History
Sweden pursues a policy of neutrality in diplomacy and is known for its strong defense and independent weapons development.
Strasbon M/42 medium tank used by the Swedish Army since 1943
The British Centurion tank was one of the pillars of Swedish armament after World War II
At the end of World War II, when the Cold War began, Sweden adopted a stricter policy of neutrality, such as not joining NATO, which most of the Western European countries at that time participated in. However, Sweden learned the lessons of the Second World War and decided to independently develop its own weapons and equipment.
Sweden's post-war armaments were not limited to indigenous weapons. After the war, Kungliga Arméförvaltningens Tygavdelning (KAFFT), who was in charge of Swedish armaments, concluded that the most cost-effective way to ensure tank power was to introduce british centurion Mk.3. However, the UK said meeting britain's military needs was a top priority and would not be able to export to Sweden in 5-15 years.
KRV tank model, cancelled development due to the introduction of the Centurion tank
KAFT, which was responsible for Swedish armaments, began developing its own tank KRV (Kranvagn) in 1951 and negotiated with France to introduce the AMX-13 light tank. However, at this time the British suddenly offered to sell the Centurion tank and signed a contract with Sweden in 1953, which led to the cancellation of the KRV project and the breakdown of negotiations with France. Sweden launched the Centurion Mk.3 as Stridsvagn 81, or Strv 81 for short.
THE DEVELOPER OF THE KRV, AB LANDSVERK, INTENDS TO DEVELOP A SELF-PROPELLED GUN CALLED AKV151 USING THE KRAV BODY. Developed using two previously produced KRV chassis, AB Lansberg developed a 155 mm gun self-propelled gun system.
Prototype of the Akv 151 self-propelled howitzer developed using the KRV tank body
In 1960, a new prototype of a self-propelled gun using the KRV fuselage was developed. The new self-propelled gun was renamed bandcanon 1, abbreviated as Bkan, which means track-mounted cannon in English.
However, the Swedish Ministry of Defence wants it to remain a generic version of the Strv 103 (S tank) tank being developed. The Type S tank features a twin-engine system with diesel and gas turbine engines, so the Bandcanon 1 followed suit.
The Swedish Army requires the new self-propelled howitzer to have a high rate of fire. During the Cold War, the Swedish Army did not have multiple rocket launchers like the Soviet BM-21 Grad. Due to the relatively small number of troops, the scalability of the weapon platform cannot be too large, so it is necessary to make a single platform capable of performing multiple tasks.
High rates of fire require rapid reloading, which involves placing multiple shells in a loading box at once and loading them into the machine. Unlike NATO's 155mm self-propelled guns, which are separate from their charge, the Swedish artillery's shells use one-piece shells, so it has a high rate of fire that can fire 14 shells in 45 seconds.
Sweden gained the ability to develop nuclear weapons, but abandoned it because of anti-nuclear public opinion. The R1 reactor installed at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm is shown
The Swedish Army plans to use the Vandkanon 1 self-propelled howitzer as a means of delivering and firing nuclear shells. Sweden has been secretly developing nuclear weapons since the end of World War II. In 1954, he unveiled a nuclear development program aimed at possessing nuclear weapons.
Sweden had the potential to produce nuclear weapons around 1955, but in the 1960s, when the anti-nuclear movement among Swedish politicians spread, public perception of nuclear weapons declined. It acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968 and formally abandoned its nuclear program in 1972.
Mass-produced Bandcanon 1 with S-type tank drivetrain
After the completion of development in 1965, the Swedish Army evaluated the prototype, was satisfied with its performance and decided to introduce 70 units. However, due to budgetary problems, only 26 units were purchased. Band Kanon 1 was later renamed Band Kanon 1A. From the early 1980s onwards, the engine was replaced, the navigation system was improved, and the improved vehicle was named bandkanon 1C. The Bandkanon 1C served in the Swedish Army until 2003.
features
The Bandcanon 1 has the general form of a self-propelled howitzer with a turret located on top of the hull, but it has some unique features. Bandcanon 1 is operated by five people: commander, pilot, gunner, ammunition officer and radio operator.
The body was developed on the basis of the S tank. The S tank weighed only about 37 tons when it was developed, but the BANDCANON 1 was equipped with a larger gun and turret, so it weighed up to 53 tons. The drive wheels were increased to 6 to support the heavy weight. In addition, there are no guide wheels that are typically equipped with tracked vehicles.
The two engines are located in the center of the front of the body, followed by the cockpit. There is a periscope in front of the cockpit hatch that allows you to see from the inside out. The body armor is 10 to 20 mm thick and can protect against shell fragments.
The engine has unique configurations, including a 240 hp Rolls-Royce K60 six-cylinder diesel engine and a 300 hp Boeing GT502/10MA gas turbine. In the improved Vandron 1C, the diesel engine was replaced by the 290-horsepower Detroit Diesel 6V53T.
The top speed of the road is only 28 km / h, the maximum speed of the open air is 9 km / h, and the mileage is 230 km/ h. The fuselage is 6.55 meters long, 11 meters including the barrel, 3.37 meters wide, and 3.25 meters high above the turret.
The turret at the rear of the hull is divided into left and right sections centered on the gun. Both entrances are in front. The commander, gunner, and radio operator are on the left side of the turret, and the ammunition officer who is also an anti-aircraft machine gunner is on the right side of the turret. Above the turret is a periscope for forward viewing, at an angle of about 45 and 90 degrees, with a hatch above. Behind the hatch on the left side of the turret is an additional periscope.
Bandcanon 1 ammunition loading
The gun is 155 mm 50 times the diameter and uses a mechanical loader. The maximum range is 25.6 km and it takes 48 seconds to fire 14 shells. The gun has a movement elevation angle of -3° to +40°, and the turret can move 15° from side to side.
Bandcanon 1 shell magazine
Shell casings discharged after shell firing
Bandcanon 1C was improved in the 1980s with the introduction of pos-2 systems for navigation, positioning, and orientation determination.
Improved Bandcanon 1C
The health status
The BANDCANON 1 self-propelled gun was deployed in Sweden alone with 26 guns. An artillery regiment of the Swedish Army was equipped with bandcanon 1. Beginning in the early 1980s, work was carried out to replace the diesel engine and add a navigation system, upgrading to the Bandcanon 1C. Bandcanon 1 was fully retired in 2003.
Upgrades and variants
Akv (Artillerikanonvagn) 151: AB Lansberg used a prototype of a 155 mm self-propelled gun developed using the KRV tank body
The Akv 151 self-propelled howitzer manufactured prior to the development of the Bandcanon 1 self-propelled howitzer
The production version of the Bandkanon 1: Akv 151 self-propelled howitzer was replaced with an S tank chassis and renamed the Bandkanon 1A.
Bandcanon 1A self-propelled howitzer with automatic loader
Vandcanon 1C, an improved version of the 1980s diesel engine and navigation system
The Bandcanon 1C self-propelled howitzer does not come with a loading crane