Swedish Stridsvagn centurion

The centurion in Swedish service

The Swedish Army purchased centurion Mk 3’s & Mk 10’s from the British Defence manufactured by Leyland. They were subsequently modified for the Swedish Army under designation Stridsvagn, and were renumbered upon each upgrade so can be confusing. 

Stridsvagn 81 

 1953-54 Mk 3 Centurions were purchased and 80 delivered with the 90mm/20 pounder 640HP engine modified with Swedish radios and lights.
1956 a further 150(160) were purchased armed with the improved 90mm/20 pounder mark B, again Swedish radios installed. 2 x KSP 7.62 M39 Lmg, two Lyran smoke discharges and barrel fume extractor was also installed.

Stridsvagn 101 

1960-62 purchased mark 10 centurions purchased 75 delivered 1960 and 240 delivered 1961. The Mk 10 Centurions armed with the L7/105mm gun and larger 650HP engine and up-armoured. The Swedes then equipped with Swedish communications equipment, 2 KSP x 7.62 M39 Lmg and 2 Lyran smoke discharges.

Stridsvagn 101R 

Stridsvagn 101 upgraded between 1983-87 with night vision, target system, laser range finder and gun stabiliser equipment. Changed track skirt and ERA blocks added.

Stridsvagn 102 

Stridsvagn 81-Centurion Mk 3 upgraded in between 1964-65 with L7/105 mm main gun along with lights, track and engine upgrade so parts were fully interchangeable between stridsvagn marks. 

Stridsvagn 102R 

Stridsvagn 102 upgraded between 1983-87 with night vision, target system, laser range finder and gun stabiliser equipment. 

Stridsvagn 104 

 80 Stridsvagn 102 upgraded between 1983-87 with night vision, target system, laser range finder and gun stabiliser equipment, barrel thermal sleeves and thermal lined exhaust system, improved continental engine and Allison automatic gearbox. Changed engine deck. Received the mark 10 armour upgrade to 200mm and additional ERA blocks and new spaced track skirt armour. Upgraded bank of six smoke discharges and two mortars. 

Stridsvagn 105 Stridsvagn 102R Prototype only
Stridsvagn 105 Stridsvagn 101R Prototype only

Bärgningsbandvagn 81 

Centurion ARV 13 mark 3 and mark 10 were purchased 

Final mark

The final Centurion model used was the Stridsvagn 104. They looked at changes and modifications around the world to the centurion, Häggluns and Sonner AB were chosen to perform the upgrades locally. The new upgraded 104 almost looked like the Israeli Sho’t,  was fitted with a new upgraded reactive armour, new continental diesel engine and transmission together with an Allison automatic gear-box. It was still armed with a L7/105 mm main gun with upgraded targeting system computer, gun stabilisation, barrel thermal sleeves and thermal exhaust covers. The 2 x 7.62 mm machine guns remained the same, an additional two illumination HE round mortar dischargers fitted to the top of the turret. The vehicle remained the same a standard crew of four – commander, gunner and loader in the turret, plus the driver in the hull. It has an increased top road speed of 50 kph with an on-road & off-road range of 300km & 120 km, with a combat weight of 54 tonnes. This model last seen service in the reserves in 2000. 

I plan to add three companies of a mix of the 101R and 102R to my collection. 

Cheers

Matt