Leichter Kampfwagen I (LK I)

History

In the final years of the First World War (1914-1918), the Allies used heavy tanks to route the Germans. This threat was mostly dealt with with the forgotten A7V heavy armored personnel carrier of the Germans, but it turned out that the artillery was the real tank killer in this conflict.

However, the development of other German armored vehicles continued, and some began to follow the route of the light class, which was eventually (and very successfully) adopted by the French with the Renault FT-17. The Leichter Kampfwagen I ("LK I") was intended as a light armored tracked vehicle for infantry support missions. Its main purpose is to assist in supporting the future serial quality combat vehicles of the Bundeswehr. Work on the LK I began in 1918, and its design was led by German engineer Joseph Vollmer (1871-1955), who also proved to be instrumental in Sweden's interwar tank program.

As a test vehicle, the LK I only existed in two pilot forms and was never ordered for series production - this is the modified LK II, described elsewhere on this site.

Volmer started his career as a car designer and eventually lent his talents to the first German military tank to feature the A7V. Then came the oft-forgotten prototype of the "K-Wagen" super-heavy tank, and finally the LK I. For the latter design, Volmer drew on his automotive experience and opted for a commercial Daimler chassis. The general interior layout was retained, including the forward engine bay and twin-axle configuration.

The wheels were removed and the drive sprocket and idler were added in their place. A typical tracked wheel arrangement is used on both sides of the chassis. The armored superstructure now stands above the machine and crew areas. The engine became a Daimler-Benz 4-cylinder petrol engine with 60 hp, which was fed through a louvered front grille.

The suspension system remained unbounced, tactically restraining the vehicle when maneuvering off-road. Its base road speed can reach 11 mph, while its road range is 43.5 miles. There are three operators.

The armor protection scheme is largely a basic approach, using many vertical and horizontal panels, including the sides of the track assemblies as well as the actual hull structure. Various fairings range in protection from 8mm to 14mm. The engine is mounted forward, the passenger compartment is located above the rear axle of the vehicle, and hinged rectangular side doors provide the necessary access. Above the compartment is a movable circular turret that houses the primary weapon - the prototype is a 7.92mm MG08 machine gun.

The addition of this turret marks the LK I as the first German armored vehicle to be fitted with such a turret. Dimensions include a length of 5.1 meters, a width of 1.9 meters and a height of 2.5 meters. Weight is listed as 6.9 tons.

As the wartime situation in Germany deteriorated - both internally and externally - there was little time to advance its tank program. Two cars were eventually built in mid-1918 and tested as much as possible on both cars to advance the design of the upcoming Leichter Kampfwagen II.

However, the war ended with an armistice in November 1918, and the German nation was stripped of most of its military power for the foreseeable future and severely curtailed its military industry. Although 580 LK II tanks were ordered, the end of the war also limited the line to just two prototypes.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

Not available.

Changes