Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT-2 / LVT-4) (Alligator / Water Buffalo)

History

LVT ("Landing Vehicle Tracked") began a long line of amphibious tracked U.S. military vehicles for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps that continues to this day. Famous during World War II, LVT originated from a civilian tracked vehicle (known as a "crocodile") owned by American Donald Roebling Jr.

Roebling designed his Amphibious Alligator LVT specifically as a rescue vehicle for use in the severely swampy areas of Florida, which combined with its rugged tracked and boat-like characteristics make it an ideal vehicle for this unforgiving terrain. Recognizing the value of such a machine, and the fact that World War II was approaching from two oceans on U.S. soil, the U.S. Marine Corps spoke with Roebling about a 1940 design that repurposed it for military use.

Marines were trained to fight on water on land, the greatest threat to the United States, and now Imperial Japan in the West, and island hopping quickly became the norm, which seemed like an appropriate option.

Roebling delivered the first incarnation of its civilian design, the "LVT-1", and Food Machinery began production of 200 contract vehicles in 1941. The LVT-1 has a top speed of 12 mph and armament consists of 2 x .30 caliber general purpose machine guns or 2 x .50 caliber machine guns mounted on rails or pivot mounts with optional limited shielding. Troop capacity ranges from 18 to 24 combat-ready soldiers.

After some experience, four guns - two of each type - were mounted forward and aft of the cargo hold for maximum defensive support. Power comes from a single Hercules WXLC-3 engine. Approximately 1,225 LVT-1 series were eventually produced.

It should be noted that the LVT-1 series models are not armored in any way outside their factory "skin" and are generally used as supply vehicles.

The LVT-4(F) "Sea Serpent" was a British modification of the LVT-4 model to accommodate a pair of "Wasp" flamethrowers for operations in the Far East Theater. The flamethrowers were mounted on flexible brackets on the left and right fronts of the truck chassis, while the single engine pods were mounted in semi-armored circular "slots" at the rear.

Like all other LVT developments, the gunner and passengers were located in the open areas of the vehicle loading area, but the LVT-4(F) was rarely used by the British Army until the end of the war in August 1945. The British also based their "amphibious, tracked, 4-ton GS Neptune" model on the LVT-4, although little was subsequently produced.

Similar designs are the amphibious rescue vehicle "Sealion" and the mobile workshop platform "Turtle".

The LVT(A)-3 designation was reserved for armored versions of the LVT-4, but these were never put into production. The LVT-3 "Bushmaster" designation means the radically revised LVT that appeared in 1945. A twin-engine arrangement was used, with the powerplant mounted on the side of the fuselage. The rear ramp of the LVT-4 has been retained.

Development of the model, undertaken by BorgWarner in Michigan, reached 2,964 units by the end of the war and was first used in the Okinawa raid in April 1945.

The LVT(A)-5 produced 269 examples and made its debut in 1945. It is essentially an LVT(A)-4 with a fully powered turret position with a gyro-stabilized howitzer.

U.S. military tests were used to further demonstrate the suitability of the LVT-4 chassis with alternative weapon arrangements, but many of them failed. One such idea tried to install rocket launchers on the sides of the hull.

The British equipped their version with a 1 x 20mm Polsten cannon and 2 x .30 caliber Browning machine guns. The British LVT4s can also bring their small "universal aircraft carrier" armored tracked vehicles and towed 6-pounders into battle.

As part of the Commonwealth, Canada also saw the use of the LTV series in its wartime inventory - through the installation of Ronson flamethrowers on the forward hull.

All types of LTVs later served in the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army - many of them in the Pacific Theater. The LTV was originally used by the U.S. Marines during the invasion of Guadalcanal and is most closely associated with their operations in World War II.

LTVs were used in European campaignsespecially during Operation Scheldt and Rhine in 1944-1945but remain largely the mainstay of the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific. The British Buffalo was used to cross the Elbe during operations in the later stages of the war in Europe.

Between 1941 and 1945, over 18,600 LVTs were produced.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

100 x .50 caliber ammo

6,000 x .30 caliber ammo

Changes