Development History
Sweden implements a policy of neutrality in diplomacy and is famous for its strong national defense and independent weapons research and development.
The Strasbang M/42 medium tank used by the Swedish Army since 1943
The British Centurion tank was one of the mainstays of Swedish armaments after World War II
After World War II ended When the Cold War began Sweden adopted stricter Neutral policy, such as not joining NATO, while most of the Western European countries at that time participated in NATO. However, Sweden learned the lessons of and in World War II and decided to independently develop its own weapons and equipment.
Sweden’s postwar armaments were not limited to indigenous weapons. After the war, the Kungliga Arméförvaltningens Tygavdelning (KAFFT), who was responsible for Swedish armaments, concluded that the most cost-effective way to ensure the power of the tank was to introduce the British Centurion Mk.3. However, the UK stated that meeting its military needs is a top priority and exports to Sweden will not be possible for 5-15 years.
KRV tank model, development was canceled due to the introduction of the Centurion tank
KAFT, which is responsible for Swedish armaments, began to develop its own tank KRV (Kranvagn) in 1951, and negotiated with France to introduce AMX-13 light tank . However, at this time, the British suddenly proposed to sell Centurion tanks and signed a contract with Sweden in 1953, which led to the cancellation of the KRV project and the breakdown of negotiations with France. The Centurion Mk.3 launched by Sweden was named Stridsvagn 81, or Strv 81 for short.
AB Landsverk, the developer of KRV, intends to develop a self-propelled gun called Akv151 using the KRV body. AB Lansberg has developed a 155mm gun self-propelled artillery system using two previously produced KRV chassis for development.
Akv 151 self-propelled howitzer prototype developed using the KRV tank body
In 1960, a new prototype of the self-propelled howitzer using the KRV body was developed. The new self-propelled gun was renamed Bandcanon 1, abbreviated as Bkan, which in English means track-mounted cannon.
However, the Swedish Ministry of Defense wants to keep it a common type with the Strv 103 (Type S tank) tank that is being developed by . The Type S tank used a dual engine system of 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 a multiple rocket launcher like the Soviet BM-21 Grad. Due to the relatively small number of troops, the weapon platform cannot be too scalable, so it is necessary to create a single platform that can perform multiple tasks.
The high rate of fire requires rapid reloading of , which involves placing multiple shells in the loading box at once and loading them into the machine. is different from NATO's 155mm self-propelled artillery. Their shells and charges are separated, while the Swedish artillery shells use integrated 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 gave it up due to anti-nuclear public opinion. Pictured is the R1 reactor installed at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm
The Swedish Army plans to use the Vandkanon 1 self-propelled howitzer as a means of carrying and launching nuclear artillery shells. Sweden has been secretly developing nuclear weapons since the end of World War II. In 1954, he unveiled a nuclear development plan aimed at possessing nuclear weapons.
Sweden had the potential to produce nuclear weapons around 1955, but in the 1960s an anti-nuclear movement among Swedish politicians spread and public opinion of nuclear weapons declined. It joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968 and officially gave up its nuclear program in 1972.
Mass-produced Bandcanon 1 with S-type tank transmission system
After the development was completed in 1965, the Swedish Army evaluated the prototype, was satisfied with its performance and decided to introduce 70 units. However due to budget issues only 26 units were purchased. Band Kanon 1 was later renamed Band Kanon 1A. Starting in the early 1980s the engine was changed, the navigation system was improved and the improved vehicle was named Bandkanon 1C. The Bandkanon 1C served in the Swedish Army until 2003.
Features
Bandcanon 1 has the general form of a self-propelled howitzer, with the turret on the top of the body, but it has some unique features. Bandcanon 1 is operated by five people: commander, driver, gunner, ammunition officer and radio operator.
The body is developed on the basis of the S tank. The S tank only weighed about 37 tons when developed, but the BANDCANON 1 was equipped with a larger gun and turret, so it weighed 53 tons. driving wheels increased to 6 to support heavy weight. In addition, there are no guide wheels that tracked vehicles are generally equipped with.
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, which allows you to see out from the inside. The thickness of the body armor is 10 to 20 mm, which can protect against shell fragments.
The engine has a unique configuration consisting of a 240-horsepower Rolls-Royce K60 six-cylinder diesel engine and a 300-horsepower Boeing GT502/10MA gas turbine . In the improved Vandron 1C, the diesel engine was replaced by the 290-horsepower Detroit Diesel 6V53T.
The maximum speed on the road is only 28 kilometers/hour, the maximum speed on the open air is 9 kilometers/hour, and the cruising range is 230 kilometers. The fuselage is 6.55 meters long, 11 meters including the gun barrel, 3.37 meters wide, and 3.25 meters high above the turret.
The turret located at the rear of the car body is divided into left and right parts with the gun as the center. Both entrances are at the front. The commander, gunner and radio operator were on the left side of the turret, and the ammunition officer, who was also the anti-aircraft gunner, was on the right side of the turret. Above the turret is a periscope for forward viewing at angles of approximately 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 155mm 50 times caliber and uses a mechanical loader. The maximum range is 25.6 kilometers, and it takes 48 seconds to fire 14 rounds. The gun can move at an elevation angle of -3° to +40°, and the turret can move left and right by 15°.
Bandcanon 1 Artillery shell clip
Artillery shell casing ejected after firing
Bandcanon 1C was improved in the 1980s with the introduction of the POS-2 system for navigation, positioning and direction determination.
Improved Bandcanon 1C
Operational status
BANDCANON 1 self-propelled artillery, only 26 are deployed in Sweden. A artillery regiment of the Swedish Army is equipped with BANDCANON 1. Starting in the early 1980s, work was carried out to replace the diesel engine and add a navigation system, and the was upgraded to Bandcanon 1C. Bandcanon 1 was fully retired in 2003.
Upgraded and derivative models
Akv (Artillerikanonvagn) 151: AB Prototype of the 155 mm self-propelled gun developed by Lansberg using the KRV tank body
Akv 151 self-propelled howitzer built before the development of the Bandcanon 1 self-propelled howitzer
Bandkanon 1: Production version of the Akv 151 self-propelled howitzer Replaced with Type S tank chassis and renamed Bandkanon 1A.
Bandcanon 1A self-propelled howitzer with automatic loader
Vandcanon 1C, Modified version of the 1980s diesel engine and navigation system
Bandcanon 1C self-propelled howitzer without loading crane
