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Developed from a civil design intended for use in the Florida swamps, the LVT-1 was not really suited for combat, being intended solely as a supply vehicle. The Pacific war was to prove the need for a more capable amphibious assault vehicle. This emerged as the LVT 2, which used a better all-round shape to improve water performance, though it was still a high and bulky vehicle. Another improvement was a new suspension and the track grousers were made better by the use of aluminium W-shaped shoes that were bolted onto the track and could thus be easily changed when worn or damaged. A definite logistic improvement was introduced by use of the engine, final drive and transmission from the M3 light tank. At the time the LVT 2 was being developed these components were readily available and made spare-part supply that much easier. The steering system of the LVT 2 gave considerable trouble at first, for the brake drums operated in oil and prolonged use of the steering bars could result in the brakes seizing up on one side. Training and experience solved that problem. On the LVT 2 the engine was mounted at the rear, which restricted the size of the cargo compartment, This was relatively easily designed out of the overall layout by moving the engine forward and mounting a ramp at the rear to ease loading and unloading. Thus the LVT 2 became the LVT 4, which was otherwise generally similar. Of all the LVT series the LVT 4 was produced in the largest numbers: 8,348 produced on five production lines; in contrast 2,963 LVT 2s were produced on six lines. There were some design differences between the LVT 2 and LVT 4: for instance, the driver's controls were rearranged on the LVT 4, but the main improvement was that all manner of loads could be carried on the LVT 4, ranging from a Jeep to a 105-mm (4.13-in) field howitzer. Most LVT 2s and LVT 4s were armed with 12.7- or 7.62-mm (0.5- or 0.3-in) machine-guns on rails or pintles, but there were two versions of the LVT 2 that had heavier weapons. The LVT(A) 1 was an LVT with an M3 light tank turret mounting a 37-mm gun; this was intended to supply fire support during the early phases of an amphibious landing during the interval immediately after reaching the beaches. The gun proved to be too light for this role, so it was later supplanted by the short 75-mm (2.95-in) howitzer mounted in the turret of the M8 Howitzer Motor Carriage to produce the LVT(A) 4. On both of these gun vehicles the turrets were mounted towards the rear of the cargo area, which was covered in by armoured plate, The ordinary LVT 2s and LVT 4s became the main load carriers of the early Pacific operations. The first LVTs were used in action at Guadalcanal, and thereafter every island-hopping operation involved them. Some were used in Europe during the Scheldt and Rhine operations of 1944-5 and there were numerous odd 'one-off attempts to mount various types of weapon in them, ranging from rocket batteries to light cannon. Flamethrowers were fitted in some numbers, but all these types of armament should not disguise the fact that the LVT 2 and LVT 4 were most often used to carry ashore the first waves of US Marines. LVTs lumber ashore during a training exercise, with others following in a non-tactical line; in an assault the LVTs would land in waves side-by-side. The LVT on the right has shielded weapons that could be either machine-guns or flamethrowers. The LVT 4 differed from theLVT2in having a loading ramp at the rear, which enabled it to carry large loads such as Jeeps and some light weapons. It carried machine-guns on pintles at the front and sides. Specification LVT2 Crew: 2+7 Powerplant: one Continental W970-9A petrol engine developing 186.4 KW (250 hp) Weights: unloaded 11000 kg (24,250 lb); loaded 13721 kg (30,250 lb) Dimensions: length 7,975 m (21 ft 6 in); width 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in); height 2.5 m (8 ft 2.5 in) Performance: maximum land speed 32 km/h (20 mph); maximum water speed 12 km/h (7.5 mph); road radius 241 km (150 miles); maximum water radius 161 km (100 miles) Armament: one 12.7-mm(0.5-in)and one 7.62-mm (0.3-in) machine-guns Right: TheLVT(A) 1 was armed with the turret and 37-mm (1.45-in) gun of theM3 light tank to provide some measure of local fire support in the initial stages of an amphibious landing.
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