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LVT(A)4
LVT(A)5

Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Armored), Mark 41-9

LVT(A)4: General
Date of first acceptance March 1944 Total acceptances 1,890
Manufacturer Food Machinery Corp. Crew
6 men:
  • Commander in turret right rear
  • Gunner in turret right front
  • Loader in turret left
  • Assistant loader in hull left
  • Driver in hull left front
  • Assistant driver in hull right front
LVT(A)4: Dimensions
Combat weight ~40,000lbs
~18,000kg		 Height 122.5"
311.2cm
Length 313"
795cm		 Howitzer overhang forward 0"
Width 128"
325cm		 Tread 113.5"
288.3cm
Ground clearance, hard surface 18"
46cm		 Fire height 109"
277cm
Turret ring diameter 54.4"
138cm		 Ground pressure, zero penetration 11.1psi
.779kg/cm²
LVT(A)4: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Elevation
75mm Howitzer M3 M7 in turret 100 rounds 360°
(manual)		 +40° to -20°
(manual)
.50cal M2HB MG
(early models)		 Concentric ring mount 6560258 on turret rear 400 rounds 360°
(manual)		 +85° to -13°
(manual)
Two .30cal M1919A4 MG
(late models)		 Mount on either side of turret 6,000 rounds 360°
(manual)		 Manual
.30cal M1919A4 MG
(late models)		 Ball mount 7722940 in cab right bow Manual Manual
Aiming equipment
Telescope M70C; panoramic telescope M12A5 for gunner
LVT(A)4: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front (cab) .5"
1.3cm		 30°
Middle front .25"
.64cm		 83°
Lower front .25"
.64cm		 35° to 90°
Sides .25"
.64cm		 0°
Pontoons 12-gauge mild steel 0°
Upper rear .25"
.64cm		 0°
Lower rear .25"
.64cm		 60°
Top .25"
.64cm		 90°
Floor 10-gauge mild steel 90°
Turret
Rolled homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Gun shield (cast) 1.5"
3.8cm		 0° to 60°
Front 1.0"
2.5cm		 0° to 63°
Sides 1.0"
2.5cm		 20°
Rear 1.0"
2.5cm		 0°
Top Open
LVT(A)4: 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 140gal
530L
Transmission Spicer Mfg. Corp. No. 89, synchromesh, 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Controlled differential, steering levers
Brakes Mechanical, external contracting
LVT(A)4: 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)4: 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)4: Performance
Max level road speed 15mph
24kph		 Max water speed 7mph
11kph
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
~100mi, water
~240km, roads
~160km, water

LVT(A)4 was based on LVT(A)1, but with a new turret mounting a 75mm howitzer. Both early and late armored cabs were fitted to LVT(A)4; machines with the ball-mounted MG in the cab and the .50cal MG were provided with 2000 rounds of .30cal ammunition. In later vehicles, the ring-mounted .50cal MG was replaced by a mount for a .30cal MG on either side of the rear of the turret. Late-production turrets had vision blocks installed in their rears and sides.

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Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Armored), Mark 51-2,4-12

LVT(A)5: General
Date of first acceptance April 1945 Total acceptances 269
Manufacturer Food Machinery Corp. Crew
6 men:
  • Commander in turret right rear
  • Gunner in turret right front
  • Loader in turret left
  • Assistant loader in hull left
  • Driver in hull left front
  • Assistant driver in hull right front
LVT(A)5: Dimensions
Combat weight ~40,000lbs
~18,000kg		 Height 122.5"
311.2cm
Length 313"
795cm		 Howitzer overhang forward 0"
Width 128"
325cm		 Tread 113.5"
288.3cm
Ground clearance, hard surface 18"
46cm		 Fire height 109"
277cm
Turret ring diameter 54.4"
138cm		 Ground pressure, zero penetration 11.1psi
.779kg/cm²
LVT(A)5: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Max traverse rate Elevation
75mm Howitzer M3 M12 in turret 100 rounds 360°
(manual and hydraulic)		 24°/sec +40° to -20°
(manual)
Two .30cal M1919A4 MG Mount on either side of turret 6,000 rounds 360°
(manual)		 -- Manual
.30cal M1919A4 MG Ball mount 7722940 in cab right bow Manual -- Manual
Aiming equipment
Telescope M70R; panoramic telescope M12A5 for gunner
Stabilizer
Elevation only
LVT(A)5: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front (cab) .5"
1.3cm		 30°
Middle front .25"
.64cm		 83°
Lower front .25"
.64cm		 35° to 90°
Sides .25"
.64cm		 0°
Pontoons 12-gauge mild steel 0°
Upper rear .25"
.64cm		 0°
Lower rear .25"
.64cm		 60°
Top .25"
.64cm		 90°
Floor 10-gauge mild steel 90°
Turret
Rolled homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Gun shield (cast) 1.5"
3.8cm		 0° to 60°
Front 1.0"
2.5cm		 0° to 63°
Sides 1.0"
2.5cm		 20°
Rear 1.0"
2.5cm		 0°
Top Open
LVT(A)5: 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 140gal
530L
Transmission Spicer Mfg. Corp. No. 89, synchromesh, 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Controlled differential, steering levers
Brakes Mechanical, external contracting
LVT(A)5: 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)5: 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)5: Performance
Max level road speed 15mph
24kph		 Max water speed 7mph
11kph
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
~100mi, water
~240km, roads
~160km, water

LVT(A)4 was fitted with a power traverse mechanism and elevation stabilizer and was then designated LVT(A)5. The stabilizer required mounting a counterweight on the howitzer barrel close to the gun shield. A second auxiliary generator was added to compensate for the increased demand for power. LVT(A)5 did not see service in the Second World War, but was active in the Korean War.

In 1951, an armored cover was added to the turret and the bow was modified to improve performance.

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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. TM 9-775 Tracked Landing Vehicle Mk 4 (LVT(4)) Tracked Landing Vehicles (Armored) Mk 4 (LVT(A)(4)) and Mk 5 (LVT(A)(5)). Washington, DC: Departmemt of the Army, 14 June 1951.
  3. ORD 9 SNL G-214 List of All Parts for Vehicle, Landing, Tracked (Armored), MK I; LVT (A) (1) (37-mm. Gun) and Vehicle, Landing, Tracked (Armored), MK IV; LVT (A) (4) (75-mm. Howitzer). Washington, DC: Headquarters, Army Service Forces, 10 January 1945.
  4. Research, Investigation and Experimentation in the Field of Amphibian Vehicles. Kalamazoo, MI: Ingersoll Kalamazoo Division, Borg-Warner Corp., December 1957.
  5. Sola, Samuel, Vincent Bobkowski, and Kara Crocker. Weapon Mounts for Secondary Armament. Santa Monica, CA: G. O. Noville & Associates, Inc., April 1957.
  6. Chamberlain, Peter, and Chris Ellis. British and American Tanks of World War Two. Frome, England: Cassell & Co., 2000.
  7. Crismon, Fred W. U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1992.
  8. Tank Data, vol. 2. Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD: US Army Ordnance School, July 1958.
  9. Siemers, Cary. "USA's Landing Vehicle Tracked." World War II Tanks & Vehicles and Advanced Squad Leader. 25 November 2000. 16 Jananuary 2001 <http://www.shadowsfolly.com/WWII/USA/LandingVehicleTracked.htm>.
  10. Hunnicutt, R.P. Bradley: A History of American Fighting and Support Vehicles. Navato, CA: Presidio Press, 1999. Reprinted with permission from Bradley, R.P. Hunnicutt ©1999, available from Presidio Press, 505B San Martin Drive, Suite 160, Navato, CA 94945.
  11. TM 9-2800-1/TO 19-75A-89 Military Vehicles (Ordnance Corps Responsibility). Washington, DC: Depts. of the Army and Air Force, 13 February 1953.
  12. FM 17-34 Amphibious Tank and Tractor Battalions. Washington, D.C.: Dept. of the Army, 1 June 1950.
Last updated 19 Dec 2023.
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