Capable of operating in inland waterways, it however also saw limited action in surf conditions in the Pacific Theatre and during the landings on Walcheren in Europe.

The Weasel was designed by British inventor Geoffrey Pyke to support Project Plough, aimed at attacking Axis forces in Norway.

The initial version, T15 (later M28), featured a rear engine, front wheel drive system, 15-inch Kégresse-style tracks, and a two-passenger capacity.

The later M29 version had a front engine, rear wheel drive system, 20-inch tracks, larger passenger/load capacity, and improved amphibious capabilities.

The M29C Water Weasel was more amphibious with buoyancy cells and twin rudders but limited to inland waterway conditions.

The idea for the Weasel came from the work of British inventor Geoffrey Pyke, in support of his proposal to attack Axis forces and industrial installations in German-occupied Norway.

Pyke's plan to hamper the German nuclear weapons program became Project Plough, for which he proposed a fast, light mechanized vehicle that would transport small groups of commando troops of the 1st Special Service Force across snow.

It would need to be air transportable, capable of being dropped by parachute, and carry passengers, arms, explosives and supplies.

In active service in Europe, Weasels were used to supply frontline troops over difficult ground when wheeled vehicles were immobilized.

The reliability of the vehicle when used in the European summer and during long trips on hard roads was the subject of consternation among Allied troops to whom they were assigned.

During the First Indochina War, the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment was in charge of fighting Viet Minh guerrillas in the Mekong Delta area.

[8][9] French soldiers learned fast after several months of fighting, but the real deployment of full forces was possible only when they received LVT-4s and LVT(A)-4s in 1950.

[citation needed] After the Indochina war, the remaining weasels were given to the French Polar Expeditions and used at the Antarctic station of Dumont d'Urville until 1993.

[citation needed] Amphibious M29 Weasels of 4th Special Service Brigade were used by British commando troops in the Walcheren operation, supplementing LVT Buffalos.