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M29 Weasel / Water Weasel

1942 COLD WAR WORLD WAR 2

History of the M29 Weasel/Water Weasel

After the German invasion of Norway (April 1940) during World War II (1939-1945), British inventor Geoffrey Pyke (1893-1948) believed that small tracked vehicles would Large enough to carry assault-type elements across arctic environments. These soldiers will focus on small-group tactics, attacking the enemy along multiple strategic points - with the aim of forcing the enemy to devote more resources to defending along longer lines, allowing for the entry of allied forces When tethering a large number of enemy units to use them with fewer resources.

Although initially rejected, the concept took on new life when the British War Department Joint Operations Headquarters fell under Louis Mountbatten in October 1941. This led to "Operation Pllow," which grew into a Canada-based company and later brought in American automotive company Studebaker for production.

The end result became "M29 Weasel", while the amphibious variant was considered "Water Weasel".

The series was born out of the two-seat T-15 pilot, which was used in May 1942 by Studebaker of South Bend, Indiana, using a two-bogie four-wheel track system. Initial testing took place at Mount Columbia in British Columbia, Canada.

The craft saw her powerplant, a track and wheel system mounted to the rear of the fuselage that controlled the snowy mountainous terrain. The car was tested and eventually named "M28 Weasel". The M28 only survived until 1943, when the improved shape of the "M29 Weasel" was noticed.

On the M29, the engines were moved to the front of the fuselage, thus adding seats for the two passengers in the rear. The chassis has been completely revised, including 16 wheels and a new suspension.

The original Weasel was a fairly simple tracked vehicle with a 15-inch spanning link on the chassis. The fuselage layout is sleek and boxy, with a folding front windshield and optional canvas cover above the passenger cabin (held in place by an equally optional tubular structure assembly). The driver is forward on the left and three seats extend the width of the hull behind his position - a total of up to four people can be carried. Total weight ranges from 3,800 to 4,000 pounds, depending on cargo and model, and dimensions include 10 feet long, 6 inches wide, 5 feet wide, and 4 feet high.

Power is provided by a Studebaker Model 6-170 Champion 6-cylinder 70 hp gasoline engine, giving the vehicle a road speed of 36 mph and a range of 165 miles.

As tracked vehicles, Weasels offer excellent off-road performance. They can traverse high levels and have added amphibious abilities (like "water weasels") when traversing water sources. Vehicles can pass ditches with obstacles ranging from 36 inches to 24 inches.

When not called upon to transport people, weasels can be used to haul approximately 3,800 pounds of supplies into battle. Basic shipping version - it doesn't have a floating tank. The M29C is a dedicated amphibious version with internal pontoons and dual rudder controls - easily recognizable by its boat-like hull and side skirts (the base Weasel model has a more purposeful nose design). This version was further developed by three armed versions - the M29C Type A, B and C. Type A has a 75mm M20 recoilless rifle mounted in the center of the hull, while Type B has a staggered mount at the rear of the hull and Type C uses a 37mm M3 anti-tank gun mounted in the center of the hull.

It's worth noting that the 15" chain only appeared in the first 2,100 examples until it was later dropped in favor of a wider 20" design.

Although the Weasel was designed for combat operations in Norway, it was never used as such. Instead, it was used in continental Europe, including the Italian campaign.

From 1942 to late 1944, Wiesel was employed by the 1,800-strong U.S.-Canadian First Special Forces unit, the "Devil's Brigade" or "Dark Demon." On December 5, 1944, the Demon Brigade fought in campaigns in Aleutian, Italy, Anzio, and France, and was subsequently disbanded.

Weasel's total production reached 15,892 - all handled by Studebaker. From 1942 to 1943, Weasel produced 766 T15 models, followed by 1,002 T24s in 1943. The base M29 model appeared in 523 examples in 1943, followed by 2,951 units in 1944.

Production of the M29C saw began in 1944 with 4,201 examples and was completed in 1945 with 6,446 examples.