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WW2 British Prototypes

Vickers Amphibious Light Tank L1E3

United Kingdom (1935)
Amphibious Light Tank – 1 Built

Vickers third swimming tank design

In 1939 Vickers designed an amphibious light tank based in their Mk.IV light tank to help the Army establish a bridgehead on the other side of a river when the normal crossing point had been blown up by the enemy. It would give covering fire for the engineers who were repairing the bridge or building a new pontoon bridge. During World War One large areas of North West Europe had been flooded as a defensive measure, especially in Belgium. Vickers also realised that any future war in Europe would have to overcome the problem of armies crossing rivers, canals and lakes. Their amphibious light tank was a solution to this problem.

Design

The Amphibious Vickers Light Tank A.4E3 was officially called “Tank, Light Amphibious L1E3″. It was the third attempt at building a swimming tank. The previous prototype designs were known as the L1E1 and L1E2. This latest version of Vickers-Armstrongs radical amphibious tank design, the L1E3, was armed with a .303 Vickers machinegun fitted to a 360° turret. It was powered by a Meadows 6-cylinder, model EST, water-cooled petrol engine that produced 89hp. It had a maximum road speed of 35 mph (56 km/h)and a maximum speed in the water of 5 mph (8 km/h). It had a maximum operational range of 120 miles (193 km). The crew of two were protected by armour that had a maximum thickness of only 11 mm. It weighed 4.3 tons and was 14’9″ (4.5m) long, 7’6″ (2.3m) wide and 6’10” (2.1 m) high.
When in the water, the two propellers were driven by two smaller engines mounted in the back, driven by the main engine.
When in the water, the two propellers were driven by two smaller engines mounted in the back, driven by the main engine.
The light tank L1E3, which was built in 1939, was produced specifically to British War Office requirements. Most of its mechanical features are identical to contemporary Vickers light tanks but the hull is surrounded by aluminium floats, filled with Onazote rubber, to provide buoyancy. Two marine propellers, shrouded in steering cowls, are fitted at the back but driven by shafts from the front sprockets. The tank was even equipped with a small boat anchor at one time. When in the water, the two propellers were driven by two smaller engines mounted in the back, driven by the main engine.
An amphibious tank’s greatest problem is getting out of the water, especially on muddy river banks. The front of the vehicle’s hull armour was very steely angled to assist in overcoming steep river banks. A modular approach was taken when designing the floats. Each side had four aluminium box like compartments. The thinking was that if one got damaged by enemy fire and started to take in water the other three floats would not be affected and still be able to keep the tank bobbing along in the water if now at a slight angle. The driver sat in the front of the tank in the middle and his head was protected by an armoured box that jutted above the floats. It was fitted with a periscope so he could still see when his hatch was buttoned down in battlefield situations.
This Vickers Amphibious Light Tank had a maximum road speed of 35 mph

This Vickers Amphibious Light Tank had a maximum road speed of 35 mph (56 km/h)and a maximum speed in the water of 5 mph (8 km/h)
This amphibious tank design was revolutionary at the time. They had turned a tank into a boat. Because of the very nature of a tank, being very heavy because of the protective armour, they do not do very well in water. The running track was the standard Vickers Light tank MkIV configuration. This consisted of two Hortsmann spring suspension (in quad scissors) front drive sprockets and no idlers. Vickers had decided to abandon the guide wheels and supporting rollers of previous versions of their light tank. Such a move gave several advantages. It reduced the length of the tank, increased seat track mover and facilitated construction of the chassis as a whole. The only serious shortcoming observed later was somewhat poorer mobility, compared with earlier versions

Production

This Vickers design was never adopted. The tank was tested briefly at the start of the war, spent the next four or five years in reserve and was then subjected to more tests after the war, by which time it was completely out of date. Vickers-Armstrongs built two earlier amphibious light tanks between the wars: the L1E1 and the L1E2. They enjoyed some modest export success, notably in Russia where it was copied.
The Vickers amphibious tank's exhaust system had to be mounted on the top of the engine deck to keep it dry
The Vickers amphibious tank’s exhaust system had to be mounted on the top of the engine deck to keep it dry

Surviving Prototype

For some time the Vickers Amphibious Light Tank L1E3 at the Tank Museum Bovington had been exhibited in the ‘Inter War Hall’ but recently it has been moved to the large Vehicle Conservation hall where it is awaiting its turn for a make-over tank overhaul.
If you look at the wheels on the surviving exhibit and compare it with original photographs of the 1930’s you will notice that the track wheels are different. They were damaged and exact spare parts could not be found. Replacement wheels from a variety of different tanks have been used. The original ones were hollow to assist with buoyancy.
One of the major downsides to this amphibious ‘tank’ is that it was not bulletproof (although the one at the Tank museum has been built using soft steel) and the Kapok used in the flotation devices is highly flammable. That means you have an armored vehicle that was prone to being shot up by machine guns, bursting into flames and then sinking all at the same time. No wonder it did not enter production.

Sources

The Tank Museum, Bovington, Vehicle Conservation Centre staff
About the Vickers Light Tank Mark IV on Wikipedia
The Mk.IV on WWII Vehicles
Vickers Amphibious Tanks on Tank-Hunter.com

Vickers Light Mk.IV specifications

Dimensions (L-w-h) 14’9″ x 7’6″ x 6’10″(4.5m x 2.3m x 2.1m)
Weight 4.3 tons
Crew 2 (commander/gunner, driver)
Propulsion Meadows 6 cylinder, model EST, water cooled petrol gasoline engine, 89 hp
Maximum Speed Road 35 mph (56 km/h): In Water 5 mph (8 km/h)
Max operational Range 120 miles (193 km)
Armament 1x Vickers cal.303 (7.7 mm) machine gun, 2000 rounds
Armor thickness 5mm – 11mm
Total production 1

Mk.IV
Vickers Light Tank Mk.IV, Great Britain, 1939.
A4E3-L1E3
Vickers Amphibious Light Tank L1E3 prototype, 1939.

Gallery

 The driver sat in the front of the tank in the middle
The driver sat in the front of the tank in the middle and his head was protected by an armoured box that jutted above the floats. It was fitted with a periscope so he could still see when his hatch was buttoned down in battlefield situations.
The tank's hull shape was very boat like
The tank’s hull shape, with the attached floats, was very boat like.

Surviving Tank

Vickers Amphibious Light Tank A.4E3 (L1E3) at The Tank Museum Bovington England
Vickers Amphibious Light Tank L1E3 at The Tank Museum Bovington England. Notice the steep sloping front to help the vehicle climb out of river banks.
The Vickers Amphibious Light Tank A.4E3 was powered by two propellers
The Vickers Amphibious Light Tank L1E3 was powered by two propellers at the back of the vehicle when in the water. Earlier versions only had one propeller.
Vickers Amphibious Light Tank L1E3 in the Tank Museum Vehicle Conservation Hall at Bovington
Vickers Amphibious Light Tank L1E3 in the Tank Museum Vehicle Conservation Hall at Bovington
A modular approach was taken when designing the floats. Each side had four aluminium box like compartments.
A modular approach was taken when designing the floats. Each side had four aluminium box like compartments.

One reply on “Vickers Amphibious Light Tank L1E3”

A4E3 was a prototype for Vickers light tank Mark 1 and L1 E3 was produced after “A” classification were abolished for light tanks, example being Light Tank Mark 5. Also A4E3 prototype was made c1929

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