LK I Light Tank

Last updated on February 17th, 2019 at 09:50 pm

The LK I was a German light tank that was designed to be simple and easy to produce.

Its designer was Joseph Vollmer. Vollmer also had a hand in the creation of the A7V Sturmpanzer-Kraftwagen.

Designed in 1918, the LK I, or Leichte Kampfwagen I, had a layout like that of a typical car. It had the chassis of a Daimler car.  The car’s axles were used in the tank’s sprocket and idler wheels.

The LK I carried a crew of three men. It weighed almost seven tons. It had a single weapon – a 0.312 inch (7.92 mm) machine gun.

LK I Light Tank
The Armistice took place before the LK I could see active service. Therefore, it only existed as a prototype.

German Empire

LK I

Active: 1918 (prototype)
Crew: 3
Weight: 6.89 tons (7,000kg)
Length: 18ft (5.49m)
Height: 8ft 2in (2.49m)
Width: 6ft 7in (2m)
Weapons: Main – 0.312in (7.92 mm) machinegun, Secondary – none
Armor Maximum – 0.31in (8mm)
Engine: Daimler-Benz 4-cylinder gasoline, 60hp
Speed: 8mph (13kph)
Range: 40 miles (64 km)