Combat Swedish Tank: a review of models and description

One of the signs of the independence of the state is the compulsory availability of the Armed Forces. The army of any country is divided into several main areas, namely: the Air Force, the Navy and the Land Force. In turn, the army is compulsorily equipped with tank units, without which it is impossible to imagine the implementation of major military operations. In this article we will talk about this kind of army equipment, like a Swedish tank. About him we'll talk in more detail.

Historical reference

The First World War did not pass by the Swedish military in the sense that they carefully watched the armored vehicles and looked for various ways to modernize their army. Initially, the Swedes wanted to buy a tank from the British for its detailed study, but the idea was eventually abandoned, as the Swedish leadership decided that the deal was too expensive (40,000 kroons).

German machinations

The first Swedish tank was a tractor. At first glance, this sounds silly, but it was under the guise of this agricultural equipment that Germany, after losing the war, sold Sweden its 10 LK-II tanks. In this case, the machines were delivered in disassembled form, and the final assembly of tanks was carried out on Swedish soil. The very first combat vehicle was assembled by the Scandinavians in April 1922, and already in August all ten were in combat readiness. In the autumn of 1924, these Swedish tanks were called M / 21.

Modernization

In the period 1924-1925 on these machines experiments were conducted on the installation of radio stations. All 10 tanks turned out to be a real "first textbook" for Swedish military engineers and for the entire industry. In 1929, each of these units was modernized: they were fitted with Swedish engines Scania Vabis 1554, each of which was 85 horsepower (the German equivalent was 56 hp).

The opinion of the General Staff

In 1928, the chief of the General Staff, Hammarskjöld, voiced the requirements that the Swedish tank was supposed to meet:

• Optimum firepower (two machine guns and a cannon must be installed on the machine).
• Excellent cross country terrain (minimum 10 km / h in rough terrain and at least 20 km / h on a regular road).
• The armor must be protected from fire by a gun of 37 mm caliber.
• The weight of the tank should not exceed 12 tons, so that it could pass without problems through bridges.

Engineer suggestions

Several projects from various companies were submitted immediately. In particular, the Mogårdshammarstridsvagnen tank was proposed in six variants, among which there was a place for a machine with the ability to move by rail. However, the project was not developed due to the death of its author.

In turn, the company "Landsväck" proposed its Swedish tank STRV called L-5. He had the ability to move and on tracks, and on specially lowered wheels for driving on the highway. From the weapons was a cannon with a caliber of 37 mm and two machine guns. However, at the same time, it was very weak to book a car that could withstand only machine-gun fire.

The Epoch of the 1930s

This Swedish tank was not adopted, but it eventually became the basis for the production in 1930 of the L-30, a wheel-tracked tank. This military equipment tested in 1931 showed excellent speed characteristics. With a combat mass of 11,500 kg, the tank was accelerated to 35 km / h on tracks, and on wheels to 75 km / h.

Subsequently, the Swedish tanks of the 1930s received only a caterpillar course. They refused the wheels. The most popular cars were L-10, manufactured by the company "Landsväck". They had two trolleys, each of which was attended by two supporting skating rinks. In turn, the rollers were made double and had a rubber bandage. The carts were assembled on the bracket in the lower part of the hull and had cushioning. The frontal armor of the machine was 24 mm. From weapons on the machine there was a 37-mm cannon produced by the firm "Bofors", a shell of which from a distance of 300 meters punched a 42 mm sheet of metal, from a distance of 1000 m - a sheet of 28 mm. There was also a 6.5 mm machine gun.

In 1934 Landsväck proposed two more new developments for the Armed Forces: the L-100 tank, which had a small weight of its own and was intended for reconnaissance, and also the L-60, the successor to the L-10, which was originally supposed to be exported, And therefore the army of Sweden purchased the first few of these machines only in 1937. The tank L-60 had 15 mm armor and an automatic cannon of 20 mm caliber.

In 1939, the M-39 tank was equipped with a semi-automatic cannon "Bofors" with a diameter of 37 mm and two machine guns. The tower had a new design.

The period of the 1940s

If we consider the Swedish tanks of the Second World War, it is important to note that the development of tank building at this time in Sweden contributed to the experience of the German military, which forced the Swedes to reconsider their views on tank forces in general.

In 1942, Sweden approved a program aimed at developing the Armed Forces and providing for the creation of three tank brigades. In each of them there should have been two battalions. The total number of combat vehicles numbered 315 light units and 228 heavy.

Swedish light tank m / 40K was one of the most popular in the army of this Scandinavian country. The car has received the strengthened suspension bracket, and also engines with capacity of 160 horsepowers. Frontal reservation was up to 50 mm, and onboard - up to 20 mm. There is also information that the Swedes managed to get mechanical transmissions from Germany, similar to those used on m / 39.

The Swedish branch of the m / 41 tanks also had reinforced armor of the frontal and aft parts. The tower received a simplified design, but at the same time a more powerful armor. All design changes led to the fact that engineers had to increase the length of the body by 65 mm and increase the capacity of fuel tanks (from 190 to 230 liters). Also, the possibility of using a more efficient welded shell and tower construction was considered, but it was decided that the reformatting of the production would take too much time, and as a result, this idea was abandoned.

The Swedish tanks m / 42 had a weight equal to 22.5 tons. The crew of the car was four people. Armored vehicles as weapons had a 75-mm twin gun and two machine guns caliber 8 mm. The third machine gun was installed on the course installation. The hull and tower of the tank were welded together and had a streamlined shape. They were going to use cast parts in the front part. Armor machines reached 55 mm (some sources say that this figure even reached 80 mm). Motors and transmission were produced in several versions, which received the corresponding two-letter index. The early models of the tanks were equipped with a dual propulsion system with a capacity of 325 horsepower and had a mechanical transmission and electromechanical control. Somewhat later, cars began to be produced with an automatic transmission for each of the engines. And a little later the tanks were launched with one engine produced by the Volvo company, the capacity of which, according to various sources, could reach from 380 to 410 horsepower. In addition, there was a place for an automatic transmission, which was already unified.

Despite all technical differences, all tanks m / 42 had the same maximum speed of movement - 42 km / h.

Separately, several models for commanders were assembled, these samples were specially equipped with an auxiliary radio station, which has a 70-watt transmitter. It was located at the site of the course machine gun installation, the barrel of which was replaced by a qualitatively executed layout.

In the period 1944-1945, the main striking force of the Swedish armored forces was m / 42. These Swedish tanks, the photos of which are shown below, were much superior to their predecessors in both armament and in the distribution of crew functions. But, despite all this, already in the middle of 1944 this sample was at the bottom of the rating of medium tanks on the basis of then existing world standards. Its short-barreled gun with a diameter of 75 mm was rather inefficient due to the low initial velocity of the armor-piercing projectile. To this is also worth adding and quite serious problems with reliability: the chassis quickly worn out, the mechanism of turning overloaded, the electromechanical transmission refused.

Self-propelled artillery mountings

In September 1941, the head of the army approved the need for the development and production of automatic control systems. Already at the beginning of 1942, a prototype test on a m / 38 tank chassis with a 74 mm gun showed that this direction of production was very promising.

Further work revealed that the most optimal chassis was m / 41. In March 1943, the development of a self-propelled gun with a 75 mm gun m / 02 began. In the same year, the Pav m / 43 machines were tested, which showed that the 105 mm howitzer best served itself.

In 1944, self-propelled units were adopted with the Sav m / 43 marking. These cars borrowed the chassis from m / 41 SII, in place of the towed box was placed a log cabin equipped with a frontal armor 50 mm thick. In the role of the gun, a cannon with a diameter of 75 mm protruded. However, since 1945 the caliber began to change by 105 mm. The combat set was 43 shots. To use as an assault gun, the SAU did not fit, as it lacked a machine gun and the required protection against anti-tank guns.

The post-war period

Swedish heavy tanks began to be developed in 1949. The project for the creation of heavy and powerful machines received the code KRV. The ultimate goal of the work was the creation of a heavy tank, the combat mass of which was to be 40-45 tons.

Initially, 105, 120 and 155 mm cannons were considered as the main weapon. A gun of 155 mm caliber was most interesting, but they still refused it. After a certain analysis, the military decided on a 120-mm rifled cannon.

The study of the layout led to the fact that the engineers were convinced: to ensure the required mass and dimensions of the tank, it is necessary to abandon the tower that is habitual for all. The most optimal option was considered a transition to the swinging tower, which was to consist of two parts. The lower part was planned to be located on the chase. She would be responsible for the horizontal guidance of the gun. The upper part moved in a vertical plane.

That the new Swedish branch of tanks was developed, it was decided to purchase from France a heavy tank AMX 50. Having studied all its features, the Swedes launched a project called KRV Emil. The creators planned to develop a tower that has all the necessary equipment and automation, so that it does not need to have a person. Of course, this approach caused difficulties, but still three variants of the future tank were developed.

The first envisaged the production of a machine with a mass of 28 tons. The model was to be 5.8 meters in length, 2.6 meters in width and 2.35 meters in height. The caliber of the gun is 120 mm.

The front part of the tank should be a haven for the driver-mechanic, the middle was assigned to the swinging tower, and the rear one for the engine-transmission compartment. In the tower were to be located gunner and tank commander. Armor machines on the sides and stern was 20 mm, and in the frontal part - 70 mm. The tower was equipped with even more serious protection: in the frontal part of 150 mm, on the sides and behind - 30 mm. The twenty-eight-ton tank was planned to be equipped with a powerful engine of 550 hp. from.

The most interesting part of the car was the tower, which has a rocking part. In addition, its limited volumes were obliged to equip military equipment with an exclusive automatic loading device. In the aft part of the tower, it was planned to place two drums on which shells would be located, as well as a line for loading, dispatching and delivering ammunition.

The second version of the KRV Emil tank envisaged the use of a more powerful gun and thick armor. The frontal part should have a thickness of 145 mm, the board - 60 mm. The weight of the machine was to increase to 38 tons. The planned engine power was at 665 liters. from.

The third option is the heaviest in the literal sense of the word, since the car was supposed to weigh 42 tons and have an engine of 810 liters. from. The level of protection at the same time remained the same with the second version of the tank.

Unfortunately for the Swedish army, the project KRV Emil was never crowned with a positive result. Problems with the development and the creation of a swinging tower led to the fact that the Swedish military decided to purchase foreign equipment, so the British-made tanks were in service in Sweden until the early 2000s.

Tank Destroyer

The Swedish tank Strv 103 was the main combat unit of the Swedish armored forces in the 1960s. Strictly speaking, it's not so much a tank as their fighter. It is endowed with a unique layout, which manifests itself in the absence of a tower and the rigid connection of the gun to the hull. The cannon is guided by turning the machine and tilting the body using a suspension. It is also the first tank on the planet in which, in addition to the diesel, a gas turbine engine was installed .

The machine is armed with a 105 mm cannon, three 7.62 mm machine guns, one anti-aircraft machine gun, two four-barreled grenade launchers. The main engine is diesel K-60 with a capacity of 240 liters. With., And auxiliary - "Boeing-502" capacity of 330 liters. from.

Also, the tank had duplicate controls, located in the stern. Thanks to this, the radio operator who was there could also, if necessary, operate the car and drive it in reverse.

Swedish project

In 1997, the company Hägglunds began to create a new Swedish tank. The project received the code CV 90-120.

In this tank we used a chassis based on the C90. Also added special ribs of rigidity, which allowed to maintain the stability of the machine after a gun shot of a caliber of 120 mm. However, because of this, the dynamic characteristics were somewhat reduced.

The tank's engine is an 8-cylinder Scania unit, which develops a capacity of 640 liters. With., The transmission of the machine - Perkins X 300. All this allows the tank with its own weight of 26 tons to accelerate with a full ammunition up to 70 km / h. Geometry of caterpillars and bottoms is optimized for driving the machine over a snow cover. The driver can use three telescopic instruments to survey the terrain.

The Swedish invisibility tank CV90120 has an automatic system for delivering projectiles and loading. The machine can perform up to 14 rounds per minute. The ammunition consists of 45 shells. The gun is equipped with a special device that absorbs the soot formed after the shot.

Automatic actuators allow the turret to rotate and move the implement within -8 to +22 degrees. The shooter can use a laser rangefinder, a target designator, a thermal imager.

The invisibility of the tank is provided by the use of the masking system Adaptiv, operating in the infrared range.

The outer part of Adaptiv is a plate with six corners. With the help of this constructive feature, the tank not only becomes invisible to the enemy, but also able to generate a so-called false phantom, which "draws" electronics. If necessary, the machine sprays an aerosol cloud around itself, which holds the invisibility screen for more than two minutes. The capacity of the composition is 300 liters.

Provided in the car and electronic protection, which informs the crew that their course is an intelligence unit. After that, there is the possibility of both direct destruction of the detected technology, and the production of interference.

Conclusion

This overview of Swedish tanks is brief. Modern technology does not stand still, and the sphere of the defense complex is no exception. The tanks of today's day are high-tech machines capable of quickly moving around, detecting and destroying the enemy.