Copyright © Hans Högman 2025-09-08
Stormartillerivagn m/1943 (Infantry
Assault Gun m/1943)
The infantry assault gun m/1943 (Swedish:
Stormartillerivagn m/1943 (SAV m/43)) was a
Swedish-designed assault gun for indirect and
direct fire support for infantry, based on the chassis
of the m/1941 tank. Its original designation was
“Pansarartillerivagn m/1943 (armored artillery
vehicle m/1943), but this was changed to
“Stormartillerivagn” (assault gun) before the vehicle
entered service. The Swedish
term“Stormartillerivagn” literally means “storm
artillery vehicle”.
The army ordered 36 assault guns. The first 18
assault guns were initially armed with a
substandard 7.5 cm m/1902 cannon. When the
other 18 vehicles were completed in 1946, they
were armed with the new 10.5 cm L/21 m/1944 SAV
howitzer. The first 18 vehicles were then rearmed
with this gun. The SAV m/1943 remained in
service until 1973, when the last ones were
replaced by the battle tank 74.
The images show the infantry assault gun m/1943
(Stormartillerivagn m/1943). Image: Artillerimuseet,
ID: ART.200020.
Specifications:
•
Crew
4
•
Mass
12 tons
•
Length
5.5 m including the fire tube,
4.61 m chassi
•
Width
2.14 m
•
Height
2.29 m
•
Engine
Scania-Vabis type 603/2, 160
hp
•
Max. speed
45 km/h
•
Armor
8–50 mm
•
Main armament
One 10.5 cm cannon m/1944
SAV L/21
•
Manufacturer
Scania-Vabis
•
Numbers
36
•
In Swedish service
1944-1973
Infanterikanonvagn 72/102/1030 (Infantry
Assault Guns 72/102/103)
The infantry assault guns 72, 102, and 103
(Infanterikanonvagn 72, 102, and 103 (IKV 72,
102, and 103)) were a series of Swedish assault
guns developed by AB Landsverk for the army,
begun in the early 1950s and remaining in service
until the mid-1970s.
Assault Gun 72 (Infanterikanonvagn 72 (IKV 72))
Assault guns began to be supplied to infantry
brigades in southern Sweden during the 1950s.
Landsverk, together with Bofors, was tasked with
developing and producing a new vehicle, the
Infantry Assault Gun 72 (IKV 72). Between 1952
and 1954, 36 IKV 72s were delivered to the army,
26 of which were the IKV 72B versions.
The IKV 72 had a combat compartment with an
open roof in the front part of the vehicle, while the
engine and gearbox were located in the rear.
The vehicle was rear-wheel drive, which is unusual
for Swedish armored vehicles. The gun was
mounted directly in the front armor. The gun was
the same as the one used in the m/1942 battle
tank, i.e., the m/1941 tank gun with a 7.5 cm
caliber. At the end of the 1950s, the IKV 72 was
rearmed with a new gun.
The image shows the assault gun IKV 72
(infanterikanonvagn 72 (IKV 72)). Image:
Garnisonsmuseet Skaraborg, ID: GMSF.038391.
Specifications:
•
Crew
4
•
Mass
8 tons
•
Length
Chassis: 4.95 m (incl. fire
tube: 5.79 m)
•
Width
2.23 m
•
Height
1.67 m
•
Engine
Ford sidevalve engine, 5.5 L
V-8, petrol, 145 hp
•
Max. speed
45–57 km/h
•
Main armament
7.5 cm battle tank gun
m/1941
•
Manufacturer
Landsverk
•
Numbers
36
Assault Gun 102 (Infanterikanonvagn 102 (IKV
102))
Between 1956 and 1958, the IKV 72 was modified
into the Assault Gun IKV 102. Armored hatches
were installed to cover the open fighting
compartment. Furthermore, the gun was replaced
with a newly developed 10.5 cm gun from Bofors.
The barrel was actually considered a howitzer
rather than a cannon.
In the early 1980s, the IKV 102 was converted into
the Pansarvärnsrobotbandvagn 551 (anti-tank
missile vehicle 551).
The image shows the assault gun IKV 102
(infanterikanonvagn 102 (IKV 102)). Image:
Armémuseum, ID: AMA.0023761.
Fakta:
•
Crew
4
•
Mass
8.8 tons
•
Length
Chassi:s 4.95 m (incl. fire
tube: 5.79 m)
•
Width
2.23 m
•
Height
1.67 m
•
Engine
Ford sidevalve engine, 5,5 L
V-8, petrol, 145 hp
•
Max. speed
45–57 km/h
•
Main armament
10.5 cm gun
•
Manufacturer
Landsverk
•
Numbers
36
Assault Gun 103 (Infanterikanonvagn 103 (IKV
103))
The assault gun IKV 103 (Infanterikanonvagn
103 (IKV 103)) was a somewhat improved variant of
the IKV 102. It was equipped with a four-cylinder
boxer engine from Svenska Flygmotor in
Trollhättan. In total, 81 vehicles were delivered
between 1956 and 1957, and the IKV 103 was in
service from 1956 until 1976. In the early 1980s, the
IKV 103 was converted into the
Pansarvärnsrobotvagn 551 (anti-tank missile
vehicle) and the Luftvärnsrobotvagn 701 (air
defense missile vehicle).
The image shows the assault gun IKV 103
(infanterikanonvagn 103 (IKV 103)) during a training
exercise in the 1960s. Photo: Arméns bilddetalj.
Image: Wikipedia.
Specifications:
•
Crew
4
•
Mass
8.8 tons
•
Length
Chassis: 4,95 m (incl. the fire
tube: 5.79 m)
•
Width
2.23 m
•
Height
1.67 m
•
Motor
SFA 5.1 L 4-cylinder, petrol, 150
hp
•
Max. speed
45–57 km/h
•
Main armament
10.5 cm gun
•
Manufacturer
Landsverk
•
Numbers
81
•
In service
1956 - 1976
Infanterikanonvagn 91 (Infantry Assault
Gun 91)
The infantry assault gun 91, IKV 91
(Infanterikanonvagn 91), was a high mobility
assault gun, i.e., a support vehicle for the infantry,
developed by Hägglund & Söner and
manufactured between 1975 and 1978. A total of
212 vehicles were produced.
The vehicle was built to provide infantry brigades
with a mobile anti-tank and support weapon. The
IKV 91 was amphibious.
The armament was a 90 mm low-pressure gun
developed by Bofors. The vehicle was equipped
with a laser rangefinder and ballistic computer.
Additional armament included two 7.62 mm
Browning machine guns.
The crew consisted of a vehicle commander,
gunner, driver, and loader.
IKV 91 was part of the Norrland and Infantry
Brigades' tracked armored anti-tank companies.
When work on the Combat Vehicle 90 (CV90) began
at Hägglunds, the Swedish Armed Forces decided to
abandon the assault gun (IKV) concept.
The image shows the assault gun 91, IKV 91
(Infanterikanonvagn 91). Image: Wikipedia.
Specifications:
•
Crew
4
•
Mass
16,300 kg
•
Length
Chassis: 6.41 m, Incl. fire
tube: 8.85 m
•
Width
3.00 m
•
Height
2.32 m
•
Engine
Volvo-Penta model TD 120 A,
turbocharged inline 6-cylinder diesel; cylinder
capacity 11.97 l, 330 hp at 2200 rpm
•
Max. speed
65 km/h (road), 6,5 km/h
(water)
•
Armor
Secret (protects against 20 mm
armor-piercing shells)
•
Main armament
90 mm low pressure cannon
•
Sec. armament
Two 7.62 mm machine gun
m/39
•
Numbers
212
•
Manufactured
1975–1978
The image shows the assault gun 91, IKV 91
(Infanterikanonvagn 91). Image: Miliseum, ID:
MILIF.032144.
Infantry Assualt Guns, Sweden - 1
Introduction
An infantry assault gun (Swedish:
Infanterikanonvagn—IKV), formerly also known as a
heavy artillery vehicle (Swe: stormartillerivagn—SAV)
or heavy gun vehicle (Swe: stormkanonvagn—SKV), is
a type of combat vehicle whose basic task is to
provide a mobile, protected, self-propelled artillery
piece for direct infantry support.
To put it another way, this kind of armored infantry
support vehicle and self-propelled artillery is
designed to give soldiers substantial direct fire
support during combat, particularly against other
infantry or fortified positions. It mounts an infantry
support gun on a protected self-propelled chassis.
To engage traditional infantry targets, such as
unprotected soldiers, machine gun positions,
combat fortifications, artillery batteries, and other
vehicles, infantry assault guns typically have a large-
caliber cannon as their main armament.
They are primarily intended for use as protected
self-propelled field guns that can advance with
infantry both in and out of combat, but also as
independent units that can be used in conjunction
with armored troops.
Infantry assault guns were mainly used during
World War II and were often (but not always) based
on tank chassis where the turret had been replaced
by an armored casemate or open armored body on
which a heavier field gun with limited lateral range
had been mounted.
Infantry Assault Guns, Sweden
Listed below are the infantry assault guns used in
the Swedish Armed Forces during the 20th century
and up to the present day.
List of infantry assault guns
•
Infantry Assault Gun m/1943
•
Infantry Assault Guns 72/102/103
•
Infantry Assault Gun 91
•
Combat Vehicle 90 (CV90)
•
Anti-tank Missile Carrier 551
•
Anti-aircraft Missile Carrier 701
Anti-tank Carrier
“Anti-tank carrier” is a collective term for combat
vehicles that are equipped and designed to combat
enemy armored vehicles, i.e., to act as anti-tank
defenses. Other terms are “tank destroyer”, “tank
hunter” or “tank killer”.
They are mainly divided into two categories
depending on their armament:
•
Anti-tank gun carriers (Swedish:
Pansarvärnskanonvagnar (Pvkv)), armed with anti-
tank guns
•
Anti-tank missile carrierss (Swedish:
Pansarvärnsrobotvagnar (Pvrbv)), armed with anti-
tank missile systems
Essentially, these vehicles are self-propelled anti-tank
guns or missile launchers.
These anti-tank carriers are usually armored and can
be tracked or wheeled. Some are equipped with
turrets like tanks but differ from tanks in other
respects. Other anti-tank carriers have casemates or
open fighting compartments. Anti-tank vehicles can
be part of armored forces as a separate unit or as
fire support for mechanized infantry.
Anti-tank Missile Carrier
Pansarvärnsrobotvagn 551 (Anti-tank Missile
Carrier 551)
The anti-tank missile carrier 551
(Pansarvärnsrobotvagn 551 (Pvrbv 551)) is a
Swedish anti-tank missile carrier built on the chassis
of the 102 and 103 infantry assault guns. It is
equipped with the RBS 55 anti-tank missile
system, hence the designation “Pvrbv 551”.
The carrier was developed in the late 1970s and
entered service in 1984. They remained in service
until the turn of the millennium in 2000. The
vehicle has an almost identical sister carrier, the anti-
aircraft missile carrier Lvrbv 701, which is instead
armed with the RBS 70 anti-aircraft missile system.
When infantry assault guns IKV 102 and 103 were
replaced between 1975 and 1978 with infantry
assault gun IKV 91, the chassis of IKV 102 and 103
were used as the basis for the design of the missile
carriers that were to be added to the armored
brigades.
The chassis was fitted with an entirely new
superstructure. The carriers were also given a new
engine and gearbox of the same type as those used
in the tracked personnel carrier 206 (Bandvagn 206).
The conversion was carried out between 1984 and
1986 at Hägglund & Söner in Örnsköldsvik. A total of
57 carriers of the anti-tank version, Pvrbv 551,
and 48 carriers of the anti-aircraft version, Lvrbv 701,
were built.
These were in service with the Swedish Armed
Forces between 1984 and 2000.
The vehicle was operated by a crew of four: driver,
gunner, loader, and commander. The driver and
commander are seated at the front of the vehicle.
The gunner and loader are housed under two large
roof hatches in the center of the vehicle while it is
moving. When the vehicle enters the firing position,
the hatches open and the missile launcher is
elevated above the vehicle's roof.
In this position, both the gunner and loader are
unprotected by armor.
The
image shows the anti-tank missile carrier 551
(Pansarvärnsrobotvagn 551 (Pvrbv 551)). Photo:
Jörgen Eriksson in 2007. Image: Wikipedia.
Specifications:
•
Crew
4
•
Mass
9,700 kg
•
Length
4.81 m
•
Width
2.54 m
•
Engine
Ford model 2658E V-6 petrol
engine, 136 hp
•
Max. speed
45 km/h
•
Main armament
Missile System RBS 55 (TOW-2)
•
Sec. armament
Machine gun KSP 58, 6 smoke
launchers
•
Manufacturer
Landsverk / Hägglunds
•
Manufactured
1984–1986
•
Numbers
57
•
In Swedish service
1984–2000
Anti-aircraft Carrier
Anti-aircraft carriers are combat vehicles equipped
and armed with air defense weapons, such as anti-
aircraft guns or anti-aircraft missiles. Their task is to
provide mobile protection for ground units against
air attacks. Air defense vehicles can move with the
troops they are protecting, but there are also self-
propelled air defense systems that operate
independently in batteries with fire control centers,
similar to stationary air defense systems. Anti-aircraft
carriers are often based on splinter-protected or
armored chassis equipped with air defense weapons
in open mounts or turrets.
Anti-aircraft Missile Carrier
Luftvärnsrobotvagn 701 (Anti-aircraft Missile
Carrier 701)
The anti-aircraft missile carrier
(Luftvärnsrobotvagn 701 (Lvrbv 701)) is a Swedish
anti-aircraft missile carrier built on the chassis of the
102 and 103 infantry assault guns. It is equipped
with the RBS 70 anti-aircraft missile system
(designed for anti-aircraft warfare), hence the
designation “Lvrbv 701”.
The carrier was developed in the late 1970s and
entered service in 1984. They remained in service
until the turn of the millennium in 2000. The
vehicle has an almost identical sister carrier, the anti-
tank missile carrier Pvrbv 551, which is instead armed
with the RBS 55 anti-tank missile system.
When infantry assault guns IKV 102 and 103 were
replaced between 1975 and 1978 with infantry
assault gun IKV 91, the chassis of IKV 102 and 103
were used as the basis for the design of the missile
carriers that were to be added to the armored
brigades.
The chassis was fitted with an entirely new
superstructure. The carriers were also given a new
engine and gearbox of the same type as those used
in the tracked personnel carrier 206 (Bandvagn 206).
The conversion was carried out between 1984 and
1986 at Hägglund & Söner in Örnsköldsvik. A total of
48 carriers of the anti-aircraft version, Lvrbv 701
and 57 carriers of the anti-tank version, Pvrbv 551,
were built.
These were in service with the Swedish Armed
Forces between 1984 and 2000.
The vehicle was operated by a crew of four: driver,
gunner, loader, and commander. The driver and
commander are seated at the front of the vehicle.
The gunner and loader are housed under two large
roof hatches in the center of the vehicle while it is
moving. When the vehicle enters the firing position,
the hatches open and the missile launcher is
elevated above the vehicle's roof.
In this position, both the gunner and loader are
unprotected by armor.
The image shows the anti-aircraft carrier
(Luftvärnsrobotvagn 701 (Lvrbv 701)). Image:
Garnisonsmuseet Skaraborg, ID: GMSF.038387.
Specifications:
•
Crew
4
•
Mass
9,700 kg
•
Length
4.81 m
•
Width
2.54 m
•
Engine
Ford model 2658E V-6 petrol
engine, 136 hp
•
Max. speed
45 km/h
•
Main armament
Missile System RBS 70 (RBS-70
SAM)
•
Sec. armament
Machine gun KSP 58, 6 smoke
launchers
•
Manufacturer
Landsverk / Hägglunds
•
Manufactured
1984–1986
•
Numbers
48
•
In Swedish service
1984–2000
