L8
The L8 was a further development of the airborne tank concept originally brought about with the L6, again weighing a little under 8 tonnes. The L8s extremely light weight allowed it to be airlifted by helicopters and later dropped by aircraft. From the get-go the L8 was planned to have multiple variants as its small size limited the array of tasks it could be accomplished, as opposed to a main battle tank.
The U variant, the production model, featured a rotating turret with a HV 76mm auto loading gun, and cupolas for the commander and gunner. Both cupolas had fuly enclosed machine gun mounts, a .50 cal for the commander and a .30 cal for gunner. The 'U' stood for 'universal', as it was meant to support infantry and provide modest anti-tank capability for its time.
The P (self
propelled) variant, introduced in 1359, mounted a shielded 105mm howitzer and could provide airborne infantry with very effective and mobile artillery support.
The D (tank
destroyer) variant utilized a twin 105mm recoilless rifle system. The L8E1 (officially L8(D)A1) modification added a gun shell for the gunner, giving up cover while reloading. The gunner's cupola was also moved and reduced in size. The shield also meant the turret could not be fully rotated. While somewhat troublesome to operate, it's anti-tank capability was adequate.
The L8A2, an unplanned variant that used the TOW missile launcher introduced in the 70s. The A2 was the last version of the vehicle, being retired in 1384.