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

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-2 • 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 by Rickard O. Lindström 3. Arsenalen, militärt fordonsmuseum, Arsenalen is a Tank Museum in Strängnäs, Sweden 4. Armémuseum, Army Museum, Stockholm 5. Wikipedia 6. Digitaltmuseum (Digital Museum) Top of page

Stridsvagn 103

Stridsvagn 103 is a Swedish main battle tank manufactured in Sweden by Bofors and designed by Sven Berge. It has become commonly known as "Stridsvagn S". Stridsvagn 103 has a unique design with a turretless chassis. The gun is fixed, mounted in the chassis, and points straight ahead. Pointing the gun is done by maneuvering the whole vehicle. The Stridsvagn 103 option was adopted in the 1958 Defence Act. It was developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s and delivered to the Swedish Army between 1967 and 1971. Between 1967 and 1971, 290 units of Stridsvagn 103 were delivered. Together with the Centurion tanks, Stridsvagn 103 formed the main part of the Swedish army's armored troops until the 1990s, when they were replaced by Stridsvagn 121 and Stridsvagn 122. Stridsvagn 103 was withdrawn from the defense organization in 1997. A total of 302 vehicles were produced, including experimental models. The image shows Stridsvagn 103C. Image: Wikipedia. The concept was a medium tank with a low silhouette that showed less target area. This was achieved by mounting the gun in the hull instead of in a turret. The fixed gun is traversed by engaging the tracks and elevated by adjusting the hull suspension. As the gun was fixed in the chassis, the whole vehicle had to be turned by utilizing track movements to aim the gun sideways, and the whole tank had to be raised and lowered using hydraulics to aim the gun vertically, which gave the gun the correct angle of elevation. The two images show a Stridsvagn 103C that demonstrates gun elevation and depression using suspension. The upper of the two smaller images show a Stridsvagn 103C with the gun pointing downwards, i.e. stooping. The lower picture shows a Stridsvagn 103C with the gun pointing upwards, i.e. reclining. Image: Wikipedia. The lack of turrets gave the tank a low and flat profile, making it harder to hit and more resistant to enemy fire. Good optics and the stable mounting of the gun also made it possible to fire quickly and at long distances with precision. The disadvantage was that it was impossible to aim the gun for shots while traveling, except straight ahead in the direction of travel. This was considered an acceptable disadvantage, as contemporary tanks with movable turrets could aim their cannon while traveling, but with such low accuracy that even they were normally forced to stop before firing. Another unique detail was that one of the three crewmen was seated facing backward and had his own steering gear so that he could drive the tank away from the enemy at high speed without having to expose the thinner side and rear armor. The fact that the gun was mounted inside the chassis made it difficult to upgrade the tank to a more powerful caliber gun when this later became an option. Stridsvagn 103 had a three-man crew: a commander, a gunner/driver, and a rear driver. The main armament consisted of a Bofors 10.5 cm rifled automatic gun with L/62 caliber. The gun was designed to fire the same ammunition used by Stridsvagn 101 and 102 tanks. The gun in Stridsvagn 103 was fully automatic with an integrated automatic loader, which classifies it as an automatic gun. Alongside the main armament were three 7.62 mm machine guns of the type Ksp 58 strv. One of the three Ksp 58s was mounted on the commander's observation hatch. In addition to the main gun and machine guns, Stridsvagn 103 was also equipped with smoke launchers. Both the commander and the driver could drive and shoot with the tank. During the REMO (Renovation and Modification) for Stridsvagn 103C, the tank was also equipped with Lyran 71 mm illuminating mortars. The front consisted of a 40 mm thick armored shield. The roof was also 40 mm thick. The sides were only 20 mm thick but were reinforced with internal fuel cans placed along the sides to function as applique armor for extra protection against directed blast. The front was also equipped with 30 mm high, 40 mm deep slat armor that increased frontal protection. Slat armor takes the form of a rigid slatted metal grid fitted around key sections of the vehicle which disrupts the shaped charge of the warhead. The image shows a Stridsvagn 103C with frontal slat armor for protection against high- explosive anti-tank (HEAT) attacks. Image: Wikipedia. At mobilization, the tank was also equipped with the secret anti-HEAT fence armor, Additive equipment 2930, which consisted of 30 mm diameter steel rods to be mounted on the front edge of the frontal armor for the protection against high-explosive Anti-tank (HEAT) rounds. The anti-HEAT fence armor disrupts the shaped charge of the warhead by either crushing it, preventing optimal detonation from occurring, or by damaging the fuzing mechanism, preventing detonation outright. This made Stridsvagn 103 the best frontally protected tank in the world for more than 20 years. The image to the left shows a Stridsvagn 103 with anti-HEAT fence armor on the front effective against HEAT rounds (HEAT = High- explosive Anti-Tank). Image : Garnisonsmuseet Skaraborg, ID: GMSF.012598. For the C variant, also diesel-filled cans of skirt armor on the sides of the tank provided additional protection against HEAT rounds. See the image to the right. Two engines were used in Stridsvagn 103, a diesel engine from Rolls Royce and a gas turbine from Boeing. Stridsvagn 103 also had an amphibious capability. This was possible thanks to the erection of floating bellows around the tank. Propulsion was achieved by using the tracks at a speed of 6 knots. International interest: When Stridsvagn 103 was unveiled at a press preview in the spring of 1963, it caused an international sensation around the world. Interest in the Stridsvagn 103 was very high. A dense stream of visitors from some 10 countries came to Sweden to learn more about the unique design, including France, Britain, Germany, and the United States. On four occasions, the tank was tested in other countries: Norway, England, Germany, and the USA. Ten Stridsvagn 103s were in the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) in Germany for 35 days in 1973 for testing and they rolled 900 km each. The Stridsvagn 103 was compared to the British Chieftain tank. It turned out that the Stridsvagn 103 had significantly higher reliability than the Chieftain tank. The final report stated, "It has not been possible to prove any disadvantage in the 103s inability to fire on the move." Two tanks were loaned to the United States in 1975 for seven months for testing at Fort Knox. During the tests, Stridsvagn 103 was compared with the American M 60 tank. Over 188 days, the two Swedish tanks drove 1400 km and fired a total of 575 rounds. The trials in the USA met the positive expectations that the Americans had had of the Stridsvagn 103. The tests showed that the Stridsvagn 103 fired more accurately, but that on average it took half a second longer to get a shot off. But of course, there has been criticism too. It has received harsh criticism, mainly from older Swedish conservative officers of the armored troops who have wanted to describe Stridsvagn 103 as a fiasco. They felt that a real tank should have a turret, which Stridsvagn 103 lacked. The most serious criticism of Stridsvagn 103, however, was that it could not fire on the move. Of course, there were contemporary tanks that could fire on the move, but the accuracy was so low that usually only a first shot was fired on the move, and then the fight continued from a stationary tank. So that limitation was not a major problem at that time. Variants of Stridsvagn 103: • Stridsvagn 103-0: In 1960, before Stridsvagn 103 was ordered for mass production, 10 pre-production tanks called Stridsvagn 103-0 were ordered. They were delivered in 1963 and were largely similar to tank 103A but lacked slat armor. These tanks were to be used to test the Stridsvagn 103 in the field but formally saw service. The trials lasted until 1966. • Stridsvagn 103A: The first variant of the 103, with a 300-hp gas turbine engine, was ordered in 1964. 70 tanks were produced and serial deliveries began in 1967. • Stridsvagn 103B: The B-variant had a more powerful 490 hp gas turbine engine, fitted flotation equipment, and removed IR headlights. 220 tanks were produced and delivered between 1970-1971. In parallel, the A-variant of 70 tanks was modified to B standard. All 290 Stridsvagn 103Bs were delivered by 1971. • Stridsvagn 103C: The Defense Act of 1978 and 1982 meant that the acquisition of a new tank had to wait until the 1990s, after which modification of the existing tanks became necessary. The refurbishment and modification of all 290 Stridsvagn 103Bs included improvements to the following such as a laser range-finder integrated with the gunner's sight, a new piston engine from Detroit Diesel, a partially new gearbox, an option for skirt armor consisting of diesel-filled jeep cans and illuminating mortars. All 290 rebuilt 103Bs entered service in 1986-1988 under the designation Stridsvagn103C. • Stridsvagn 103D: The D-variant was a prototype for further development of the 103C if the army was not to be supplied with a new tank (Strv Ny). Stridsvagn 103 was decommissioned from the Swedish war organization in 2001.

Stridsvagn 121 and 122

Towards the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s, the Swedish Defense Material Administration (FMV) had been conducting trials with modern tanks. The results showed that Sweden urgently needed a new tank. The projected development of the new Stridsvagn 2000 was no longer deemed sustainable, so in the spring of 1991, the government proposed purchases from abroad, which were confirmed in the 1992 Defense Act. The procurement of the "Stridsvagn Ny" (project name: Tank New) started in September 1991 and was the largest procurement of a foreign weapon system carried out by the Swedish Defense Material Administration, FMV. Stridsvagn Ny meant that FMV borrowed the most modern Western main battle tanks of the time for testing to see which tank was most suitable for the Swedish armed forces. The final report with the given quotations was completed in December 1993. The German Leopard 2 won this test in competition with the French Leclerc and the American M1 Abrams. The image shows the three tanks that were evaluated. Lined up from left, the German Leopard 2 A5, the American M1A2 Abrams, and the French Leclerc. Image: Garnisonsmuseet Skaraborg, ID: GMSF.025509. On 20 January 1994, the Swedish government decided to acquire 120 Leopard 2 S with an option for 90 additional tanks. The procurement involved large parts of the Swedish arms industry for further development and licensed production. Stridsvagn 121: At the same time as the negotiations on the Leopard 2 A5 S tank were taking place, Sweden was offered an extremely favorable leasing contract for 160 of the older Leopard 2 A4s, which was signed on 12 August 1994, as a stopgap before the newer tanks were finished. Delivery began the same month and these tanks became the first tanks in Sweden with a 12 cm gun and were designated Stridsvagn 121. By the end of 1994, all 160 tanks had been delivered. The Defense Act of 2000 removed Stridsvagn 121 from the peace and war organization in 2002. After the Defense Act of 2004, all Stridsvagn 121 were placed in storage and since 2002 the army has only used Stridsvagn 122. The image shows a Stridsvagn 121 at Skaraborg Regiment P 4 in Skövde. Image: Garnisonsmuseet Skaraborg, ID: GMSF.009862. Stridsvagn 122: Stridsvagn 122 (product name Leopard 2 Improved A5 SE or Leopard 2 S for short) is a main battle tank developed by the German company Krauss-Maffei and the Swedish company Åkers Krutbruk Protection AB on behalf of the Swedish Defense Material Administration (FMV) for the Swedish Armed Forces. The tank is a further developed version of the German Leopard 2 A5 main battle tank with significantly improved ballistic protection. The Leopard 2 S tank has been produced both in Germany and in Sweden under license for Swedish use. Stridsvagn 122 entered service in 1996 and has been the Swedish Army's primary main battle tank since its final delivery in 2002. Stridsvagn 122 replaced the older tanks Stridsvagn 101, 102, 103, and 104 and after some time also Stridsvagn 121. The first 29 new Leopard tanks were assembled in Germany. The remaining 91 tanks were built under license in Sweden. Bofors was responsible for the turret and Hägglunds for the chassis and final integration. In total, 120 Stridsvagn 122 was ordered by the Swedish defense. The image shows a Stridsvagn 122 (Leopard 2 S). Image: Garnisonsmuseet Skaraborg, ID: GMSF.021545. The first Stridsvagn 122 was delivered to FMV in December 1996 for type testing and was then, being the second tank with a 12-centimeter gun, designated Stridsvagn 122. The last of the ordered 120 Stridsvagn 122 was delivered to the Swedish Armed Forces in 2002. Stridsvagn 122 has a 4-man crew, a tank commander, a driver, a gunner, and a loader. Basically, the Leopard 2 is a conventionally designed tank with the front part of the hull divided: the driver on the right, ammunition storage on the left, and in the center-mounted turret the tank commander is on the right, the gunner sits lower and in front of the commander and the loader on the left side. The engine package is located at the rear of the hull. The main armament consists of a smooth-bore gyro- stabilized 12 cm high-pressure gun, which allows very high accuracy while moving. The secondary armament consists of two 7,62 mm m/94 machine guns. Variants: • Stridsvagn 121A: Stridsvagn 121A was originally designated simply as Stridsvagn 121 and was the 160 Leopard 2 A4 tanks from Germany that Sweden leased in 1994 to immediately reinforce Sweden's armored forces pending the final delivery of Stridsvagn 122. 142 of these have been returned to Germany while 18 chassis have been purchased for training or conversion to other types of vehicles. • Stridsvagn 121B: Stridsvagn 121B was an attempt to update Stridsvagn 121A to a standard equivalent to Stridsvagn 122. One (1) prototype was built and tested between November 2003 and April 2004. • ------------------------ • Stridsvagn 122A: Stridsvagn 122A is the original version that Sweden ordered from Germany, i.e. 120 Leopard 2 A5, of which 29 were produced in Germany and the rest on license in Sweden. The first delivery took place in December 1996. The main individual modifications to Stridsvagn 122 compared to Stridsvagn 121 are the significantly improved ballistic protection and the added TCCS (Tank Command & Control System). Externally, the differences between Stridsvagn and Stridsvagn 121 are mainly visible on the turret. • Stridsvagn 122B: Stridsvagn 122B is a REMO version of Stridsvagn 122A (REMO = renovation and modification). Among other things, it is equipped with additional reduced and modular AMAP composite armor, which provides increased all-around protection against shaped charges, HEAT grenades, and improvised explosive devices (IED). 10 were delivered in 2002. 10 Stridsvagn 122B and 4 Stridsvagn 122A are being converted to Stridsvagn 122B INT in 2011 (INT = International). • Stridsvagn 122C: Stridsvagn 122A undergoing a minor REMO, to replace the lead batteries and build up a spare parts stock for at least three years' consumption. In addition, the tank commander’s gun sight has been upgraded, and new internal and radio communication systems have been installed. Finally, they will be prepared to fit the same additional protection used on the 122B. The delivery took place in 2016. • Stridsvagn 122D: Stridsvagn 122B which has undergone a minor REMO in the same way as Stridsvagn 122C above. 90 Stridsvagn 122 underwent RENO following a decision taken in 2016. In addition to the renovation, the vehicles will also be equipped with a battalion- level battle management system (SLB) and a new communications system (KOMNOD and TGR). This means a lifetime extension until 2030. This RENO will result in new designations. Stridsvagn 122A is renamed Stridsvagn 122C and Stridsvagn 122B is renamed Stridsvagn 122D. The Swedish Leopard 2 family includes not only the battle tank but also the armored recovery vehicle (Bgbv 120), the armored engineering vehicle (Ingbv 120), and the armored bridge-laying vehicle (Brobv 120).