Peruvian Army and the LT vz 38 Tanks

Introduction to the LT vz 38

Did you know that the Peruvian armed forces kept LT vz 38 in service up until the early 1980’s?

After a territorial dispute with Colombia in 1932 ended badly, Peru decided it needed armour. They imported 24 Praga LTP from Czechoslovakia, essentially a variant of the LT vz 38.

Peruvian Service and Performance

Renamed Tanque Ligero 38/39M in Peruvian service, the tanks were put to good use against Ecuador as early as 1941. Inspired by French doctrine, the Peruvian army used armour in support of infantry. The tanks performed well: They had good mobility, were easy to maintain, reliable, and fought in mountainous regions as well as in the jungle. It also helped that Ecuador had no anti-tank capabilities!

Comparison with US Tanks

In 1947, the US sold 30 M3 Stuart tanks to Peru. However, the Peruvian army thought the little LT vz 38 was better! Peru tried to get its little tanks some upgrades from Czechoslovakia in the early 1950s, but their request was turned down; Moscow did not want Czechoslovakia to arm what was seen at the time as an American ally.