LK I

Leichter Kampfwagen LKI
Type	Light tank
Place of origin	German Empire
Service history
Used by	German Empire
Specifications
Mass	6.89 t
Length	5.08 m
Width	1.95 m
Height	2.52 m
Crew	3
Armor	8–14 mm
Main armament	1 × 7.92 mm MG 08 machine gun
Engine	Daimler-Benz 4-cylinder 60 hp (44.7 kW)
Suspension	unsprung
Operational range	70 km
Maximum speed	14–18 km/h

The Leichter Kampfwagen (English: light combat vehicle) 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, with the sprocket and idler wheels mounted to the existing axles, and, like a car, had the engine in front. The LK I was the first German tank to have a turret, with it being mounted at the rear of the vehicle and armed with a 7.92 mm MG08 machine gun. Armor ranged from 8mm to 14mm thick and it was powered by a 4-cylinder Daimler-Benz Otto Model 1910 engine which gave it a top speed of 14 km/h and a range of 70km. ^[1]

Only two prototypes were produced in mid 1918, but no vehicles were ordered. ^[2] Designed as an experimental cavalry tank, it paved the way to the LK II. ^[3]

References

1. https://web.archive.org/web/20070804091136/http://www.achtungpanzer.com/1stpzs.htm
2. Õun, Mati (1998). Wermachti tankid. Väike tankiõpik vana sõjatehnika huvilisele. Tallinn: Tammiskilp. p. 5.
3. Chant, Christopher (2002). World Encyclopedia of the Tank. Second edition. England: Sutton Publishing. p. 46. ISBN   0-7509-3147-7.