Strv m / 38 - Swedish light tank (until 1943 in the Swedish army belonged to the medium ) during the Second World War . Developed by Landsverk AB based on the L-60 light tank. In total, during the series production in 1939 - 1944, 216 Strv m / 38 were produced, during the course of production the tank was repeatedly modernized, although it remained obsolete. Until 1944, the Strv m / 38 was the largest Swedish tank and formed the basis of the country's tank fleet, but since 1944 it was replaced by a more modern medium Strv m / 42 . In the Swedish army, the Strv m / 38 remained in service until the mid -1950s , and several tanks after the Second World War were sold to the Dominican Republic , where they remained in service until 2003.
| Strv m / 38 | |
|---|---|
 Strv m / 39 | |
| Strv m / 38 | |
| Classification | light tank |
| Combat weight, t | 8.5 |
| Layout diagram | front engine compartment, rear engine |
| Crew | 3 |
| Story | |
| Years of production | 1939 - 1944 |
| Years of operation | 1939 - 2003 |
| The number of issued, pcs. | 216 |
| Key Operators |   |
| Dimensions | |
| Body length mm | 4900 |
| Width mm | 2110 |
| Height mm | 2080 |
| Clearance mm | 350 |
| Reservation | |
| Forehead, mm / city. | 15 |
| Board of the case, mm / city. | ten |
| Armament | |
| Caliber and brand of guns | 37 mm Bofors m / 38 |
| Gun type | threaded |
| Machine guns | 1 × 8 mm Karlskrona Ksp m / 39 |
| Mobility | |
| Engine type | in-line 6- cylinder liquid-cooled carburetor |
| Engine power, l with. | 142 |
| Speed on the highway, km / h | 48 |
| Cruising on the highway , km | 220 |
| Specific Power, l s / t | 16.7 |
| Suspension type | individual torsion bar |
| Gradeability, hail. | 40 |
| The overcome wall, m | 0.6 |
| The overcome ditch, m | 1.7 |
| Fording , m | 0.7 |
Content
Creation History
Landsverk L-60 Tank
In 1934, Landsverk AB produced a prototype of the Landsverk L-60 tank. The tank was developed by engineer Otto Merker, who previously designed the L-5 . The tank was, in essence, a modernized L-10 - the armament and armoring remained the same, but the engine was replaced (a 6-cylinder Scania Vabis 1664 carbureted engine with 142 hp was installed), the chassis was changed (the L-10 rollers were locked in carts, and on the L-60 there was an independent suspension) and the shape of the hull.
The tank was not adopted by the Swedish army, and because of this, it began to be delivered abroad. At the end of 1935, one tank was sent to Eyre , where it received the designation L601, and a year later a second tank was delivered, designated the L602. Both tanks entered service with the 2nd armored squadron stationed in Kurrach . The Irish tanks were replaced by an engine (Bussing-Nag V8 with a capacity of 160 hp) and armament (one 20 mm cannon and one 7.71 mm Madsen machine gun). Irish L-60s were used until the early 60s , and in 1953 they were modernized.
One copy of the tank was sold to Austria and Hungary .
Strv m / 38 and Strv m / 39
As a result of the refinement of the L-60 tank, the Strv m / 38 tank was developed, adopted by the Swedish army. Reservation of the tank - 6-15 mm, armament - one 37 mm gun Bofors m / 38 and one coaxial 8 mm machine gun m / 36. The engine is Scania-Vabis 1664, with a capacity of 142 liters. with. In the years 1938-1939, 16 units were issued (numbers: 148-162).
The Strv m / 39 tank differed from the Strv m / 38 only in armament (two 8-mm m / 36 machine guns and one 37-mm Bofors m / 38 cannon were installed in the modified frontal sheet of the turret) and armor (the maximum thickness of which, due to the additional armor, reached 50 mm). In the years 1940-1941, 20 units were issued (numbers: 283-302).
Strv m / 40L and Strv m / 40K
Tanks Strv m / 40L were equipped with automatic transmission, and were slightly different in size, weight and armor from previous tanks. In 1941, 100 units were produced.
Strv m / 40K, produced at the Karlstad Mekaniska Verkstad plant in Karlstad (from here and letter K in the tank designation), were equipped with the new Scania-Vabis L 603 engine with a capacity of 162 liters. with., reinforced suspension and armor (armor thickness reached 50 mm). In 1942-1943, 80 (or 84) units were produced.
Modifications
- Strv m / 38 ( L-60S ) - basic modification.
- Strv m / 39 ( L-60S II ) - modification with the replacement of the coaxial machine gun in the tower with two autonomous ones.
- Strv m / 40L ( L-60S III ) - modification with automatic transmission.
- Strv m / 40K ( L-60S V ) - modification with armor reinforced up to 50 mm, 162 liter engine. with. and reinforced suspension.
Performance Specifications
| Strv m / 38, Strv m / 39, Strv m / 40L and Strv m / 40K | ||||||||
| Strv m / 38 | Strv m / 39 | Strv m / 40L | Strv m / 40K | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||||||||
| Length m | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.97 | ||||
| Width m | 2,075 | 2,075 | 2,075 | 2.08 | ||||
| Height, m | 2.05 | 2.05 | 2.05 | 2,125 | ||||
| Combat weight, t | 8.5 | 8.7 (8.95 - with extra armor) | 9.11 (9.36 - with extra armor) | 10.9 | ||||
| Booking mm | 6-15 | 6-15 (6-50 - with extra armor) | 4-15 (4-50 - with extra armor) | 4-50 | ||||
| Armament | ||||||||
| A gun | 1 × 37 mm Bofors m / 38 | 1 × 37 mm Bofors m / 38 | 1 × 37 mm Bofors m / 38 | 1 × 37 mm Bofors m / 38 | ||||
| Machine guns | 1 × 8 mm m / 36 | 2 × 8 mm m / 36 | 2 × 8 mm m / 36 | 2 × 8 mm m / 36 | ||||
| Mobility | ||||||||
| Engine | Gasoline 6-cylinder in-line Scania-Vabis 1664, 142 liters with. | Gasoline 6-cylinder in-line Scania-Vabis 1664, 142 liters with. | Gasoline 6-cylinder in-line Scania-Vabis 1664, 142 liters with. | Gasoline 6-cylinder in-line Scania-Vabis L 603, 162 l. with. | ||||
| Maximum speed on the highway, km / h | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | ||||
| Cruising on the highway, km | 220 | 220 | 220 | 220 | ||||
Machines based on the Strv m / 38, Strv m / 39, Strv m / 40L and Strv m / 40K
Serial
Luftvärnskanonvagn L-62 Anti II
ZSU, manufactured in 1941 for export on the basis of the Strv m / 40L tank. 6 copies were delivered to Finland and 1 to Hungary.
Luftvärnsvärnskanonvagn Lvkv m / 43
ZSU based on Strv m / 40K. For the Swedish army was made 17 copies.
Prototypes
Pvkv IV Värjan
Experienced tank destroyer based on the Strv m / 40L tank. Armed with a 57 mm gun m / 43. The only prototype was made in the early 50s.
Strv m / 40L with diving equipment
1 Strv m / 40L tank was experimentally equipped with underwater equipment.
Combat use
American Occupation of the Dominican Republic
On April 28, 1965, US troops landed in Santo Domingo to crush the rebellion. The rebels managed to capture 12 Strv m / 40L tanks from government forces. 3 tanks were shot down by American troops (1 was destroyed by the Otnos self-propelled guns, 1 was destroyed by the M48 Patton tank, and the last was a 105mm recoilless gun).
The remaining vehicles were soon captured in good condition by government forces.
Machine rating
Reliability
The tanks were in service with Sweden until the 1960s, and in the Dominican Republic they were used until 2003. This confirms their reliability.
Analogs
The closest analogue can be considered the Hungarian tanks "Toldi" and the German PzKpfw II and PzKpfw 38 (t).
Armed
- Sweden - 16 Strv m / 38, 20 Strv m / 39, 100 Strv m / 40L and 80 (or 84) Strv m / 40K.
- Dominican Republic - 25 tanks Strv m / 40L delivered in 1956. Several tanks were shot down in 1965 during the civil war in the Dominican Republic. The remaining tanks were in service until 2001.
Where can I see
To this day, at least 20 tanks of various modifications have survived in museum collections and military camps. Of these, 12 cars are in Sweden , 1 - in the UK , at least 8 cars - in the Dominican Republic [1] .
In addition, in the early 2000s. The Dominican Republic sold several tanks to private collections.
- Strv m / 40 K. In the open exhibition of the Gotland Museum of the Armed Forces . Visby , Gotland
- The exposition of the Museum of military readiness . Wicken, Skane . One Strv m / 39 (inside the museum) and one Strv m / 40 K - in the open.
- On display at the Hesleholm Museum. Hesleholm , Skåne - one Strv m / 38 (Landsverk L / 60C) and one Strv m / 40 K.
- Strv m / 40 K. Open air in Szewd , Västra Götaland .
- On display at the Arsenal Armored Museum in Strengnes , Södermanland . Six tanks - one Strv m / 38 (Landsverk L / 60C) , one Strv m / 39 , two Strv m / 40 K , two Strv m / 40L .
- On the site of armored vehicles in the territory of the medieval fortress of Fortaleza Osama , Santo Domingo - two Strv m / 40L .
- In the open air on the territory of the Historical and Cultural Museum in the fortress of Fortaleza San Luis , Santiago de los Treinta Caballeros - two Strv m / 40L .
- At the gates of the military base of Fortaleza Fernando Valerio 2nd Infantry Brigade. Santiago de los Treinta Caballeros - two Strv m / 40L .
- Strv m / 40L . On display at the Tank Museum in Bovington . In running condition.
Notes
- ↑ Surviving Neutral States WW2 Tanks and SPGs . the.shadock.free.fr (5 May 2018). Date of treatment June 8, 2018.
Literature
- M. Baryatinsky. Armored vehicles in Europe 1939-1945 - M .: Armored Collection, issue No. 5, 1999
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles. - Leland Ness, 2002. ISBN 0-00711-228-9
- "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Tanks 1915-2000." - M .: Harvest. Minsk AST.Moscow. 1998 year
- "Tanks of the World, 1915-1945", Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972