Diamond T Tank Transporter

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The Diamond T Tank Transporter refers to the Diamond T 980 (or 981) tank transporter, used heavily in World War II.

[edit] 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 Committee, 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 building rugged, good looking military vehicles for the US Quartermaster Corps and quickly produced a design which met British requirements.

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 heavy tanks.

[edit] Service

The first batch of the vehicles was received in Britain in 1942 and it very quickly demonstrated its 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 could accomplish this, even in the harshest desert conditions.

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 were used by heavy recovery specialists and they were a familiar sight pulling fairground trailers in the 1950s and 1960s.

Today there are still many owned and run by classic truck enthusiasts and historic vehicle shows are not considered complete without the sight of the Diamond T's classic lines.