the 12th Lancers check their maps during manouevres, circa 1938.

Production history and description

On 19 July 1927 Lanchester Motor Company was awarded a contract for a six-wheeled armoured car. By March 1928 two prototypes, D1E1 and D1E2, were built, with different armament and turret shape. D1E2 had additional driving controls at the rear of the vehicle. Following the trials, which revealed that the chassis wasn't strong enough for a relatively heavy vehicle and not rigid enough for cross-country ride, 22 vehicles with improved chassis and other changes were ordered, designated Mk I and Mk IA (command version). Until 1932 orders were placed for 15 more cars, two of them instructional (D1E3, D1E4), the rest were designated Mk II and Mk IIA (command version).

Lanchester Model B

The Lanchester had a purpose-built six-by-four chassis. The armoured body was similar in shape to that of the Rolls-Royce Armoured Car, its front part was occupied by the engine and the rest by the fighting compartment. The rear part of the vehicle, behind the armoured body, was used for storage of equipment. Above the fighting compartment a two-man turret was mounted, with .5 inch (12.7 mm) and .303 inch (7.7 mm) Vickers machine guns in a dual mount. The turret had a cupola which could rotate independently. An additional .303 Vickers was located in front of the fighting compartment. In command versions, the hull machine gun was replaced by a No. 9 radio with a whip type antenna, and the machine gunner acted as a wireless operator.

Lanchester Mk I

Lanchesters had good cross-country performance and were considered reliable and easy to maintain, but too big, heavy and slow for reconnaissance missions for which they were originally developed.

Lanchester Mk II Armoured Cars of the 12th Lancers in open country during manouevres, circa 1938.

Deployment history

In January 1929 the first Lanchesters (along with Rolls-Royce Armoured Cars) were received by the 11th Hussars regiment. Because of slow rate of delivery, it took until 1934 to fully equip the unit. In November the regiment was relocated to Egypt to relieve the 12th Royal Lancers, which returned to Britain and took over the cars. In January-February 1935 a provisional D squadron of the 12th Lancers with eight armoured cars served as a peacekeeping force in the Saar region. On 31 December B and C squadrons were sent again to Egypt with 29 armoured cars as a response to the Italian invasion of Abyssinia and strengthening garrisons in Libya. They were used in patrolling the western frontier. By the end of the year the squadrons were returned to Britain, where the regiment was re-equipped with Morris armoured cars.

Lanchester Mk II

By 1939, most Lanchesters (13 Mk I, 1 Mk IA, 5 Mk II, 3 Mk IIA) were sent to the Far East and assigned to the Selangor and Perak battalions of Federated Malay States Volunteer Force, the Singapore Volunteer Corps, Straits Settlements Volunteer Force and the 2nd battalion of Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in Malaya. Some of these took part in the Malayan Campaign (December 1941 - 15 February 1942) against Japan.


About 10 Lanchesters were given to the Territorial Army; the 23rd London Armoured Car Company and 1st Derbyshire Yeomanry. In 1940 one was converted for use by Cabinet ministers and other VIPs. In 1941 two were given to the 1st Belgian Armoured Cars squadron.


The only surviving vehicle is Mk II on display at the Bovington Tank Museum.

Commanders of Lanchester Mk.II Armoured Cars of the 12th Lancers confer before moving off towards their next objective during manouevres, circa 1938.

Variants

Mk I (18 built) - dual rear tires.
Mk IA (4 built) - command version.
Mk II (7 built) - single tires, turret cupola with sloped sides.
Mk IIA (6 built) - command version.

An officer and men of a cavalry regiment adopt industrious poses around a Lanchester 6x4 armoured car, 1938.

Lanchester Armoured Car Mk II

Place of origin United Kingdom
Production history
Manufacturer Lanchester Motor Company

Troop leader of a section of Lanchester Mk II Armoured Cars of the 12th Lancers signalling by flag to the other vehicles during manouevres, circa 1938.

Specifications

Weight 7 t
Length 6.10 m
Width 2.02 m
Height 2.82 m
Crew 4
Armour 9 mm
Primary armament .5 cal Vickers machine gun
Secondary armament 2 x .303 inch Vickers machine gun
Engine Lanchester 6-cyl. petrol engine 90 hp (67 kW)
Power/weight 12.9 hp/ton
Suspension 6 x 4 wheel, leaf spring
Operational range 320 km
Speed 72 km/h

Humber armoured car

Humber Mk IV Armoured Car (with dummy gun) at Yad Mordechai battlefield site.

The Humber Armoured Car was one of the most widely produced British armoured cars of World War II. It supplemented the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car and remained in service until the end of the war.

Humber armoured cars of the Inns of Court Regiment, 9th Armoured Division, on parade at Guisborough in Yorkshire, 19th of August 1941.

History

Made by the Rootes Group, the Humber was essentially a combination of the Karrier KT 4 artillery tractor chassis and the armoured body of the Guy Armoured Car. The first order for 500 was placed in 1940. Production started in 1941 and a total of about 3,652 units were produced by the time production stopped in 1945. Over half of them were the 37 mm gun-armed Mk IV.

A Humber Mk II armoured car of the 12th Royal Lancers on patrol south of El Alamein, July 1942.

The vehicle was used in the North African Campaign from late 1941 by the 11th Hussars and other units. It was also widely used in the European theatre by reconnaissance regiments of British and Canadian infantry divisions. A few vehicles were used for patrol duty along the Iran supply route. The Humber armoured car was also used in Burma.

A Humber Mk II armoured car of the 12th Royal Lancers on patrol in the Western Desert, 10 August 1942.

A captured vehicle (a MkIV) was used by the Aufklärungs Abt of the 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen at Arnhem.

A Humber Mk II armoured car of 4th Light Armoured Brigade (formerly 4th Armoured Brigade) on patrol in the Western Desert, 10 August 1942.

After the Second World War, the Humber was employed by Egypt in 1948-49 as well as by Burma, Ceylon, Cyprus, Denmark, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal.

Humber Armoured Car Mk III.

Humber was used by the Hyderabad State Forces against the Indian Army during Operation Polo.

Humber Mk IV mocked up to look like a German armoured car for the filming of the film "Heroes of Telemark"

Several static and operational cars are distributed through North America and Europe. There is a Mk I on display at the Bovington Tank Museum.


However, to the great regret of many modern day collectors and enthusiasts, most of the British Army's remaining Humbers ended up on firing ranges to be used for target practice in the years following their removal from service.


Variants

Mk I. Note the similarity to the Guy Mk IA Armoured Car.

Mark I Original version, based on the Guy Armoured Car body. Armed with one 15 mm and one 7.92 mm calibre Besa machine guns. Three man crew: driver, gunner, commander. About 300 units built.

Mark I AA / Quad AA The Mark I fitted with a different turret mounting four 7.92 mm BESA machine guns able to elevate to near vertical and an AA sight. The vehicle was intended to provide anti-aircraft support for armoured car units, but the Allied air superiority meant they were needed less and less as the war progressed.

Mk II. Note the redesigned glacis armour.

Mark II Changes to the turret, better armour around driver and radiator. 440 units built.

Mark II OP Observation post vehicle, armed with two 7.92 mm BESA MGs.

Mark III Larger three-man turret with provisions for a wireless operator freeing up the wireless operation tasks of the commander.

Mk IV. Note the turret overhang.

Mark IV Equipped with the US M5 or M6 37 mm high velocity gun in place of the 15 mm BESA. The larger gun required the removal of the third crewman in the turret (the wireless operator). Turret hatches were rearranged with the new gun and crew layout. About 2,000 units built.

Humber Mk IV Armoured Car.

Humber Armoured Car

Place of origin United Kingdom
Production history
Manufacturer Rootes Group
Number built 3,652


Specifications

Weight 7 t
Length 4.6 m
Width 2.2 m
Height 2.4 m
Crew Mk I, II, IV: 3
Mk III: 4
Armour 15 mm
Primaryarmament Mk I-III: 15 mm Besa machine gun
Mk IV: US made M5 or M6 37 mm gun
Secondaryarmament 7.92 mm Besa machine gun
Engine Rootes 6 cyl petrol engine 90 hp (67 kW)
Power/weight 12.9 hp/tonne
Suspension Wheel 4x4, rigid front and rear axles, rear wheel drive with selectable four wheel drive
Operational range 400 km
Speed 72 km/h

Humber Scout Car

Humber Scout Car was a British light armoured car used in the Second World War.


History

Although at the outbreak of the World War II the British Army already had the excellent Daimler Dingo, the need for scout cars could not be met by Daimler alone, so other companies were required to produce similar vehicles.


One of these companies was Rootes Group, which in 1942 built a vehicle similar to the Dingo in layout.


To comply with the government contract to keep the weight down, the Daimler "Dingo" was open top, whereas the Humber had an unarmoured floor.


The vehicle carried a crew of two, with an emergency seat for a third member.


It was equipped with a No. 19 radio set.

Humber Mk I scout car.

The armament consisted of one Bren light machine gun with a 100-round drum.

French patriots help the crew of a Humber scout car spot German positions during mopping-up operations in Le Havre, 12th of September 1944.

A second Bren could be added if necessary.

German prisoners being brought in on the bonnet of a Humber scout car, Caen, 9th of July 1944.

This was mounted above the roof, and could be operated from inside the vehicle using a system looking similar to bicycle handlebars, where the "brake" levers fired the triggers of the bren/s.

Brigadier N W Duncan of 30th Armoured Brigade, 79th Armoured Division, watches the attack on Caen from beside his Humber scout car outside Beuville, on the 8th of July 1944.

Production of the vehicles continued until 1945.


At least 4,298 were ordered and at least 4,102 delivered, 1,698 of them Mk I.


They were used by British armoured units (e.g. the 11th Armoured Division and the Guards Armoured Division) for scouting and liaison and were generally considered less capable and reliable than the Dingo.

A Humber scout car and trucks of 59th Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery crossing a Bailey bridge at Dreierwalde, 6 - 8 April 1945.

A number of vehicles were given to the Polish II Corps and the 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade.


After the war, the vehicle was used by some European armies.


Belgian police continued to use the car until 1958.

Men of the 8th Royal Scots move forward past a Humber scout car of 31st Tank Brigade during Operation 'Epsom', on the 28th of June 1944.

Operators

Belgium
Canada
Czechoslovakia
Denmark
France
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
United Kingdom.

Canadian Humber Scout Car (right) in Bergen-op-Zoom, early November 1944.

Variants

Humber Mk I scout car.

Mk I.

Mk II - improved transmission.


Humber Scout Car

Type armoured car
Production history
Manufacturer Humber


Specifications

Weight 2.4 t
Length 3.83 m
Width 1.87 m
Height 2.13 m
Crew 2-3
Armour up to 14 mm
Primary armament 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Bren machine gun x1 or x2
Engine 6-cyl. petrol
87 hp (65 kW)
Power/weight 25.6 hp/tonne
Suspension 4 x 4 wheeled
Operational
range 320 km
Speed 100 km/h