LK I

Leichter Kampfwagen LKI
Type Light tank
Service history
Used by Flag of Germany Imperial German Army
Specifications
Weight 6.9 t
Length 5.1 m
Width 1.9 m
Height 2.5 m
Crew 3

Armor 8-14 mm
Main
armament
7.92 mm machinegun
Engine Daimler-Benz 4-cylinder
60 hp/44.7 kW
Suspension unsprung
Operational
range
70 km
Speed 14-18 km/h

The Leichter Kampfwagen (English: light combat car) or "LK I" was a German light tank prototype of the First World War. Designed to be a cheap light tank as opposed to the expensive heavies coming into service at the time. The tank only reached the prototype stage before the end of the war.

History

The LK I was designed by Joseph Vollmer. It was based on a Daimler car chassis, using the existing axles to mount sprocket and idler wheels. Its design followed automobile practice, with a front-mounted engine and a driving compartment behind it. It was the first German armored fighting vehicle to be equipped with a turret, armed with a 7.92 mm MG08 machine gun.

Only two prototypes [1] were produced in mid 1918, but no vehicles were ordered. It was designed as an experimental cavalry tank to pave the way to LK II.[2]

Notes

  1. Õun, Mati (1998). Wermachti tankid. Väike tankiõpik vana sõjatehnika huvilisele. Tallinn: Tammiskilp. p. 5.
  2. Chant, Christopher (2002). World Encyclopedia of the Tank. Second edition. England: Sutton Publishing. p. 46. ISBN 0-7509-3147-7.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/13/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.