Stridsvagn m/42 Swedish Medium Tank
The Stridsvagn m/42 (abbreviated Strv m/42) was the principal medium tank of Sweden during the later years of the Second World War and into the early Cold War.
Development and Design
The Strv m/42 was developed by the Swedish company AB Landsverk as a response to the limitations of earlier tanks such as the Strv m/41. Sweden, maintaining neutrality during World War II, sought to modernize its armoured forces in light of rapidly advancing tank technology abroad.
The design emphasized mobility, reliability, and ease of production rather than heavy armour or firepower. It featured a welded hull and a cast turret, with relatively thin armor (up to about 55 mm).
Armament and Mobility
The main armament was a 75 mm gun (kanon m/41), capable of engaging contemporary armored vehicles and infantry support targets. Secondary armament typically included multiple machine guns for close defense.
One of the most distinctive aspects of the Strv m/42 was its propulsion system. Early variants used a complex twin-engine arrangement paired with an electric transmission system intended to improve control and drivability. However, this system proved mechanically unreliable and difficult to maintain. Later versions were fitted with a more conventional mechanical transmission, improving operational dependability.
Postwar Development
By the 1950s, the Strv m/42 was becoming obsolete compared to more heavily armed and armoured tanks emerging internationally. However, rather than being immediately retired, many were upgraded into the Stridsvagn 74 (Strv 74), which featured a new turret and a more powerful 75 mm gun. This modernization extended the service life of the chassis well into the 1960s and 1970s.
Photographs of the Stridsvagn m/42
Strv m/42
Bärgningsbandvagn m42
The Bärgningsbandvagn m/42 (Bgbv m/42) was a Swedish armoured recovery vehicle developed from the chassis of the Stridsvagn m/42.
The Bgbv m/42 was equipped with:
- A heavy-duty winch for towing and pulling disabled vehicles
- A crane or lifting apparatus for engine changes and repairs
- Tools and fittings for field maintenance
Broläggningsbandvagn m/42 Bridge Layer
A prototype for bridging based on the medium-heavy tank chassis Stridsvagn m/42, developed by Landsverk during the 1940s. The vehicle was intended to increase the mobility of the mechanized battalion by overcoming obstacles, but was never taken into operational service.
Coastal Defence
As the Strv m/42 was gradually phased out or rebuilt into the later Stridsvagn 74, a number of its original turrets found a secondary role in Sweden’s coastal defence network. These turrets were removed from their chassis and emplaced in fixed fortifications along key stretches of the Swedish coastline. Mounted in reinforced concrete positions, they functioned as static gun emplacements, providing a low-profile and well-protected means of defending against amphibious landings.
Experimental Turret 7.5cm Turret
Strv m42 DT
