Norwegian Army M29C Weasel cargo carrier, M-29C-10138
This M29C Weasel was acquired by the Muckleburgh Collection at Wetbourne, Norfolk from Norway in 1987.
Military operations showed the US Army needed a vehicle to move over snow for the First Special Services Force to conduct commando operations against strategic power plants in Norway. In 1943 the Studebaker M29 cargo carrier, better known as the Weasel, was introduced. This was a light weight vehicle with 15 or 20 in. tracks that was good for traveling over soft snow but had limited carrying capacity.
The original design with the engine at the back was soon altered to the conventional layout with the engine at the front and the drive sprockets at the rear. This gave better distribution of weight and improved space so that more cargo or passengers could be carried.
The Norwegian mission was cancelled and therefore the Weasel was never used for its original intention. The Weasel was developed into an amphibious version for inland waterways only, with buoyancy chambers, twin rudders coupled to the steering controls with propulsion in the water provided by the tracks. The standard Weasel could be quickly converted in the field if required and both versions could be dropped by parachute.
The Weasel crossed terrain too soft for most other vehicles, and it was used widely in both Italy and on the Western Front where it went ashore at Normandy. The Weasel was a cargo carrier but was also used as a command center, radio vehicle and signal line layer. US soldiers soon realized the Weasel could be used as an ambulance, as it could get to places that even Jeeps couldn't. Another use was for crossing minefields, as its ground pressure was often too low to set off anti-tank mines.
In November 1944, the USMC distributed Weasels to the 3rd., 4th. and 5th. Marine Divisions. They proved invaluable with its first appearance in combat on Iwo Jima. It also saw use on Okinawa. The USMC used only the non-amphibious version, but it was capable of hauling a half ton load through sand and mud. Besides this they pulled trailers and artillery pieces over the terrain that wheeled vehicles could not negotiate.
Some US Weasels survived to serve in Korea, supplementing 1/4 ton 4x4 cargo vehicles in the rough conditions. They also served in Arctic and cold weather operations until retired in 1958.
The French used Weasels in the First Indochina War.
The 1st. Foreign Cavalry Regiment was fighting Viet Minh guerrillas in the Mekong Delta area. Its units, 1st. and 2nd. Escadrons, received Weasels from the 13th. Demi-Brigade of Foreign Legion in 1947. Initially the Weasels were unsuccessful and losses were heavy. But the French soldiers learned fast after several months of fighting and their fortunes improved when in September 1951, 1er Groupement Autonome was established. The unit included two Escadrons equipted with 33 Weasels each. French Weasels, known as Crabes, were heavily armed with Chaterrault M1924/29 light machine guns, Bren or Browning M1919 machine guns, 57mm M18A1 recoilless guns and even 60 mm mortars.
After the Indochina war, the remaining Weasels were given to French Polar Expeditions, who used them at the Antarctic station of Dumont d'Urville until 1993, and French mountain troops and French Gendarmerie who used them until 1970.
British Weasels remained in service for only a few years after the war.
2nd. World War surplus Weasels were sold to allied countries such as Norway and Sweden who used them into the late 1960's.
Crew: 2 to 4
Length: 10 ft. 6 in. (3.23 m)
Width: 5 ft. 6 in. (1.67 m)
Height: 4 ft. 3 in. (1.29 m)
Height to windscreen: 5 ft. 11 in. (1.8 m)
Ground clearance: 11 in. (280 mm)
Ground pressure: 1.9 psi.
Dry weight: 3,800 lb. (1,700 kg)
Fighting weight: 4,451 lb (2,019 kg)
Engine: 2,779 cc (169.6 cu. in.) Studebaker Model 6-170 Champion 6 cylinder, petrol
Engine output: 70 hp (52 kW) at 3,600 rpm
Transmission: 3 speeds
Transfer case: 2 speeds
Max speed: 36 mph (58 km/h)
Range: 165 miles (266 km).
Turning radius: 12 ft. (3.7 m)
Max width of ditch vehicle will cross: 36 in. (91 cm)
Max vertical obstacle vehicle will climb: 24 in. (61 cm)
Max towed load: 3,800 lb. (1,700 kg)
Norwegian Army M29C Weasel cargo carrier, M-29C-10138
This M29C Weasel was acquired by the Muckleburgh Collection at Wetbourne, Norfolk from Norway in 1987.
Military operations showed the US Army needed a vehicle to move over snow for the First Special Services Force to conduct commando operations against strategic power plants in Norway. In 1943 the Studebaker M29 cargo carrier, better known as the Weasel, was introduced. This was a light weight vehicle with 15 or 20 in. tracks that was good for traveling over soft snow but had limited carrying capacity.
The original design with the engine at the back was soon altered to the conventional layout with the engine at the front and the drive sprockets at the rear. This gave better distribution of weight and improved space so that more cargo or passengers could be carried.
The Norwegian mission was cancelled and therefore the Weasel was never used for its original intention. The Weasel was developed into an amphibious version for inland waterways only, with buoyancy chambers, twin rudders coupled to the steering controls with propulsion in the water provided by the tracks. The standard Weasel could be quickly converted in the field if required and both versions could be dropped by parachute.
The Weasel crossed terrain too soft for most other vehicles, and it was used widely in both Italy and on the Western Front where it went ashore at Normandy. The Weasel was a cargo carrier but was also used as a command center, radio vehicle and signal line layer. US soldiers soon realized the Weasel could be used as an ambulance, as it could get to places that even Jeeps couldn't. Another use was for crossing minefields, as its ground pressure was often too low to set off anti-tank mines.
In November 1944, the USMC distributed Weasels to the 3rd., 4th. and 5th. Marine Divisions. They proved invaluable with its first appearance in combat on Iwo Jima. It also saw use on Okinawa. The USMC used only the non-amphibious version, but it was capable of hauling a half ton load through sand and mud. Besides this they pulled trailers and artillery pieces over the terrain that wheeled vehicles could not negotiate.
Some US Weasels survived to serve in Korea, supplementing 1/4 ton 4x4 cargo vehicles in the rough conditions. They also served in Arctic and cold weather operations until retired in 1958.
The French used Weasels in the First Indochina War.
The 1st. Foreign Cavalry Regiment was fighting Viet Minh guerrillas in the Mekong Delta area. Its units, 1st. and 2nd. Escadrons, received Weasels from the 13th. Demi-Brigade of Foreign Legion in 1947. Initially the Weasels were unsuccessful and losses were heavy. But the French soldiers learned fast after several months of fighting and their fortunes improved when in September 1951, 1er Groupement Autonome was established. The unit included two Escadrons equipted with 33 Weasels each. French Weasels, known as Crabes, were heavily armed with Chaterrault M1924/29 light machine guns, Bren or Browning M1919 machine guns, 57mm M18A1 recoilless guns and even 60 mm mortars.
After the Indochina war, the remaining Weasels were given to French Polar Expeditions, who used them at the Antarctic station of Dumont d'Urville until 1993, and French mountain troops and French Gendarmerie who used them until 1970.
British Weasels remained in service for only a few years after the war.
2nd. World War surplus Weasels were sold to allied countries such as Norway and Sweden who used them into the late 1960's.
Crew: 2 to 4
Length: 10 ft. 6 in. (3.23 m)
Width: 5 ft. 6 in. (1.67 m)
Height: 4 ft. 3 in. (1.29 m)
Height to windscreen: 5 ft. 11 in. (1.8 m)
Ground clearance: 11 in. (280 mm)
Ground pressure: 1.9 psi.
Dry weight: 3,800 lb. (1,700 kg)
Fighting weight: 4,451 lb (2,019 kg)
Engine: 2,779 cc (169.6 cu. in.) Studebaker Model 6-170 Champion 6 cylinder, petrol
Engine output: 70 hp (52 kW) at 3,600 rpm
Transmission: 3 speeds
Transfer case: 2 speeds
Max speed: 36 mph (58 km/h)
Range: 165 miles (266 km).
Turning radius: 12 ft. (3.7 m)
Max width of ditch vehicle will cross: 36 in. (91 cm)
Max vertical obstacle vehicle will climb: 24 in. (61 cm)
Max towed load: 3,800 lb. (1,700 kg)