Attack Kits 1/72 LT-40 Light Tank 'Machine Gun Version' (Hobby Line) # 72961

The LT-40 Light Tank, more accurately known as the LT vz. 40, was a Czechoslovak-designed light tank developed in the late 1930s by ČKD (Českomoravská Kolben-Daněk). Compact, reliable, and well-engineered for its class, it reflected the strong interwar armoured vehicle tradition of Czechoslovakia.

The so-called “Machine Gun Version” refers to variants armed primarily with machine guns rather than a main cannon — typically used for reconnaissance, internal security, or infantry support roles where anti-armour capability was not the primary requirement.

Development Background
Originally designed for export, the LT vz. 40 was intended for Lithuania (hence the “LTL” designation in early documentation).

Political upheaval in 1939 prevented delivery, and after the German occupation of Czechoslovakia, several vehicles were absorbed into Axis-aligned forces — most notably the Slovak Army.

Technical Overview
- Weight: Approx. 6–7 tonnes
- Crew: 3 (commander/gunner, driver, radio operator)
- Engine: Praga petrol engine
- Power: Around 90–100 hp
- Speed: Up to 45 km/h (road)

Armament (Machine Gun Version):

2 × 7.92 mm machine guns (typically one coaxial, one hull-mounted)

Unlike the cannon-armed export proposals, the machine gun configuration was lighter and simplified.

This version prioritised mobility and infantry support rather than tank-versus-tank combat.

Armour & Protection
Armour was relatively light — typical of late 1930s light tanks:

- Front armour: approx. 25 mm
- Sides and rear: thinner protection

It offered adequate defence against small arms and shrapnel but was vulnerable to anti-tank weapons.

Operational Use
The LT vz. 40 saw limited operational service, primarily with Slovak forces on the Eastern Front during Operation Barbarossa.

In combat against Soviet armour, its machine-gun-only configuration proved insufficient for frontline anti-armour engagements.

As a result, it was better suited to:

- Rear-area security
- Anti-partisan duties
- Reconnaissance
- Infantry escort roles