Left: LVT 4 Below: LVT 5 4wdonline.com

These Landing Craft were developed from the Alligator which was designed for transport in swamp-land by Roebling in the 1930s. The LVT(1) to LVT(5) were built by FMC from 1942. The LVT is powered by a Continental, seven cylinder, air-cooled, radial engine mounted immediately behind the control cabin. The driver enters from the cargo bay through a door to the left of the engine. The noise from the cylinders and the cooling fan must have been considerable. The engine drives the front track sprockets through a 5-speed gearbox and differential. The tracks are fitted with spoon-shaped scoops which provide propulsion in the water.

• crew: 3 + 28
• loa: 314", width: 128", height: 98" LVT(4), 122" LVT(5)
• weight: 28,000 pounds LVT(4), 39,500 pounds LVT(5)
• Continental W670, 668cu", petrol, 7-cyls radial air-cooled, ohv
• transmission: 5m
• suspension: small wheels with rubber springs, brakes: mechanical
• variants:
  • LVT(4): landing craft with rear hinged loading door
  • LVT(5): amphibious tank, armoured with turret-mounted 75mm gun

amphibians and military vehicles pages