Fully Tracked AFV's

The "Alligator", as this, the first "Landing Vehicle Tracked" was known, entered service in 1941, had no armour and only light armament. It had not been intended that this vehicle would be used in combat but had been regarded as an amphibious supply vehicle only. Combat experience led to armour being added to the drivers compartment and additional machine guns. First used at Guadalcanal, they also took part in the landings in French Morrocco and in the Aleutian Islands. Of the 1,225 built, 540 went to the Marines and 485 to the Army. A further 200 were supplied to the British who did use them operationally during the Rhine crossing but only for carrying supplies. Some were also sent to India but although used by 2nd. Recce in training for the Arakan offensive, in the event they were not deployed. Our model represents the LVT1 as it made its debut and contains just a one-piece hull plus 2 machine guns and their mounts.

This vehicle represents the US Army's adoption of British practice to remove the turrets of redundan...

This model represents the first production type of the ubiquitous M4 series of which over 6,000 were...

This variant of the M4 is a mid production vehicle which has the later one piece differential housing...

This model represents the late model M4 built from late 1943 with a combination cast/rolled hull front which was the ultimate design of the M4 and incorporated all the improvements. A total of 1.676 of this pattern were built allowing the composite M4's to be supplied to both American and British forces where they saw service on all fronts including the Pacific campaign. Our model captures this complicated hull shape and has all hatches open. The US version is supplied with the later two-hatch turret (although single hatch types were used too) whilst the British version has the earlier single hatch turret. Both types are illustrated.

This model represents the first Sherman to go into series production from February 1942 onwards, with a total of 6,281 being built. They were issued to both the US Army and the USMC and saw service on all fronts. They were also supplied to the British who designated it as the Sherman II. Our simple 10-piece model reproduces these early features including the 3-piece differential housing, direct vision slots, early VVSS suspension and the M34 gun mantlet.

Over 6,000 of these cast hull tanks were built. This version differed from the earlier version in having a one-piece differential housing, M34A1 gun mantle, the addition of applique armour and the later VVSS suspension. They were designated the Sherman II by the British.

Our simple 11-part model reproduces all of the above in fine detail.