Swedish Tanks

List of Tanks in the Swedish Army

The names of the Swedish tanks begin with "Stridsvagn" (tank) followed by its designation. • Renault FT, 1 in Swedish service 1922 – 1926 • Stridsvagn m/1921, 10 in Swedish service 1922 – 1934 • Stridsvagn m/1921-29, 5 in Swedish service 1930 – 1939 (converted Stridsvagn m/21) • Stridsvagn fm/1928, 1 in Swedish service 1926 - 1936 • Tankette m/Carden-Loyd (Mk V), 1 in Swedish service 1931- 1939 • Tankette m/Carden-Loyd (Mk VI), 1 in Swedish service 1931 – 1939 • Stridsvagn m/1931, 3 in Swedish service 1935- 1940 • Stridsvagn fm/1931, 1 in Swedish service 1935 – 1940 • Stridsvagn m/1937, 48 in Swedish service 1937 - 1953 • Stridsvagn m/1938 (L-60), 16 in Swedish service 1938 – 1957 • Stridsvagn m/1939 (L-60), 20 in Swedish service 1941 - 1957 • Stridsvagn m/1940L (L-60), 100 in Swedish service 1941 - 1957 • Stridsvagn m/1940K (L-60), 80 in Swedish service 1944 - 1960 • Stridsvagn m/1941, 116 + 104 in Swedish service 1942 – 1960? • Stridsvagn m/1942, 282 in Swedish service 1943 - 1955 • Stridsvagn 74, 225 in Swedish service 1958 – 1984 (converted Strv m/1942) • Stridsvagn 81, 240 (80 + 160) in Swedish service 1953 – 1966 • Stridsvagn 101, 102 and 104; in Swedish service 1959 - 2000 • Stridsvagn 103, 290 in Swedish service 1967 – 2001 • Stridsvagn 121 and 122

Renault FT

In July 1921, the first tank took its place in the Swedish army. It was the French Renault FT that was then put into service. This tank was nicknamed "Putte" in Sweden, probably because of its 37 mm puteaux gun. The newspaper Aftonbladet wrote on 19 July 1921 about a "French tank" that had arrived in Stockholm on the steamship Vega. A test squad was then formed at the then Position Artillery Regiment, A 9, in Stockholm. The tank was then used in a series of exercises in the fall of 1921. In an evaluation report from 1924 it is written, among other things, "Concerning the Renault tank, the experiments with its use did not turn out particularly well". The Renault wagon was not type-marked and no more were purchased. The Renault FT (frequently referred to in post-World War I literature as the FT-17, FT17, or similar) was a French light tank. The image shows the Renault FT tank at the Army Museum, Brussels. Image: Wikipedia. Specifications: • Crew 2 • In Swedish service 1922 – 1926 • Mass 6.7 ton • Main armament 37 mm, Puteaux SA 1918 • Length 4.95 m • Width 1.73 m • Height 2.13 m • Armor 6 – 22 mm • Max. speed 9 km/h • Engine 4-cyl Renault, 39 hp • Fuel Petrol • Numbers, Sweden 1

Stridsvagn m/1921

In 1921, the Swedish Armed Forces decided to invest in a German tank: the LK II, which was given the designation Stridsvagn fm/1922 (m/1921) [fm = experimental model]. Parts for ten tanks were purchased from Germany and assembled in Sweden. They began to be used for trials in 1922. The fm/22 tank was a German design from the First World War called LK II. Sweden ordered the tanks in 1921 but the tanks were not delivered until 1922, of which the type was originally designated fm/22. In 1924 it was re- designated, the tanks had actually been bought in 1921, hence the designation m/1921. The image shows m/21 (fm/22 ) at Arsenalen. Image: Wikipedia. Germany was not allowed to sell arms as a result of the 1918 Treaty of Versailles. The tanks were therefore secretly purchased from Germany and imported in kit form as "tractors and sheet metal work". The chassis arrived in Sweden in August-September 1921 and in December unhardened steel plates arrived from Germany. They were assembled at the ordnance depot and Navy yard on Skeppsholmen in Stockholm and were ready in April 1922. On 11 August 1922, the government issued permission to begin trials with these tanks at Svea Life Guards. Specifications m/1921: • Crew 2 – 4 • In Swedish service 1922 – 1934 • Mass 9.7 ton • Main armament 2 x machine gun m/14 alternative m/14-29 • Length 5.70 m • Width 2.05 m • Height 2.52 m • Armor 4 – 14 mm • Max. speed 16 km/h • Engine Benz 1910, 55 hp • Fuel Petrol • Numbers, Sweden 10

Stridsvagn m/1921-1929

Stridsvagn m/1921-29 (Strv m/1921-1929) is a converted stridsvagn m/1921. Five stridsvagn m/1921 were modernized in the early 1930s. Among other things, the former Benz engine of model 1910 of 55 horsepower was replaced by a Scania-Vabis engine of 85 horsepower. Three of the remaining five that were not modified became shooting targets after a few years or were used as spare parts for the five that were converted. The converted tanks were designated after the modifications as stridsvagn m/1921-1929 and served until the outbreak of WWII in 1939. Specifications m/1921-1929: • Crew 4 • In Swedish service 1930 – 1939 • Mass 9.7 ton • Main armament 2 x machine gun m/14-29 • Length 5.70 m • Width 2.05 m • Height 2.52 m • Armor 4 – 14 mm • Max. speed 18 km/h • Engine Scania-Vabis 1554, 85 hp • Fuel Petrol • Numbers, Sweden 5 Images:

The mass indicated on the tanks is in metric tons. "Strv" is the Swedish military abbreviation of Stridsvagn. To the List of Tanks in the Swedish Army

Related Links

• Tanks - Home page • Tanks, page-3 • Tanks, page-4 • Combat Vehicles, page-1 • Uniforms of the Armored Troops • Unit designation listing of the Swedish armored troops • Uniforms of the Swedish Army, 1900s • Sweden’s Military Preparedness 1939 - 1945 • Military Images, Sweden, 1939 - 1945 • Swedish Military Aircraft

Source References

1. Svensk PansarHistorisk Förening 2. Pansar av Rickard O. Lindström 3. Arsenalen, militärt fordonsmuseum, Tank Museum, Strängnäs, Sweden 4. Armémuseum, Army Museum, Stockholm 5. Wikipedia 6. Digitaltmuseum Top of page

Stridsvagn fm/1928

Stridsvagn fm/1928 was a Swedish tank, an experimental model purchased from France of model Renault NC modèle 26/27 (later renamed to NC 27). In January 1928, an appropriation was made in Parliament for the purchase of a new tank. In Sweden, the tank was designated Stridsvagn fm/1928. In the tank, the old Renault engine of 39 horsepower was replaced by one of 60 horsepower. Furthermore, the armor was improved and had a frontal thickness of 34 mm, the weight had increased to 8.5 tons against the older Renault FT of 6.7 tons. However, the tank still had a 37 mm Puteaux gun as its only armament. The engine had major operating problems and the gearbox in particular broke down repeatedly. The stridsvagn fm/1928 was rejected and was instead fitted with radio equipment and used for communication attempts. The fm/1928 was used for basic driver training at the Göta Life Guards tank battalion into the 1930s. The image shows Stridsvagn fm/28 (Renault NC 27). Photo: Hans Högman July 2011 at Arsenalen Museum, Strängnäs. Specifications fm/1928: • Crew 2 • In Swedish service 1926 – 1936 • Mass 8.5 ton • Main armament 37 mm gun Puteaux • Length 4.41 m • Width 1.71 m • Height 2.14 m • Armor 18 – 34 mm • Max. speed 20 km/h • Engine Renault, 60 hp • Fuel Petrol • Numbers, Sweden 1

Tankette m/Carden-Loyd Mk V

In 1931 Sweden received a delivery of two tankettes from the British firm Vickers-Armstrong. A tankette is a tracked armored combat vehicle that resembles a small tank, roughly the size of a car. It is mainly intended for light infantry support and scouting. Colloquially it may also simply mean a small tank. The light armament often consists of several machine guns. Tankettes were common during the interwar period. The British Carden-Loyd Mk.IV Tankette from the late 1920s was a very famous and popular tankette in its time and came to inspire many designers around the world. After the war, the tankette concept was abandoned due to lack of utility and vulnerability to anti-tank weapons and their role was taken over by armored cars. The Swedish army was not really interested in light tanks, so the two British tankettes were initially used as towing vehicles for 37 mm infantry guns. In 1935 the tankettes were transferred to the tank battalion of the Göta Life Guards. There they received the designation Light Tank w/Carden-Loyd. The image shows tankette m/Carden- Loyd Mk V. Image: Armémuseum, ID: AM.049602. Specifications m/Carden-Loyd: • Crew 2 • In Swedish service 1931 – 1939 • Mass 1.4 ton • Main armament 1 x 6.5 mm machine gun m/14- 29 • Length 2.46 m • Weight 1.70 m • Height 1.22 m • Armor 6 – 9 mm • Max. speed 45 km/h • Engine Ford T, 22 hp • Fuel Petrol • Numbers, Sweden 1

Tankette m/Carden-Loyd Mk VI

Another Carden-Loyd came to Sweden in 1931, the Mk VI. The two tankettes were not identical, they had different engines and the bodies were also different. The image shows tankette m/Carden- Loyd Mk VI. Image: Armémuseum, ID: AM.049609. Specifications m/Carden-Loyd Mk VI: • Crew 2 • In Swedish service 1931 – 1939 • Mass 1.4 ton • Main armament 1 x 6.5 mm machine gun m/14- 29 • Length 3.02 m • Width 2.00 m • Height 1.28 m • Armor 6 – 9 mm • Max. speed 45 km/h • Engine Ford A, 28 hp • Fuel Petrol • Numbers, Sweden 1

Stridsvagn m/1931

During the interwar period, Swedish production of tanks started at AB Landsverk in Landskrona. Stridsvagn m/1931 (Landsverk L-10) was a Swedish tank built by AB Landsverk in 1932-1935. Around 1929 AB Landsverk was contacted by the Swedish Armed Forces about the development and production of a small number of tanks for experimental purposes. In January 1931 Landsverk was chosen as the supplier of the tanks, and on October 3 experimental vehicles L-10 (Stridsvagn m/1931) and one L-30, the one that came to designated Stridsvagn fm/1931, were ordered. The image shows stridsvagn m/1931. Image: Armémuseum, ID: AM.049615. In October 1931, the Royal Army Material Administration (Swe: Kungliga Arméförvaltningen, KAF) placed an order for three L- 10 test vehicles, which after delays could be delivered in 1935. They were armed with a 37 mm Bofors gun and two 6.5 mm m/14-29 machine guns and had 8-24 mm armor. When the tank was developed, it had a very technically advanced design for its time. The hull was welded instead of riveted, the tank was equipped with a prism periscope instead of a sighting hatch and an advanced track suspension system. However, developments quickly outpaced the model and by the end of the 1930s, its design was no longer cutting edge. The tanks often suffered from technical problems, and the tightly tensioned tracks often broke and were difficult to repair. Many of the parts were also German-made, which meant that the Swedish armed forces became dependent on a foreign supplier for spare parts, which implied that no more tanks were ordered. When World War II broke out, they were dug in as stationary bunkers. Specifications m/1931: • Crew 4 • In Swedish service 1935 – 1940 • Mass 11 ton • Main armament 1 x 37 mm Bofors gun • Secondary armament 2 x machine gun 6.5 mm m/14-29 • Length 5.20 m • Width 2.15 m • Height 2.22 m • Armor 8 – 24 mm • Max. speed 40 km/h • Engine Maybach DSO 8 V12, 150 hp • Fuel Petrol • Numbers, Sweden 3

Stridsvagn fm/1931

Stridsvagn fm/1931 (Landsverk L-30) was an experimental model of tank that was developed for the Swedish Armed Forces by AB Landsverk in 1931. Stridsvagn fm/31 was designed by the German Joseph Vollmer and it had its origin in the German Leichtraktor L-5. In Sweden the tank was further developed in 1930 into tank L-30. What distinguished it from the L- 10, which was developed in parallel, was that it had vertically adjustable wheels that allowed it to be switched between track and wheel drive. Switching between track and wheel drive could be done on the move in less than 30 seconds. It could reach the impressive speed of 35 km/h on tracks and 75 km/h on wheels. The design with a front driver and a rear driver also made it possible to change direction quickly. Due to delays at the Landsverk, it took until 1935 for the vehicle to be delivered, by which time the design was already obsolete. It was tested in 1935-1936 and then used as a training vehicle for tank driver training until 1940. The image shows stridsvagn fm/1931 HB. Image: Armémuseum, ID: AM.049613. Specifications fm/1931: • Crew 3 - 4 • In Swedish service 1935 – 1940 • Mass 11.5 ton • Main armament 1 x 37 mm Bofors gun • Secondary armament 2 x machine gun 6.5 mm m/14-29 • Length 5.20 m • Width 2.45 m • Height 2.5 m • Armor 6 – 14 mm • Max. speed 45 km/h (75 km/h on wheels) • Engine Maybach DSO 8 V12, 150 hp • Fuel Petrol • Numbers, Sweden 1

Stridsvagn m/1937

Stridsvagn m/1937 was a Swedish-built version of the Czechoslovakian tank CKD AH-IV. Sweden ordered 48 AH-IV-S in the mid-1930s. Two of the tanks were built in Czechoslovakia while the other 46 were built under license in Sweden by Jungnerverken in Oskarshamn. AB Volvo supplied the engine, gearbox, and track plates. They were armed with dual 8 mm m/36 machine guns. The tanks were delivered to the Swedish Armed Forces between 1938 and 1939. The m/37 was taken out of service in 1953. The tank had a good off- road capability and was very reliable. The image shows stridsvagn m/1937. Image: Wikipedia. Specifications m/1937: • Crew 2 • In Swedish service 1937 – 1953 • Mass 4.5 ton • Main armament 2 x machine gun 8 mm m/36 strv • Length 3.40 m • Width 1.85 m • Height 1.95 m • Armor 6 – 15 mm • Max. speed 60 km/h • Engine Volvo FC-CKD, 85 hp • Fuel Petrol • Numbers, Sweden 48

Landsverk L-60 S

Landsverk L-10, i.e. tank m/1931, was a tank that the Swedish Armed Forces ordered in 3 copies from the Swedish company AB Landsverk in Landskrona for evaluation and which was delivered in 1935. Landverk's L-60 was a further development of the L- 10 concept. The L-60 was the most advanced tank of its time. What made the L-60 advanced were mainly 3 things: the tank had a periscope (all other tanks in the world used sight slits during this time), the tank's body joints were fully welded together and the tank had torsion suspension. Landsverk was the first in the world to build welded tanks a few years earlier with its L-10. The torsion suspension was the most advanced part of the tank. This type of suspension was much more shock absorbing than any other known suspension at the time. Landsverk continued to develop and refine the L-60 with several different variants through the 1930s and 1940s. The L-60 was also considerably lighter than the L-10, 8.7 tons instead of 11 tons, although the thickness of the armor was broadly the same. Both the L-10 and L- 60 were also armed with the same type of 37 mm Bofors gun. In Sweden, the L-60 S was used in 4 variants (L-60 S) between 1939 and 1960. The suffix "S" stands for the Swedish variant. 1. Stridsvagn m/1938 was the first variant, L-60 S-I. 16 tanks were ordered in 1937 and entered service in 1939. Tank m/1938 was armed with a 37 mm Bofors gun and an 8 mm machine gun. 2. Stridsvagn m/1939 was the second variant, L-60 S- II, and 29 tanks were ordered in 1939 and entered service in 1940. Tank m/1939 was armed with a 37 mm Bofors gun and two 8 mm machine guns. 3. This was followed by Stridsvagn m/1940L (L-60 S- III) and 100 tanks were ordered in 1940 and entered service in 1941. It was armed with a 37 mm Bofors gun and two 8 mm machine guns. 4. The fourth and last variant was Stridsvagn m/1940K (L-60 S-V) and 80 tanks were ordered in 1942 and entered service in 1944. It was armed with a 37 mm Bofors gun and two 8 mm machine guns. See further below:

Stridsvagn m/1938 (L-60 S-I)

16 Stridsvagn m/1938 was ordered in 1937 and delivered in 1939. They were armed with a 37 mm Bofors gun m/38 and an 8 mm machine gun m/36 strv. The thickness of the armor was between 6 and 15 mm. The m/1938, like tank m/1931, had a welded armored hull. It was also equipped with torsion suspension, which gave the tank exceptional suspension characteristics. The first Stridsvagn m/1938 delivered to the armed forces was a pre-series tank in plain iron plate, which was given army number 61. Subsequently, a test chassis was delivered, ordered in June 1936, which was converted into a Stridsvagn m/1938 and fitted with a turret (army number 62). The mass-produced Stridsvagn m/38 tanks were given army numbers 63-77. The image shows Stridsvagn m/1938 (Landsverk LS-60 S-I). Image: Armémuseum, ID: AM.049629. The m/1938 tank was first delivered to the tank battalion of Göta Life Guards. A modern tank company with tanks capable of fighting enemy tanks could now be deployed for the first time, which took place at the end of March 1939. Specifications m/1938: • Crew 3 • In Swedish service 1938 – 1957 • Mass 8.5 ton • Main armament 1 x 37 mm Bofors m/38 gun • Secondary armament 1 x machine gun 8 mm m/36 strv • Length 4.80 m • Width 2.08 m • Height 2.05 m • Armor 6 – 15 mm • Max. speed 46 km/h • Engine Scania-Vabis typ 1664, 142 hp • Fuel Petrol • Numbers, Sweden 48

Stridsvagn m/1939 (L-60 S-II)

Stridsvagn m/1939 (L-60 S-II) was the second Swedish variant of the L-60 S. 20 tanks were ordered in 1939 and delivered in 1940. With only minor modifications to the L-60 S-I, the Swedish Armed Forces signed a contract on 19 December 1939 for a slightly improved tank, designated the L-60 S-II. The turret was slightly modified on the m/1939 with the gun in a separate gun shield on the left and the machine gun moved to the right of it. Furthermore, it was supplemented with an additional machine gun. Stridsvagn m/1938 was initially equipped with a steering wheel. In the m/1939 this was replaced by lever control. The 20 tanks were to be delivered in mid-October 1940, but due to delays at Bofors with the tank's 37 mm gun, deliveries could not be completed until spring 1941. The image shows Stridsvagn m/1939 (Landsverk LS-60 S-II). Image: Armémuseum, ID: AM.049628. Stridsvagn m/1939 was armed with a 37 mm Bofors gun m/38 and two 8 mm machine guns m/36 strv. Its armor ranged from 6 to 15 mm with the possibility of mounting additional 35 mm armor. Specifications m/1939: • Crew 3 • In Swedish service 1941 – 1957 • Mass 8.69 ton (9.36 with additional armor) • Main armament 1 x 37 mm Bofors m/38 gun • Secondary armament 2 x machine gun 8 mm m/36 strv • Length 4.80 m • Width 2.08 m • Height 2.05 m • Armor 6 – 15 mm ( - 50 mm) • Max. speed 45 km/h • Engine Scania-Vabis typ 1664, 142 hp • Fuel Petrol • Numbers, Sweden 20

Stridsvagn m/1940L (L-60 S-III)

Stridsvagn m/1940L (L-60 S-III) was the third Swedish variant of the L-60 S. 100 Stridsvagn m/1940L tanks were ordered in 1940 and delivered in 1941. They were armed in the same way as Stridsvagn m/1939. The m/1940L was very similar to the m/1939 but had a new air intake for the engine. Like Stridsvagn m/1939, the m/1940L could be fitted with a 35 mm thick frontal protection (to be used only in the field, so as not to put too much strain on the suspension system). The m/1940L's armor was between 4 and 15 mm but thus with the possibility to mount additional armor of 35 mm. The image shows Stridsvagn m/1940L (Landsverk LS-60 S-III). Image: Armémuseum, ID: AM.049630. Specifications m/1940L: • Crew 3 • In Swedish service 1941 – 1957 • Mass 8.93 ton (9.36 with additional armor) • Main armament 1 x 37 mm Bofors m/38 gun • Secondary armament 2 x machine gun 8 mm m/39 strv • Length 4.90 m • Width 2.08 m • Height 2.05 m • Armor 4 – 15 mm ( - 50 mm) • Max. speed 45 km/h • Engine Scania-Vabis typ 1664, 142 hp • Fuel Petrol • Numbers, Sweden 100

Stridsvagn m/1940K (L-60 S-V)

Stridsvagn m/1940K (L-60 S-V) was the fourth Swedish variant of the L-60. 80 Stridsvagn m/1940K were ordered in 1942 and delivered in 1944. They were armed with a 37 mm Bofors gun m/38 and two 8 mm machine gun m/36 strv. Its armor ranged from 4 to 50 mm. The image shows Stridsvagn m/1940K (Landsverk LS-60 S-V). Photo: Sven Olof Ericsson 1948. Image: Arsenalen, ID: ARSF.000134. Specifications m/1940K: • Crew 3 • In Swedish service 1944 – 1960 • Mass 10.9 ton • Main armament 1 x 37 mm Bofors m/38 gun • Secondary armament 2 x machine gun 8 mm m/39 strv • Length 4.97 m • Width 2.08 m • Height 2.12 m • Armor 4 – 50 mm • Max. speed 45 km/h • Engine Scania-Vabis L 603, 162 hp • Fuel Petrol • Numbers, Sweden 80

Stridsvagn m/1941

Stridsvagn m/1941 was a Czechoslovakian light tank produced under license in Sweden during World War II. Sweden had a great shortage of tanks at the beginning of World War II. The production of tanks in Sweden was not enough and in 1939, 90 tanks TNH Sv CKD were ordered in Prague. However, these were seized by Nazi Germany before they could be delivered. The Czech tanks were ordered without armament because a Bofors 37 mm anti-tank gun (m/38) was to be mounted in Sweden. However, Sweden received the design and license for the tank and it was designated in Sweden as Stridsvagn m/1941. 116 tanks were built of version S I and 104 tanks of S II at Scania-Vabis in Södertälje. The S II had thicker armor and heavier weight and was therefore fitted with a more powerful engine. The S II was therefore lengthened by 65 mm to accommodate the larger, more powerful engine. The Swedish Armed Forces ordered 122 S IIs, but 18 of these tanks were converted into Assault artillery carriage m/1943 (Swe: Stormartillerivagn m/1943) before delivery. Stridsvagn m/1941 used leaf springs, instead of the more modern torsion spring found in the m/1940. However, the m/1941 had excellent maneuverability characteristics and was perceived as easy to maneuver. The image shows Stridsvagn m/1941, 1940s. Image: Miliseum, ID: MILIF.014177. In the late 1950s, the armored brigades needed an armored personnel carrier that could follow the tanks over all types of terrain. After a number of prototypes, Hägglunds was chosen as the supplier. Its vehicle was based on a rebuilt and modified m/1941 tank. At the end of the 1950s, all 220 m/1941 tanks were converted into the Armored tracked carrier vehicle 301 (Swe: Pansarbandvagn 301), an infantry fighting vehicle. The first of these were deployed on armored units in 1961 and served until 1971. Specifications m/1941: • Crew 4 • In Swedish service 1942 – 1960? • Mass S I: 10.5 ton. S II: 11 ton • Main armament 1 x 37 mm Bofors m/38 gun • Secondary armament 2 x machine gun 8 mm m/39 strv • Length S I: 4.54 m, S II: 4.60 m • Width 2.14 m • Height 2.35 m • Armor 8 – 25 mm • Max. speed 48 km/h • Engine S I: Scania-Vabis typ 1664, 145 hp • Engine S II: Scania-Vabis typ 603, 160 hp • Fuel Petrol • Numbers, Sweden 116 S I + 104 S II (in total 220 tanks)