CzL.1

The CzL.1 was a light tank produced by Syrvania from 522 to 528, and the first domestically designed and produced Syrvanian tank to see widespread combat service.

## Development and Production

The CzL.1 was intended to serve a twofold purpose. Firstly, its design and production would aid in establishing a domestic institutional knowledge-base for modern motor arms production, and allow involved Syrvanian industries to adjust for greater future efficiency. Secondly, it would serve as a stop-gap vehicle compatible with present Syrvanian infrastructure and likely battlefield conditions, fitting into Syrvanian Economy of Force doctrine as a "minimal-investment" vehicle, emphasizing availability, mobility, reliability, and sheer numbers. This was accomplished through light weight and small size, allowing it to easily be loaded onto relatively narrow-gauge flatcars, low ground pressure to maintain mobility in mud, snow, or poorly-maintained roads, simple construction using interchangeable and commonly available parts, and a two-man crew to minimize personnel requirements. The CzL.1 was also intended as an "open-ended" design, with plans to improve the vehicle over time, such as the installation of a larger turret ring to support a planned upgrade to the tank's main armament. However, many of these upgrades would be cancelled in favor of a new vehicle, the CzL.2, design of which would begin as the CzL.1 prototypes underwent trials.

## Operational history

### Early service

The CzL.1's combat performance was found inadequate during the Chergarian Invasion of 523, which began shortly after the first units were delivered. While proportionally well-armored for its size and weight, problems arose from a number of other factors. Its main armament, a short 34mm CK.34/16 (originally intended to be temporary, until the newer, high-velocity 34mm CK.34/22 could become more widely available), lacked adequate penetration to deal with Chergarian tanks under most circumstances. Moreover, the crew configuration made operation difficult, with the single turret crewman serving as commander, gunner, and loader simultaneously. This was especially pronounced on examples equipped with radios, as most produced before spring of 524 had their radios placed in the hull (the Zoroprom W.23 turrets made room for a radio to be installed, but were no less cramped). An adequately-sized turret ring for a two-man turret could not fit onto the CzL.1's hull, forcing plans for a new turret to be abandoned. Finally, due to time constraints, most crews lacked sufficient training in the operation of their tanks, while commanders had not yet had the opportunity to effectively implement them into doctrine. This resulted in frequent breakdowns, as well as their misuse in static defensive or infantry support roles. Although doctrinal and training shortcomings had been remedied by the end of the war, with the CzL.1 serving more effectively in exploitation and reconnaissance roles, it was nevertheless slated to cease production by the autumn of 524, and to be completely removed from service and replaced by the CzL.2 by the end of 525. This in turn curtailed long-term plans with the replacement vehicle, which was intended to be iterated on as doctrine was refined and design requirements were revealed with experience.

### Later service

Despite plans, production of the CzL.1 would not cease until 528, shortly after the end of the Second Leersog War. While the CzL.2 would go on to become the mainstay exploitation tank in the invasion of Hetland, fielded by Syrvania's Independent Rapid Divisions, reserve CzL.1 tanks remained commonplace among infantry divisions. Generally operating in the wake of the Rapid Divisions against holdout Hettic Home Army units, they proved more viable when facing less capable anti-tank weapons, or operating in terrain less suited to maneuver warfare, such as urban areas or the mountainous northern front. Moreover, surplus CzL.1 hulls proved highly versatile for conversions, with flamethrower, river-crossing, tank destroyer, infantry transport, and self-propelled light artillery variants seeing service in both conventional infantry and rapid units. The CzL.1 would finally be retired from Syrvanian service with cessation of production in 528, with all remaining operational vehicles being sold to the Hettic Republican Army, Thereic Republican forces in the First Peninsula Crisis, or sold for scrap.