Stridsvagn 74 (Strv 74)

History

The Swedes have a strong history of domestic weapons production, which was well demonstrated before and during World War II (1939-1945) - the country threatened by the Germans in the West recently surpassed Norway, In the East the Soviets were at war with Finland twice ("Winter War" and "Continued War"). Sweden was able to remain neutral throughout the war, but only after the realization of several light tank designs. One of the prewar attempts at indigenous tank design was the L-60 (Strv L60) in 1934, followed by the Strv m/38 and Strv m/39 light tanks, and finally the Strv m/40 Light in 1941 Tank Strv m/40 The program then gave birth to the Strv m/42, which became the first Swedish tank to be armed with a 75mm main gun - comparable to developments in the rest of the world at the time.

All Swedish tanks are based on the 16-ton AB Landsverk "Lago".

The Strv m/42 was introduced in April 1943, with 282 produced by January 1945. Variants continued to emerge until the late 1950s, which played the role of a fast light tank with great range thanks to its powerful 75mm main gun - comparable to the German 7.5cm StuK 37 L/24 series system. The car is piloted by a crew of four and is armed with no less than 4 x 8mm m/39 series machine guns in the front, sides and top of the turret. Power is provided by various accessories ranging from 325 hp to 380 hp. The chassis was suspended on a torsion bar system and had a top road speed of 26 miles per hourreasonable for the mechanized power of the day.

Compared to the previous m/40, the m/42 has an additional pair of wheels under the elongated hull, an improved round turret and a more powerful main gun.

After the war, the digital availability of the Strv m/42 series forced a decision by the Swedish military authorities. Rather than investing in a very expensive new tank design program, consider modifying the Strv m/42 fleet for a new post-war tank design. With the German threat removed, the Soviet Union now remains a viable enemy on the European battlefield.

The Swedish Army is also looking to purchase excellent and very modern British Centurion MBTs to support its leading mechanized units (referred to as "Strv 101/Strv 102" in Swedish inventory). Therefore, the new Strv m/42-based design will be used to complement the new MBT in the Swedish armored forces - the tank is recognized under the designation "Stridsvagn 74".

The Strv 74 retains some of the qualities of the original Strv m/42 model, albeit mostly on the existing chassis. The design features a new electric (manual reserve) turret position and 75mm main gun based on existing anti-aircraft weapons.

An all-new petrol-powered Scania Vabis engine is fitted to the rear as standard, while an equally new drivetrain is attached to the chassis for improved off-road capability. Widened track sections allow for better ground movement and traction on uneven surfaces. The torsional suspension was retained, as were the four crew members (driver, commander, gunner and loader). The driver sat in the front left of the hull, while the rest of the crew lived in the turret room. The main gun of choice was the 7.5 cm (75 mm) Strv 74 gun.

Defense is provided by 2 x 8 mm ksp m/39 Strv machine guns - one coaxial in the turret. The new car weighs 25 tons (short) and the armor protection of various fairings ranges from 15mm to 80mm.

The Strv 74 is powered by a pair of Scania-Vabis 607 petrol engines, each producing 170 hp (340 hp combined). Range peaked at 120 miles, which was consistent with other designs of the time. Top speed is 28 mph, an improvement over the original m/42 design.

On the surface, the Strv 74 appears to be a very traditional Cold War tank product. The hull is well constructed with an integrated superstructure to accommodate the crew, turret, gearbox, fuel storage, ammunition and engines. The landing gear contained six wheels on one side of the track, as well as a front drive sprocket and a rear track idler. Three idlers were found on top of the track section, and no side skirt armor was used.

The fabricated turret was designed to be mounted close to the midship as a very large unit with nicely sloping sides and a heavy gun cover. The rear turret overhangs considerably to allow for more storage space inside.

The barrel protrudes from the turret panel as usual and hangs from the striker plate as expected, adding a small smoke exhaust behind the muzzle. No muzzle brakes were used.

Production of the Strv 74 system began in 1958 and continued until 1984, when 659 examples were completed. Forged from an existing m/42 chassis/hull that already relied on two different drivetrains, two different variants were realized - "Strv 74H" and "Strv 74V". The former was based on the hull of the m/42 TH model (with 2 x Atlas Diesel hydraulic transmissions, 1943), while the latter was based on the m/42 TV series (with Landsverk S-8082 / Volvo VL 420 hydraulic transmissions), 1948 ).

In service, the Strv 74 proved to be a reliable and capable post-Cold War tank, albeit with a noticeably taller side profile for this approach due to its curved hull structure and three-car turret design. All in all, this provided a very attractive target for enemy anti-tank personnel and armored combat units at a distance.

Fortunately, the Strv 74 has never experienced combat at any level and has essentially proven to be another deterrent to invasion - like many other homegrown Swedish military developments over the past 100 years.

The Strv 74 tanks were initially deployed in service with the main Swedish armoured units until the arrival of the Strv 101/102. Over time, its role as a front-line combat system diminished so much that the Strv 74 fell prey to infantry-class armored vehicles, and then a second-line mission role.

Despite being introduced in 1958, the Strv 74 was able to serve until 1984 before it was officially retired from all military duty. With years of service, the Strv 74's turrets were dismantled and restored to fixed defensive positions in preparation for an enemy invasion - the Swedes always seem to have prioritized self-defense over all other military means, the doctrine, continues today Do (2013).

In addition to being replaced by the upcoming Strv 101/102 main battle tank series, the native Swedish ingenuity managed to produce a very unique and defense-oriented Strv 103 tank destroyer (also known as the "S -Panzer"). The Strv 101/102 and Strv 103 series were the backbone of Swedish armored forces until the late 1990s.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

Not available.

Changes