Stridsvagn 104 (Strv 104)

History

The Strv 104 became the Swedish version of the legendary British "Centurion" main battle tank (MBT) series, detailed elsewhere on this page. In the years following World War II, the Swedish authorities chose the Centurion to replace aging light and medium tanks before serving in the armed forces.

Following a formal review of the options available globally, it was determined that the Centurion Mk 3 model offers the best combination of performance, capability, firepower and upgrade potential to meet future local military needs.

However, when it became apparent that the British would not be able to supply Sweden with the needed stockpile of Centurion Mk 3s in the short term, a secret local tank program known as "EMIL" began in 1951. The program aims to design, develop and eventually produce an indigenous heavy tank to meet demand. As the focus shifted to sourcing usable vehicles, only two chassis were built. Fortunately, British export demand allowed Centurion deliveries to Sweden to now be brought forward to late 1952. About 80 Centurion Mk 3s were ordered the following year, followed by another 110 (Centurion Mk 10s) the following decade.

In service with the Swedish Army, the Centurion operated under the various "Strv" designations (Stridsvagen), with numbers to indicate the product's main gun caliber (see variant list below).

The Swedish Centurions were modernized for most of the 1980s to keep them as combat machines for the near future. Added support for night vision (NV) devices as well as laser rangefinders, and the main gun has received better stabilization for improved "moving" fire. The Fire Control System (FCS) has been updated accordingly to improve efficiency, and the barrel is now equipped with a thermowell.

The hull supports Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) blocks to improve system and crew survivability - especially given the increasing reliance of Soviet troops on anti-tank missiles (ATGMs) - the main enemy in the region.

The work brought some additional operational service to the line, but by the 1990s the age of these vehicles and the decline of the Soviet Empire meant that the Swedish army was gradually reducing and replacing its Centurion stock. The acquisition of the West German/German Leopard 2A5S tank - known as Strv 122 in Swedish Army nomenclature - effectively marked the end of the Centurion's service in Sweden.

Throughout the life of the Strv 104, it was used in various forms, starting with the "Strv 81" with the original British 20-pounder gun (this was the equivalent of the British Centurion Mk 3 form). The Armored Rescue Vehicle (ARV) was essentially the Centurion ARV and became the "Bargningsbandvagn 81" in Swedish service.

The Centurion Mk 5 arrived in 1955 with Swedish equipment installed and was also part of the Strv 81 series. "Strv 101" is a Centurion Mk 10 with a 105mm gun and Swedish equipment. "Strv 102" became the original Strv 81 with a 105mm gun, while "Strv 101R" marked the modernized Strv 101 in the 1980s. Likewise, the "Strv 102R" is a modernized Strv 102 from the 1980s, and a frontal armor scheme that mimics that used by the Strv 101R. The "Strv 104" became the Strv 102 with the Israeli gearbox-motor coupling, 80 of which were numbered in total.

The "Strv 105" is a proposed update to the Strv 102R, with a new FCS and suspension - although only one prototype was built. "Strv 106" is another proposed form based on the Strv 101R, and also gets an updated moratorium. This move also failed.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

64 x 105mm bullet

600 x 12.7mm ammo

4,750x7.62mm ammo

12 x Smoke Grenade

Changes