M29 Weasel

The M29 Weasel was a World War II tracked vehicle, built by Studebaker, designed for operation in snow.

Design and development


The idea for the Weasel came from the work of British inventor Geoffrey Pyke in support of his proposals to attack Axis forces and industrial installations in Norway. Pyke's plan to hamper the German atomic weapons development became Project Plough for which he proposed a fast light mechanised device that would transport small groups of commando troops of the 1st Special Service Force across snow. In active service in Europe, Weasels were used to supply frontline troops over difficult ground when wheeled vehicles were immobilised.

The first 2,103 vehicles had 15 in tracks, a later version had 20 in tracks. The M29 was amphibious, but with a very low freeboard; the M29C Water Weasel was the amphibious version, with buoyancy cells in the bow and stern as well as twin rudders.

Variants

 * T-15 prototype
 * M28 (G154)
 * M29 (T24) without float tanks (G179)
 * M29C with float tanks
 * M29C Type A: with center-mounted 75 mm M20 recoilless rifle
 * M29C Type B: with (T106) rear-mounted 75 mm recoilless rifle
 * M29C Type C: with center-mounted 37 mm Gun M3

Specification

 * General
 * Weight (fighting): 4451 lb
 * Shipping dimensions:
 * Uncrated; 340 cuft; 57.7 sqft
 * Ground clearance: 11 in
 * Ground pressure: 1.9 psi
 * Pintle height (loaded): 27.125 in
 * Electrical system: (volts) 12
 * Brakes: Mechanical – external contracting in differential
 * Transmission: Speeds: 3
 * Transfer case: Speeds: 2

The engine was a Studebaker Model 6-170 Champion, a 6 cylinder 169.6 cubic inch 4-stroke engine running on 72 octane gasoline delivering 70 bhp at 3,600 rpm. Fuel capactity was 35 USgal. Under average conditions typically 5 miles per gallon it could range 165 mi.


 * Performance