Britain's swimming tanks and Hobart's Funnies

Did Britain invent swimming or amphibious tanks, and what became of them?

Yes; Duplex Drive Shermans and other amphibious vehicles formed part of the equipment known as Hobart's Funnies.

The direct answer is the Duplex Drive Sherman. Britain developed several swimming or amphibious armored vehicles for assault operations. They belonged to the wider family of specialized equipment remembered as Hobart's Funnies. These designs linked armored support directly to the engineering demands of amphibious landings.