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LVT2
LVT(A)2

Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Mark 21-9

LVT2: General
Date of first acceptance 1942 Total acceptances 2,963
Manufacturers
  • Food Machinery Corp.
  • Borg-Warner Corp.
  • Graham-Paige
  • St. Louis Car Co.
Crew
27 men:
  • Commander passenger compartment
  • Driver in hull left front
  • Assistant driver in hull right front
  • 24 passengers
LVT2: Dimensions
Combat weight 30,900lbs
14,000kg		 Height 98"
250cm
Length 313"
795cm		 Width 128"
325cm
Tread 113.5"
288.3cm		 Ground clearance 18"
46cm
Ground pressure, empty 9psi
.6kg/cm²
LVT2: Armament
Type Mount Traverse Elevation
.50cal M2HB MG Flexible on skate mount M30 or M35 160° (80° left and right) in mount
(manual)		 +35° to -25°
(manual)
Three .30cal M1919A4 MGs Flexible on skate mounts M30 or M35 160° (80° left and right) in mount
(manual)		 +35° to -25°
(manual)
LVT2: Armor
None
LVT2: Automotive
Engine Continental W-670-9A; 7 cylinder, 4 cycle, static radial gasoline
Horsepower Net: 250@2,400rpm
Gross: 262@2,400rpm		 Torque Net: 584 ft-lb@1,800rpm
Gross: 590 ft-lb@1,700rpm		 Fuel capacity 110gal
420L
Transmission Synchromesh, 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Controlled differential, steering levers
Brakes Mechanical, external contracting
LVT2: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Torsilastic 11 independently sprung/track 2/track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
37-alternate-engaged-tooth front drive 33-tooth adjustable sprocket at rear of track None
LVT2: Track
Outside guide, dry pin, steel link, extruded grousers
Width 14.25"
36.20cm		 Pitch 8"
20cm		 Shoes/track 73 Ground contact length 126.5"
321.3cm
LVT2: Performance
Max level road speed 20mph
30kph		 Max water speed 7.5mph
12kph
Max trench 60"
150cm		 Min turning diameter 30', land
48', water
9m, land
15m, water
Max vertical obstacle 36"
91cm		 Max grade 60%
Angle of approach 35° Angle of departure 30°
Max fording depth Floats Cruising range ~150mi, roads
~50mi, water
~240km, roads
~80km, water

LVT2's cab was placed a small distance from the bow, and the cab had two bottom-hinged outward-opening escape windows for the crew. LVT2, known as Water Buffalo, had a cargo capacity of 5940lbs (2690kg), and incorporated torsilastic suspension, which involved springing the road wheels on rubber springs. The track of LVT2 was made up of two chains, each with a pitch of 4" (10cm), which were attached to each other by steel crossbars and the large propeller-like grousers. The new W-shaped grousers provided almost twice the pull in water compared to the curved grouser on the LVT1. LVT2 also used the engine and transmission of the gasoline-powered light tank M3. Though not officially differentiated, there were two different LVT2 models with the only change being a slight difference in the length of the gun rails.

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Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Armored), Mark 21-10

LVT(A)2: General
Date of first acceptance 1944 Total acceptances 450
Manufacturer Food Machinery Corp. Crew
27 men:
  • Commander passenger compartment
  • Driver in hull left front
  • Assistant driver in hull right front
  • 24 passengers
LVT(A)2: Dimensions
Combat weight 32,800lbs
14,900kg		 Height 98"
250cm
Length 313"
795cm		 Width 128"
325cm
Tread 113.5"
288.3cm		 Ground clearance, hard surface 18"
46cm
Ground pressure, empty 10.2psi
.716kg/cm²
LVT(A)2: Armament
Type Mount Traverse Elevation
.50cal M2HB MG Flexible on skate mount M30 or M35 160° (80° left and right) in mount
(manual)		 +35° to -25°
(manual)
Three .30cal M1919A4 MGs Flexible on skate mounts M30 or M35 160° (80° left and right) in mount
(manual)		 +35° to -25°
(manual)
LVT(A)2: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled homogeneous steel
Location Thickness
Cab front .5"
1.3cm
Cab rear .25"
.64cm
Hull front .25"
.64cm
Sides .25"
.64cm
LVT(A)2: Automotive
Engine Continental W-670-9A; 7 cylinder, 4 cycle, static radial gasoline
Horsepower Net: 250@24,00rpm
Gross: 262@2,400rpm		 Torque Net: 584 ft-lb@1,800rpm
Gross: 590 ft-lb@1,700rpm		 Fuel capacity 106gal
401L
Transmission Synchromesh, 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Controlled differential, steering levers
Brakes Mechanical, external contracting
LVT(A)2: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Torsilastic 11 independently sprung/track 2/track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
37-alternate-engaged-tooth front drive 33-tooth adjustable sprocket at rear of track None
LVT(A)2: Track
Outside guide, dry pin, steel link, extruded grousers
Width 14.25"
36.20cm		 Pitch 8"
20cm		 Shoes/track 73 Ground contact length 126.5"
321.3cm
LVT(A)2: Performance
Max level road speed 20mph
30kph		 Max water speed 7.5mph
12kph
Max trench 60"
150cm		 Min turning diameter 30', land
48', water
9m, land
15m, water
Max vertical obstacle 36"
91cm		 Max grade 60%
Angle of approach 35° Angle of departure 30°
Max fording depth Floats Cruising range ~150mi, roads
~50mi, water
~240km, roads
~80km, water

Initially created for the Army, the LVT(A)2 was an LVT2 with the 10- and 14-gauge steel on the cab front and rear, hull front, and pontoon sides replaced with armor plate. The armored cab was fitted with a roof with two hatches equipped with periscopes, and there was a single observation panel in the left front side of the cab that the driver could open for direct vision. The additional weight brought on by the armor reduced the LVT(A)2's cargo capacity to 4950lbs (2250kg).

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References

  1. Hunnicutt, R.P. Stuart: A History of the American Light Tank, volume 1. Navato, CA: Presidio Press, 1992. Reprinted with permission from Stuart, R.P. Hunnicutt ©1992, available from Presidio Press, 505B San Martin Drive, Suite 160, Navato, CA 94945.
  2. Research, Investigation and Experimentation in the Field of Amphibian Vehicles. Kalamazoo, MI: Ingersoll Kalamazoo Division, Borg-Warner Corporation, December 1957.
  3. TM 9-2800 Standard Military Motor Vehicles. Washington, DC: War Department, 1 September 1943.
  4. Chamberlain, Peter, and Chris Ellis. British and American Tanks of World War Two. Frome, England: Cassell & Co., 2000.
  5. Crismon, Fred W. U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1992.
  6. Siemers, Cary. "USA's Landing Vehicle Tracked." World War II Tanks & Vehicles and Advanced Squad Leader. 25 November 2000. 16 January 2001 <http://www.shadowsfolly.com/WWII/USA/LandingVehicleTracked.htm>.
  7. Alexander, Joseph H. "Marine Corps Armor Operations in World War II." Camp Colt to Desert Storm: The History of U.S. Armored Forces. Eds. George F. Hofmann, Donn A. Starry. USA: University Press of Kentucky, 1999.
  8. TM 9-775 Landing Vehicle Tracked Mk. I and Mk. II. Washington, DC: War Department, 5 February 1944.
  9. Sola, Samuel, Vincent Bobkowski, and Kara Crocker. Weapon Mounts for Secondary Armament. Santa Monica, CA: G. O. Noville & Associates, Inc., April 1957.
  10. Dallosto, Phillip S. "lvt2." E-mail to the author. 17 June 2015.
Last updated 13 May 2023.
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© Copyright 2001-23 Chris Conners