PMI0118C LVT1

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.