The Diamond T Tank Transporter was a heavy tank transporter, used in World War II and the following years. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Overview

Designed as a heavy prime mover for tank transporting, the Diamond T 980 was the product of the Diamond T Company in Chicago. In 1940 the British Purchasing Commission, looking to equip the British Army with a vehicle capable of transporting larger and heavier tanks, approached a number of American truck manufacturers to assess their models. The Diamond T Company had a long history of building rugged, good looking military vehicles for the US Quartermaster Corps and had recently produced a prototype heavy vehicle for the US Army which, with a few slight modifications met British requirements and an initial order for 200 was very quickly filled. Diamond T Truck 1937 Diamond T Truck 1937 Diamond T Wrecker 1941 Diamond T 969A Wrecker 1943 The Diamond T was an American automobile manufactured in Chicago from 1905 until 1911. ... Nickname: Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook & DuPage Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City  234. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ...

The result was the Diamond T 980 (later 981) and the vehicle proved to be one of the most successful and memorable in its class. Powered by a 14.5 litre Hercules engine, developing 201 bhp, it proved more than capable of the task of moving the heaviest tanks. Diamond T Truck 1937 Diamond T Truck 1937 Diamond T Wrecker 1941 Diamond T 969A Wrecker 1943 The Diamond T was an American automobile manufactured in Chicago from 1905 until 1911. ...

Service

The first batch of the vehicles was received in Britain in 1942 and very quickly demonstrated their rugged reliability in the British campaign in North Africa. Battle damaged tanks needed to be quickly recovered, often under hostile fire, and returned to workshops for repair. The Diamond T, with its well trained Royal Army Service Corps crew and powerful engine and winch could accomplish this, even in the harshest desert conditions.  Northern Africa (UN subregion)  geographic, including above North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, generally divided politically from Sub-Saharan Africa. ... Diamond T Truck 1937 Diamond T Truck 1937 Diamond T Wrecker 1941 Diamond T 969A Wrecker 1943 The Diamond T was an American automobile manufactured in Chicago from 1905 until 1911. ... The Royal Logistic Corps is a British Army corps that provides the logistical support for the Army. ...

Some 6000 were eventually built and were used by virtually every Allied army in every theatre of WW2. Most continued in service after the war, with the British Army using them right up to 1971. Many sold off by the Army after the war were snapped up by heavy haulage and recovery specialists, notably Pickfords and Wynns, and they became a familiar sight pulling fairground trailers or parked on garage forecourts in readiness for a heavy rescue operation. In general, allies are people or groups that have joined an alliance and are working together to achieve some common purpose. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Pickfords is a moving company based in England, part of the international firm Sirva. ...

Today many of the 60 year-old Diamond T's can still be found in private ownership and are a firm favourite at historic vehicle shows, their classic design making them still one of the the best looking heavy vehicles ever built. Diamond T Truck 1937 Diamond T Truck 1937 Diamond T Wrecker 1941 Diamond T 969A Wrecker 1943 The Diamond T was an American automobile manufactured in Chicago from 1905 until 1911. ...

LINKS

http://www.military-museum.org.uk/diamond.htm

http://www.autogallery.org.ru/m/diamond.htm

http://www.welsh-transport-heritage.co.uk/wynnsofnewport.htm