LT vz. 38 - Legendary Czechoslovak Light Tank

History of the LT vz. 38 Light Tank

Development and Origin

The LT vz. 38 tank was developed from the TNH tank, originally an experimental version that was sold abroad in improved modifications. The new tank's task was to replace the LT vz. 35 model, whose complex chassis suffered from significant failure rates. The development of the new light tank was commissioned in 1937. While Škoda offered an improved version of the LT vz. 35 type, ČKD came with the export tank TNH-S and, after minor adjustments, offered it as TNHP.

The improved tank with the THN-S index entered testing at the end of 1937. The new tank used a Praga TNHPS engine, a copy of the Swedish Scania-Vabis 1664 engine. The new engine delivered 125 horsepower, which was almost a third more than the TNH engine. The tank underwent 550 km of factory tests followed by tests at the testing ground in Milovice and near Vyškov. The TNH-S prototype traveled a total of 5000 km without a single serious failure, while competing Škoda tanks revealed numerous deficiencies.

German Takeover and War Deployment

After the occupation of Czechoslovakia in March 1939, production was first stopped, but later resumed because Germany showed great interest in the high-quality tank. In total, it ordered an additional 1,396 tanks. It was given the designation Panzerkampfwagen 38(t), or SdKfz 140. The tanks helped General Guderian in the defeat of Poland, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. 231 units participated in the attack on France.

In 1939, the LT vz. 38 was considered one of the best light tanks in the world. However, due to the rapid development of armored technology during the war years, it became relatively quickly outdated. They also participated in the attack on the USSR in 1941. Here, a weakness eventually emerged where it was not possible to install a more powerful gun in the tank's turret. Against tanks like the Matilda or T-34, the existing armament was no longer sufficient.

The second weakness paradoxically became its quality. This led to it being deployed in the role of a medium tank in direct combat with enemy tanks, for which it was not designed. While the frontal armor appeared very resistant compared to other light tanks, a hit from more powerful ammunition led to its cracking. In 1942, the Wehrmacht permanently lost 429 PzKpwf.38(t) tanks. Germany ended tank production in 1942, but kept its hull and chassis in production, which became the basis for many derived weapon types.

Tests in Great Britain

After the Munich Agreement, the Czechoslovak army radically changed its behavior and allowed arms manufacturers to pursue foreign markets more aggressively. The British were the first to show interest. On February 28, 1939, the TNH-P prototype flew to England for testing at the Mechanisation Experimental Establishment (MEE) in Farnborough.

The tank traveled 466 km, including 165 in terrain. During testing, the tank was easily controllable and very maneuverable. However, the final British verdict was negative, which is all the more interesting when the British Cruiser Mk.III and Cruiser Mk.IV tanks had no advantage over the TNH-P except for their power-to-weight ratio. A year later, these tanks faced each other on the battlefield at Abbeville, and the LT-38, taken over by the Wehrmacht, soundly defeated its light British counterparts.

LT vz. 38 in Slovakia

During the formation of the Slovak State, production of the LT vz. 38 type was just getting started. Slovakia ordered 37 LT vz. 38 tanks, which were designated LT-38. These tanks were militarily deployed during the invasion of the Soviet Union. Later, between 1943 and 1944, Slovakia purchased another 37 tanks withdrawn from German armament. The LT-38 tanks played their role in the Slovak National Uprising. The insurgents had 13 tanks of this type.

Technical Specifications

The LT vz. 38 tank had a crew of 4 members (commander, gunner, driver, radio operator). It was armed with a 37mm Škoda A7 cannon with a rate of fire of 7 shots per minute and two vz. 37 machine guns of 7.92 mm caliber. The armor had a thickness of 25 mm at the front. The Praga TNHPS engine with 125 horsepower allowed speeds up to 42 km/h on the road. The tank's length was 4.61 m, width 2.14 m, height 2.40 m, and weight 9.7 tons.

What Does the 3D Model of LT vz. 38 Tank Offer?

Preserved Tanks and Museum Collections

A functional LT vz. 38 tank is in the inventory of the Military Historical Museum Lešany, which is painted in Czechoslovak camouflage. This very tank was used to create our 3D model.

In Slovakia, two LT vz. 38 tanks are preserved. A complete tank in insurgent army camouflage is displayed at the Museum of the Slovak National Uprising in Banská Bystrica. In 2016, the museum's exhibits were joined by the torso of insurgent tank 313, which had been abandoned in the forests above Istebné since the war.

You can visit the museum and see this legendary tank in person. For more information, visit the official website of the Military History Institute Prague.