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Stridsvagn 103 (Strv 103) (S-Tank)


Main Battle Tank (MBT)


Sweden | 1966



"The wholly-unique, but ultimately largely unproven, Stridsvagn Strv 103 combat tank of Sweden."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Stridsvagn 103 (Strv 103) (S-Tank) Main Battle Tank (MBT).
Strv 103A: 1 x Rolls Royce K60 diesel engine OR 1 x Boeing GT502 turbine engine developing 300 horsepower.
Installed Power
37 mph
60 kph
Road Speed
186 miles
300 km
Range
Structure
The physical qualities of the Stridsvagn 103 (Strv 103) (S-Tank) Main Battle Tank (MBT).
3
(MANNED)
Crew
29.5 ft
9 meters
O/A Length
11.8 ft
3.6 meters
O/A Width
7.0 ft
2.14 meters
O/A Height
93,696 lb
42,500 kg | 46.8 tons
Weight
Armament & Ammunition
Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Stridsvagn 103 (Strv 103) (S-Tank) Main Battle Tank (MBT).
1 x 105mm main gun.
1 x 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun.
2 x 7.62mm fixed machine guns in front left hull.
AMMUNITION:
50 x 105mm projectiles.
2,500 x 7.62mm ammunition (estimated).
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Stridsvagn 103 (Strv 103) (S-Tank) family line.
Strv 103- Base Series Designation
Strv 103B - More powerful Rolls-Royce or Caterpillar engine of 490 horsepower introduced.
Strv 103C - Upgrade program; Detroit Diesel 6V53T engine of 290 horsepower OR Caterpillar 553 gas turbine engine of 490 horsepower.
Strv 103D - Upgrade program; single prototype
Authored By: Dan Alex | Last Edited: 02/13/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Swedish-originated Stridsvagn 103 (Strv 103) - also known as the "S-Tank") was one of the more extreme departures from conventional main battle tank design during the Cold War years. Still classified as a Main Battle Tank (MBT), the Strv 103 did away with a traditional turret mounting the main gun armament, instead opting for a lower profile design which could be embedded into earthen ditches and utilized in a defensive manner against incoming enemy armor. As such, the Strv 103 tank was developed along the lines of defensive positioning doctrine, its main gun set directly into the hull.

This compact approach allowed for an operating crew of just three personnel, the first two crew in the forward hull and the remaining crewmember positioned in the rear hull, facing rear, complete with a full driving console allowing the vehicle to be piloted in a rearwards motion should the vehicle be required to flee, the main armament still pointed at the enemy. The crew included a driver (doubling as the gunner), the vehicle commander and a radio-operator (doubling as the rear-facing driver). The hull was armored up to 100mm and could be made amphibious with approximately 25 minutes required for preparation.

All Strv 103s were fitted with a dozer blade for which to dig out earth. The low profile nature of the vehicle allowed for a harder target to enemy guns. The obvious drawback to the design lay in its fixed main gun which required the entire vehicle to be turned to face the enemy. The tank was designed to replace British Centurions which stocked the Swedish Army inventory at the time. Main armament of the Swedish successor was the 105mm Bofors L/62 rifled gun. This was coupled to two fixed 7.62mm KSP 58 machine guns with an optional KSP 58 MG serving as an Anti-Aircraft (AA) measure. The main gun was mated to an auto-loading feature which allowed the crew number to be kept to a minimum.

Production of Strv 103s spanned from 1967 to 1971 with 290 units completed. The Strv 103 never saw combat service. All S-Tanks were eventually removed and retired from service by 1997 as the Swedes adopted the excellent German Leopard 2 MBT in its place.

Three major marks of the Strv 103 ultimately emerged. The Strv 103A was outfitted with either a Rolls-Royce K60 diesel engine of 240 horsepower or a Boeing GT502 gas turbine of 300 horsepower. The Strv 103B followed with either a Rolls-Royce K60 diesel of 240 horsepower or a Caterpillar 553 series gas turbine of 490 horsepower. The Strv 103C was offered a Detroit Diesel 6V53T of 290 horsepower or Caterpillar 553 gas turbine of 490 horsepower. All rode on a gas-hydraulic hydropneumatic suspension system. The powerpacks included a 2 -forward, 2-reverse speed transmission system. Road speeds reached 31 miles per hour with a 240 mile road range. Dimensions included a length of 29 feet, 6 inches, a width of 12 feet and a height of 7 feet.

A D-model was proposed as a new 1990s decade MBT replacement, completed in a single example from a modified Strv 103C, and never adopted.

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Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Stridsvagn 103 (Strv 103) (S-Tank). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.

Total Production: 290 Units

Contractor(s): Bofors - Sweden
National flag of Sweden

[ Sweden ]
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Going Further...
The Stridsvagn 103 (Strv 103) (S-Tank) Main Battle Tank (MBT) appears in the following collections:
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