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LAND VEHICLE INDEX
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UNOFFICIAL
NAMES/SLANG: AMTRAK
FUNCTION: AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT VEHICLE
CONTRACTOR: FMC
UNIT COST: APPROX. $2,500,000
LENGTH: UNAVAILABLE
WIDTH: UNAVAILABLE
HEIGHT: UNAVAILABLE
SPEED: 45 MPH (LAND), 8 MPH (WATER)
WEIGHT (COMBAT LOADED): 25.30 TONS
ARMAMENT: M2HB .50 CAL MACHINE GUN, Mk-19 40MM
RAPID-FIRE GRENADE LAUNCHER
GROUND CLEARANCE: UNAVAILABLE
RANGE: APPROX. 300 MI (LAND); 7 HOURS IN WATER @
2600 RPM
ENGINE: CUMMINS VT400 V-8 TURBO DIESEL
CREW: 3 |
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Mission:
The AAVP7A1 is an armored assault amphibious full-tracked landing
vehicle. The vehicle carries troops in water operations from ship to
shore, through rough water and surf zone. It also carries troops to
inland objectives after ashore.
Features: UNAVAILABLE
Background: The AAVP7A1
is the newest Assault Amphibian in a series that started with the
Roebling ALLIGATOR. The Alligator was developed over a period of 7
years, starting in 1932. The first "Gators" were a
disappointment, in that the water speed was only 2.5 mph. The land
speed was 25 mph. Through design changes, and by using larger
engines, the water speed of the Alligator was increased to 8.6 mph
by 1939. In 1940, Roebling built a new model which was designated
the CROCODILE. The Crocodile had a land speed of 25 mph and a water
speed of 9.4 mph.
The LVT-1 was a direct copy of
the Crocodile, except that it was fabricated from sheet steel
instead of aluminum. The LVT-1 was in production from 1941 to 1943.
Being heavier, the land speed of the LVT-1 was 18 mph and the water
speed was 7 mph. A 6-cylinder, 146 hp Hercules engine was used for
power. The LVT-1 was propelled by two endless chains fitted with
cleats, both in the water and on land. The first LVT-1's were used
as logistic support vehicles only. They were not armored and carried
no armament, however, this soon changed. At the Battle of Tarawa,
bolted on armor plate was used and the vehicles were equipped with
one to four 30 cal. machine guns.
The second generation of LVT's
was the LVT-2. This vehicle was developed in 1941 and was in
production from 1942 to 1945. The LVT-2 was the basic design for a
series of vehicles used during WW II. This family of vehicles
included the: LVTA1, LVTA2, LVT4, LVTA4, and LVTA5. A few of the
LVTA5s were modified in 1949 and continued in service until the mid
1950s. These vehicles were powered with 7-cylinder radial aircraft
engines built by Continental Motors. These engines developed 220hp,
their service life was very short. Major overhaul was scheduled for
100 hours, however few ever lasted that long. The transmission was a
5 speed, manual shift SPICER that incorporated a manually operated
steer differential. This transmission had been developed for the M-3
light tank. As a result, the transmission was too narrow for the
LVT. This problem was overcome by using four final drives. The
internal finals were bolted to the transmission / differential gear
case and supported by two mounting yokes. The external final drives
were bolted to the hull and powered the drive sprockets. This
generation of LVTs was used through the Okinawa campaign in 1945.
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