After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia continues to revamp its economy for eventual integration into various Western European political and economic institutions. - US CIA World Factbook

Sheffield-Simplex armored car "Imanta."
Armored cars in the War of Independence

Total vehicle numbers and nick names are listed below.

1 x Sheffield-Simplex armored car ("Imanta.")
1 x Austin M1915 armored car ("Zemgaleetis.")
1 x Izhorski-Fiat armored car ("Staburags.")
1 x Pierce-Arrow armored car ("Viesturs.")
1 x Pierce-Arrow armored car captured from Bermondtists? ("Titanic")
2 x Putilov-Garford M1916 armored cars ("Kurzemnieks") ("Lacplesis." - Destroyed by Germans in 1919).
2 x Krupp Geschutzwagen 14 ("Max" and "Moritz")
1 x Fiat-chassis armored car ("Sargs.")

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Mk. V Composite / Medium B

When General Judenitsj's White Russian army offensive on Petrograd failed (see Estonia), Estonia kept four British Mk V Composite tanks and Latvia got two. In late 1919 Latvia obtained another Mk V Composite and two Medium B tanks.

The vehicles had the following nick names applied to them:

Mk V Composite "Minstr. Pres. Ulmanis."
Mk V Composite "Generalis Balodis."
Mk V Composite "Generalis Burt's."
Medium Mk B "Latgalietis."
Medium Mk B "Vidzemnieks."

Fiat 3000
Fiat 3000

In 1926 Latvia ordered six Italian Fiat 3000. They were delivered in September 1927 and were stationed in Riga.

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Carden-Loyd Mk. VI

The Latvian national home guard bought single tankette in 1930.

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Vickers 4-ton M1936

Eighteen Vickers 4-ton tanks were purchased 1935. Twelve were MG-armed M1936 and six were cannon-armed M1937. M1936 were delivered in 1936, while the cannon-armed tanks were not delivered until 1938. A single M1937 survived the Soviet takeover of 1940 and the "Great Patriotic War" (WW2). Today it is resting at Kubinka tank museum where a sign tells that it's a "Latvian export tank".

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Krupp-Protze

Latvia bought 32 Krupp-Protze in the 1930s.

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Ford-Vairogs V8

35 Ford-Vairogs V8 were built in 1930s and armed with single AA-gun. Probably they were also used for transporting Vickers tankettes.

CKD LTL---Latvian LVL
CKD LTL

One prototype was built to Latvian specifications. The design was accepted for production but no deliverys had occured prior to the Soviet takeover of this nation. The new Slovakian state purchased all 21 of these units. This was the only CKD (later BMM) light tank ever built with rear drive.

Specifications
Crew 3
Engine Praga F-4 4cyl water cooled 7180cc 125hp
Performance 54km/hour 
Length 4.2m
Width 1.95m
Height 1.8m
Armament 20mm Oerlikon, 2 Maxim MG
Armor 8 - 25mm
Weight 7.2 tons
Range 300km
People who helped make this page possible

Thorlief Olsson
Thorlief Olsson
Author of
Baltic AFV's & Armored Trains 1918-1940
Red Steel! - Soviet tanks 1920 -1945

Bill Morran

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Last Update: Thursday, February 13, 2003