Light Tank LT-40 - Blog Attack Hobby Kits

machine gun version

https://attack-kits.eu/light-tank-lt-40-machine-gun-version.html

We present you our new product – the LT-40 light tank model in scale 1/72. The kit is prepared using 3D technology in metal form. The quality of the preparation guarantees both a high degree of detail and a problem-free construction od the kir. The LT-40 tank was the predecessor of the much more well-known LT vz.38 – Panzer 38 tank and it participated in battles on both sides of the Eastern Front, including the Slovak National Uprising. Let’s also add that the production of our models, including the design and preparation of molds, takes place entirely in the Czech Republic.

Short history

The LT-40 tank understandably remained in the shadow of its significantly more numerous and slightly larger “brother” Lt.38/Panzer 38. The LT-40 tanks were created on the basis of the original Lithuanian order by Czech factory „ČKD“. It was a development of the basic successful design, where the chassis consisted of four large travel wheels with a front drive and a rear idler wheel. This concept then made it possible to flexibly choose the size of the vehicles according to the customer’s requirements and was used both for smaller export tankets of the AH series and also for larger lighter tanks exported to Iran, Peru and Switzerland, up to the slightly larger light tank LT vz.38 or Panzer 38(t) , which was mass-produced for the Wehrmacht and whose chassis was then used to construct a whole series of successful tank destroyers up to the legendary Hetzer.

The production of a series of tanks for Lithuania was completed only after the occupation of the country by the USSR, therefore the unarmed tanks remained in the production plant. Finally, Slovakia, which desperately needed to modernise its armoured units, showed interest in them. Originally, the tanks for Lithuania were to be armed with Oerlikon 20mm cannons, but Slovakia chose the standard 37 mm Škoda A7 tank cannon, which was also used in the LT vz.38 tanks. Therefore, the ČKD had to modify the front shield of the tower and the ceiling above it in order to accommodate this larger weapon. Thus, the Slovak Army armed the first tanks only with machine guns and in this form threw several of them into the opening battles on the Eastern Front. One tank was irretrievably destroyed during the fighting, and the rest, including the damaged ones, were withdrawn back to Slovakia and armed with cannons, just like the tanks that remained in Slovakia the whole time and did not participate in the fighting. Tanks then took part in battles under the Caucasus and in Ukraine. A number of tanks were lost during these battles, especially those that could not be evacuated after the retreat of the troops under the Caucasus. The remaining tanks were again withdrawn to Slovakia for general repairs. Here they were caught by the Slovak National Uprising. The tanks fought in the ranks of the insurgent armoured forces throughout the period of the insurgency, so that the last tanks retreated into the Tatra mountains. Here they were subsequently captured by the Wehrmacht and deployed in defensive battles against the Red Army. However, it also used several pieces, two LT-40 tanks from its armament during the end of the war near Prague are documented. The paradox is that even though only 21 of these tanks were produced, due to their durability and quality, they were involved in battles on both sides of the front, with three users – the Slovak Army, including insurgent units, the Wehrmacht and the Soviet Army till the end of the war.

Kit

The attached photos show the level of detailed processing of moldings with 3D technology, including several details. The model has separate tools and several details, due to its simple construction it can be assembled even by a beginner, and the degree of detail will satisfy even an advanced modeler.