Stridsvagn 74

Infobox Weapon
name=Stridsvagn 74


caption=Strv 74 at the military history museum in Boden.
origin=SWE
type=Tank
is_vehicle=yes
service= 1958 - 1984
used_by=
wars=
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=
unit_cost=
production_date=
number=
variants= 74 H, 74 V
crew=4 (commander, driver, gunner, loader)
length=6.08 m
7.93 m (including gun)
width=2.43 m
height=3.00 m
weight=26 tonnes
armour=?
primary_armament=7.5 cm kanon strv 74
secondary_armament=2×8 mm ksp m/39 strv
engine=Gasoline, 2×Scania-Vabis 607
engine_power=170 hp (127 kW) each
transmission=
fuel_capacity=
suspension=Torsion beam suspension
speed=45 km/h
pw_ratio=13.08 hp/tonne
vehicle_range=?

Stridsvagn 74 (strv 74) was a Swedish tank in use with the Swedish Army from 1958 to 1984. It was a modification of the older stridsvagn m/42 which was phased out of service in the 1950s. Instead of scrapping the vehicles altogether, the chassis were used to build a new tank which could be used as a supplement to the newly bought stridsvagn 101. The turret of strv 74 was completely new, with a 75 mm high-velocity gun based on an old anti-aircraft gun, engines and transmission were modified or changed from the strv m/42, broader tracks and a separate electrical engine for the turret rotation was introduced while retaining the manual control as a backup.

Use

Stridsvagn 74 was used as a main battle tank in the Swedish Army armoured brigades the first few years until it was replaced by stridsvagn 102 and 103. It was then used in independent corps tank companies, and even later degraded to the infantry support role in assault gun companies before being phased out of service in 1981 (strv 74 V) and 1984 (strv 74 H). The turrets were retained and later used as fixed coastal artillery in Sweden.

Versions

Strv 74 was available in two almost identical versions, strv 74 H and strv 74 V, the only difference being the transmission. The H version was based on the strv m/42 TH, and the V version was based on the strv m/42 TV.

References

;Print
* Porat, Didrik von (1989). "Svenska arméns pansar: den svenska stridsvagnsmaterielens historia." Stockholm: Armémuseum. ISSN 0280-7254

;Online
* Persson, Mats (2000). [http://www.tfd.chalmers.se/~m95perm/fordon/pansar.html Pansarfordon] . Retrieved 12 August, 2006.
*swe icon [http://www.pansarmuseet.se/74.htm Strv 74] from pansarmuseet.se