AC70063 AMTRACS LVT2, LVTA-1, LVTA-4

The Amtrac tracked amphibious vehicle from the family of American floating tracked transporters used during World War II for amphibious operations. The Amtrac was developed from the chassis of the M3 tank and was initially not intended for combat use. The first "amtraks" were designed for civilian use in a swampy area in Florida. However, at the beginning of the war, when it became obvious that US troops would have to undertake amphibious operations in the Pacific islands, it became necessary to adapt the civilian design to military use. In this way, the LVT-1, -2, -3 and -4 (Landing Vehicle, Tracked) vehicles were developed with a Continental W970 gasoline engine with a capacity of 250 HP, capable of reaching speeds on land of 32 km / h and in water at 12 km / h. The LVT weighed about 11 (with a load of up to 13) tons. Range 160 km. The armament of the LVT-4 version is 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns. In later versions, 37 mm and even 75 mm cannons appeared. By the end of hostilities in the Pacific, more than 14,000 LVTs had been produced.The LVT (A) -1 is an American amphibious vehicle from the Second World War. Mass production started in late 1943 or early 1944. About 500 vehicles of this type were built in its course. The length of the car was about 7.95 m, with a width of about 3.25 m. The drive was provided by a single gasoline engine with a capacity of 262 HP. The armament consisted of a single 37mm M6 cannon and three 7.62mm Browning M1919A4 machine guns. The LVT (A) -1 was developed based on the experience gained from landing operations conducted by US forces in the Pacific region. They clearly demonstrated the need to create a better armored and armed amphibious vehicle than the LVT-1 and LVT-2, which would be able to provide fire support to landing marines. These assumptions led to the development - based on the LVT-2 hull - of the LVT (A) -1 vehicle, which in fact acted as a light floating tank. First of all, it had armor up to 51 mm (on the turret) and 6 to 12 mm (hull) thick, as well as armament consisting of a 37 mm cannon, seated in a turret transferred from the M3 Stuart light tank. Interestingly, the car was still able to take another 450 kilograms of cargo on board. In the second half of 1944, the LVT (A) -1 cars were quickly replaced in the line by heavily armed LVT (A) -4 cars.The LVT-2 Water Buffalo was an American amphibious vehicle from the Second World War. The vehicle was powered by an engine Continental W-690-9A with 250 HP. The armament of this amphibious vehicle consisted of four machine guns: two 12.7 mm M2HB and two 7.62 mm M1919A4. About 2,950 vehicles of this type were built in the course of serial production. The LVT-2 Water Buffalo was a specially developed amphibious vehicle designed to support and support amphibious operations. It was created as a successor to the LVT-1 car. Compared to its predecessor, it was characterized by significantly improved seaworthiness and better off-road ability - after reaching the shore. It was able to transport 24 landing troops with all their equipment. The disadvantages of the vehicle included the completely exposed landing compartment, which exposed the soldiers to fire, as well as the lack of a landing ramp at the front of the vehicle. In 1943, the modernized version (LVT-2 (A) Buffalo II) entered production, with armor up to 10 mm thick. This resulted in an increase in weight and reduced the capacity to carry people - from 24 to 18 soldiers. The LVT-2 vehicles were used on a large scale during the fighting in the Pacific, including in Tarawa in 1943, Saipan one year later, or during the bloody fights on Iwo-Jima and Okinawa in 1945. Some of these vehicles were also used to cross the Rhine by the Allied forces in 1945.