Swedish Terrängbil m/42

 

 Swedish Terrängbil m/42 

Completed the Gecko heavy industries miniatures 1/72 Swedish Terrängbil m/42, a reasonable kit that requires some care to assemble, and requires. Hand rails to be added with wire or plastic sprue. A simple medium green with panel lining and some weathering chalks, Although I think I will add the panel lines again as they seem to be lost with the matt varnish. Stowage a mix of plastic and SHQ bits, Overall though quite happy, I have two more to build of these for my Swedes, one will join UNOC for my Congo project. 

Cheers

Matt 

Terrängbil m/42 Armoured cars Part 1

Terrängbil m/42 ONUC

As part of the Congo build I am planning to build some equipment for my Swedes. In the stash I have a Terrängbil Gecko Heavy Industries model, I will paint it UN white along with a few jeeps, a VW ambulance, two trucks and a M8 Armoured car. 

Two terrängbil m/42 SKPF advancing upon Kaminaville, with two Swedish Pansarbil M8 during the Congo CrisIs

The Strivsvagen 103 Swedish army project

The S Tank 

Possibly the most recognisable cold war tank the Strivsvagen 103 or S tank. Work on improving the Strv S finally ended in March of 1966. A year later, in September of 1967, the tank was accepted into service. It received the index Strv 103, although Bofors documents kept calling it Strv S for some time. Ten years of work were not wasted: the army received an unusual, but technically excellent vehicle, ideally suitable for fighting in Scandinavia.

A big Cold War favourite of mine, I have six S Diecast tanks in my collection and one plastic with dozer blade, I have given them a repaint then gloss varnish, wash and weathered them so they all match. 

Photos to come! 

Cheers

Matt

Part Three - Whisky on the Rocks - Swedish order of Battle

Invasion of Gotland 1981

Part Three

“Admiral Ivan Kapitanets was relieved the briefing was over, finally his command will launch its offensive against the west, the but first the Swedish island of Gotland needed to be taken, he would leave the political animal Major General Vladimir Platov’s 11th Guards army to take the mainland, but his Naval Infantry would take the key to the eastern Baltic, the island of Gotland. Then the placing of  surface to Air missile batteries to control the skies over the baltic and Northern Europe.” 

Well I have been giving thoughts towards my Cold War game next year and a linked Cold War weekend war game. The weekends gaming will be a what if invasion of Gotland circa October 1981. For those with long memories a Soviet Nuclear Submarine S363 grounded itself  off the coast of Sweden in October 1981. 

The Gotland Regiment 

Major General COL Lars-Eric Wahlgren

PB 18 - Gotland Brigade in Visby:Headquarters and Staff Company

1st Armored Battalion 

with a staff company, 12x Stridsvagn 102R centurion tanks in one company, 28x KP-car m/42 wheeled armoured personnel carriers and 24x Rifle Squads with 8x Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless rifles in two companies, 4x M/40 105mm howitzers in an artillery battery and a logistic company

2nd Armored Battalion with a staff company, 

12x Stridsvagn 102R centurion tanks in one company, 28x KP-car m/42 wheeled armoured personnel carriers and 24x Rifle Squads with 8x Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless rifles in two companies, 4x M/40 105mm howitzers in an artillery battery and a logistic company

3rd Armored Battalion 

with a staff company, 12x Stridsvagn 102R centurion tanks in one company, 28x KP-car m/42 wheeled armoured personnel carriers and 24x Rifle Squads with 8x Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless rifles in two companies, 4x M/40 105mm howitzers in an artillery battery and a logistic company

Artillery Battalion

with 12x 155mm Haubits m/F towed howitzers in three batteries

18th Armored Reconnaissance Company 

6x KP-car m/42 wheeled armoured personnel carriers, 12x Jeeps, 12x Recon Teams, 2x Rifle Squads and 4x Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless rifles

18th Anti-tank Company 

with m/48 recoilless rifles and Bantam anti-tank missiles
18th Engineer Company
Logistic Battalion

KA 3 - Gotland Coastal Artillery Regiment

In Fårösund trained and fielded a wide variety of units, which in case of war would have come under direct command of the Gotland Military Command: three mobile Coastal Guard Platoons (Sjöbevakningspluton) armed with light Robot 17 anti-ship missiles. One heavy anti-ship missile battery armed with Robot 08 missiles. 

The 7th Coastal Artillery Battery 

In Bunge with 3x mobile 152mm M/37 cannons. Besides these mobile units the regiment also controlled the following fixed artillery positions: 4x batteries of three 75mm Tornpjäs m/57 automatic guns each at Kappelshamn, Ljugarn and St Olofsholm on Gotland and at Ryssnäs on Fårö, 1x battery of three 120mm Tornautomatpjäs m/70 automatic guns at Slite and 1x battery of three twin-barreled 152mm Kustartilleripjäs m/51 heavy coastal artillery guns at Bungenäs. Furthermore, the regiment trained a few smaller units, which maintained minefields with controlled mines along the coast of Gotland and Fårö. Additionally the regiment fielded a limited number of 75mm m/65 automatic cannons, which were a mobile version of the 75mm Tornpjäs m/57 automatic guns and the small minelayer HSwMS Fårösund (16).

Lv 2 - Gotland Anti-Aircraft Battalion 

In Visby with Robot 69 and Robot 70 man-portable surface-to-air missiles, as well as 20mm lvakan m/40-70 and 40mm lvakan m/48 anti-aircraft autocannons.

4th Independent Armored Battalion 

In  Visby with a staff company, 12x Stridsvagn 102R centurion tanks in one company, 28x KP-car m/42 wheeled armoured personnel carriers and 24x Rifle Squads with 8x Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless rifles in two companies, 4x M/40 105mm howitzers in an artillery battery and a logistic company

5th Independent Armored Battalion 

In Fårösund with a staff company, 12x Stridsvagn 102R centurion tanks in one company, 28x KP-car m/42 wheeled armoured personnel carriers and 24x Rifle Squads with 8x Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless rifles in two companies, 4x M/40 105mm howitzers in an artillery battery and a logistic company

32:a Gotlandsbataljonen (the 32nd Gotland battalion)

Thee armored brigade thus became reorganized into five large battalions with KP-bil(instead of bicycles) with each two companies of either tank destroyers Stridsvagn 74. During the 1970s, the brigade was re-armored with Stridsvagn 102, which, like the KP-bil, underwent a renovation in the 1980s.

Gotland Regiment (P 18), Gotland Artillery Regiment (A 7) and Gotland Anti-Aircraft Battalion (Lv 2)

Visby
Faro island anti shipping defenses 

Local defence company 

Hopefully that makes sense in someway, I will break these into Rapid Fire Able Archer Organisation next 

Cheers

Matt

Part two - Whisky on the Rocks - Soviet order of battle

 

Soviet Order of Battle  

Invasion of Gotland 1981

Part two 

“Admiral Ivan Kapitanets stared at the map of the island of Gotland. Preoccupied with his primary concern; The naval spetsnaz operatives actions against the strike capability of the Swedish Airforce and the anti ship missile defences on Faro Island. He pondered, if the planned operation was only partially a success, would the remainder go to plan, and from past experience nothing ever goes to plan….” 

336th Independent Naval Guards Brigade 

The 336th consisted of four battalions, one heliborne air landing  and three battalions of Naval Infantry equipped with the amphibious BTR 60 armored personnel carriers, a tank battalion with two companies of PT-76 amphibious light tanks and a company of T-55 main battle tanks. Artillery support was provided by a battery of BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers, Nona and Gvozdika SP guns and a battery of anti-tank guided missiles, while air defense consisted of a platoon of ZSU-23-4 Shilka anti-aircraft guns and a platoon of 9K31 Strela-1 surface-to-air missiles. Support units included support, reconnaissance, engineer, and NBC defense companies. 

336th Independent Naval Guards Brigade 

Order of Battle

877th Naval Infantry Battalion
878th Naval Infantry Battalion
879th Naval (Air Landing) Infantry Battalion
884th Naval Infantry Battalion
112th Tank Battalion 

887th Reconnaissance Battalion
1612th Artillery Battalion
1618th Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion
1615th Multi-Rocket Launcher Artillery Battalion
1621st Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion

40 T-55, 26 PT-76, 96 BTR-80, 64 BTR-60, 18 2s1 Gvozdika, 24 2s9 Nona, 18 BM-21 Grad, 15 MT-LBT, 3 PRP-3 Forward Observor , 3 PU-12, 1 BTR-60PU, 7 R-145BM, 6 1V119, 3 1V18, 1 1V19, 1 BTR-70KSh, 

Able Archer order of battle 336th Naval Guards Brigade 

Brigade HQ 

BTR 60 R-145BM command vehicle CO + radio + 5

BTR 80 ZS88 PSYOP vehicle PO + NKGB platoon, 

MTLB  ambulance OC + 2 medics 

Ural 4320 supply truck

561st "Maritime Recon” (Spetsnaz) battalion 

HQ coy 

CO+RO SA-7 team (2 figures), 4 figures medic, sniper, radio ops

I companies 

8 figures spetsnaz RPG and LMG

II company 

8 figures spetsnaz RPG and LMG 

Regiment HQ:

BTR 60 PU-12 command vehicle 

- regimental commander +3

- SA-7 team (2 figures)

Naval Infantry battalions

877th Naval infantry 

Battalion HQ Company:

- BTR-60/8 Regimental CO + radio, sniper, medic, SA-7 team (2 figures)

3 Companies:

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

Support Company:

MT-LB 9 figures with 120mm mortar, AT-4 and SPG-9

878th Naval infantry battalion 

Battalion HQ Company:

- BTR-60/8 Regimental CO + radio, sniper, medic, SA-7 team (2 figures)

3 Companies:

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

Support Company:

MTL- B 9 figures with 120mm mortar, AT-4 and SPG-9

879th Naval Air landing battalion 

Regimental CO + radio, sniper, medic, SA-7 team (2 figures)

3 Companies:

7 figures with RPG and LMG

7 figures with RPG and LMG

7 figures with RPG and LMG

Support Company:

9 figures with 120mm mortar, AT-4 and SPG-9

884th Naval infantry battalion 

Battalion HQ Company:

- BTR-60/8 Regimental CO + radio, sniper, medic, SA-7 team (2 figures)

3 Companies:

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

Support Company:

MT-LB 9 figures with 120mm mortar, AT-4 and SPG-9

112th Tank Battalion 

BHQ 1 x T55 AD (DRZOD APS) BTR60 P

I Company

      1 x TO55 (flamethrower)

      2 x T55 AD (DRZOD APS) 

II company 

2 x PT76 

III Company

2 PT-76B

887th Reconnaissance battalion:

HQ company 1 x BDRM 2, 1x BTR 60 PU radio 

 I company

1 x BDRM 2

II company 

1 x PT-76B 

1612 Artillery battalion 

HQ 

Observor PRP-3 VAL

I Battery 

2 x 2S9 Nona 

II Battery 

1 x 2s1 Gvozdika 

Engineer Company:

PTS M 7 figures, rpg, lmg

BTR 50 UR67 (mine clearance rocket) 

1621st Anti tank battery 

BRDM-2 with AT-3

1618th AA Battery:

HQ coy BTR 60 PU 4 figs 

I battery SA-9 Gaskin 4 figs

II battery 1 x ZSU-23-4

1618th MLRS Battery:

HQ Gaz -66 IV19 radio command vehicle 

 2 x BM-21 Grad MLRS 4 crew

Tactical air support 

Observer BTR 60 R-975M1

71st red star landing brigade

The Ondatra class Soviet designation Project 1176 Akula LCT

(Landing craft, can carry two T-55, two APC or trucks or 50 infantry). 

Ropucha class LCM

Korolev, Minsk, Kaliningrad, Pyotr Morgunov, Georgy Pobedonosets

Baltic Fleet Naval Aviation  

689th Fighter Aviation Regiment SU27
4th Naval Attack Aviation Regiment SU24
125th Independent Helicopter Squadron Mi8 and Mi24
398th Transport Aviation Squadron Mi8

Cheers

Matt

Research 

Russian

Swedish Army Project - Volvo c303 pansarvarnspjasterrangbil part two

Finally completed this during the week during my down time between guests I have been airbrushing and catching up on my kit builds during the year. I do need to add crew from elhiem when I find them in the pile of opportunity. 

The Volvo c303 pansarvarnspjasterrangbil was armed with a Pvpj 1110 90 mm recoil-less antitank gun. I picked up the Gecko models 1/72 model last year and finally assembled it this week for Mad March build, so has been a while between build and painted but until I complete the renovations on my workshop upstairs I will need to be patient until I get my airbrush studio space completed. 

This chap will join my Swedes in the anti armour platoon of my infantry regiment for my Cold War game later in the year. 

Cheers

Matt

Swedish Army Project - Volvo C303 TBG 11 part two

 Additions for my Swedish army is a passenger truck, the Volvo C303 TGB11 these small vehicles were commonly referred to as the Puppy in Swedish service and were used in a variety of uses. 

The PLTGB 903 was designed and built by Volvo and was designated the Laplander L3314. It came in hard top, soft top and the specialized anti tank version. I picked up the Gecko heavy industries model, which to be frank is not that good for its price, with lots of air bubbles and a clear cabin in very hard resin. See my previous kit review Here 

I am quite happy with the result though and was a simple dark green airbrush job then hand painted windscreens, tactical signs and lights etc. 

Cheers

Matt

Swedish Army Project - volvo c303 pansarvarnspjasterrangbil -Gecko 1/72 Kit review

Volvo C303 Pansarvärnspjästerrängbil

As I start preparing for the Analogue painting challenge I have been focusing on building kits for our “Whisky on the Rocks” Cold War Wargames Holiday from in October 2024. My Swedes need quite a bit of anti armour to deal with the Soviet VDV division that will oppose them. The 

Volvo C303 Pansarvärnspjästerrängbil 1/72 Gecko Resin kit

Another kit review of Gecko Heavy Industries 1/76th scale resin kit. The Volvo C303 Pansarvärnspjästerrängbil 90mm recoiless anti tank gun. The only model of this kit that I am aware of for 20mm wargaming, I needed to purchase this for my Swedes for our Cold War event “Whisky on the Rocks” at French Wargame Holidays 4-7th October 2024. 

The kit is resin with four options for the build, a complete clear resin cabin with stowed gun,  a half cabin with stowed gun, a windscreen with roll cage mounted or a firing version with folded down screen and roll frame. 

The resin spruces were simple to remove, do take care though with assembly as the instructions are not that clear, and you will require a few images from the web to fully assemble it correctly, particularly the gun mount. The roll cage will need some work if you are to get close to an actual vehicle, so I opted to fold mine down in the firing version. The clear parts are not that great and I think I will scratch a new windscreen(which will be folded down anyway…. The front seats were also incorrect from what I could see, so I trimmed the kit pieces to suit. Overall a 8.5 out of 10. 

The kit was €22 from panzerfux and worth the price I think as it is such a rare beast. Looking forward to getting some paint on it and I will possibly convert some S&S miniatures Swedish crew. 

Volvo C303 Pansarvärnspjästerrängbil Layed out

Cheers

Matt

Volvo c303 Tbg11 - Gecko Kit Review

 Volvo c303 Tbg11 - Gecko Kit Review 

Gecko Heavy Industries Volvo C303 TGB11

I purchased this beast earlier in the year when I started formulating a plan to conduct a Cold War wargaming event at French Wargame Holidays, this lead to our “Whisky on the Rocks” event being organized for October 4-7th 2024. 

This also means I need to build some Swedish Army vehicles for my Cold War Collection. Soft skins are a bit of a challenge, particularly the Volvo series of vehicles. So whilst perusing the web I stumbled upon the Gecko offering and duly purchased it along with a few other Swedish specific pieces. 

On first glance the kit is well cast in soft grey resin with two parts in clear resin. Removal from the sprue was done with ease for the grey parts however the clear was a tough job and I had to use my saw blade to remove the sprue from the main body, this was a challenge as the clear plastic was tough…. 

Assembly required hot water to straighten some pieces, the frame and suspension required quite a bit of work to straighten before I glued the frame. The clear resin is very disappointing and I cannot in anyway say that it is satisfactory, I think I shall paint the entire vehicle then add glass effect rather than mask it up and hope that it is translucent. 

Positives the kit looks like the vehicle but lacks fine detail for such a pricey kit €22 from Panzerfux. The instructions are basic with no images, but simple enough to work out. 

Negatives

Annoying small bubbles on the cabin and the solid clear resin body was problematic fitting and cutting, taking more than an hour of clean up fully. I do note that this was Gecko Industries earliest model and the later kits have separate clear parts. 

Overall a 7 out of ten kit. I plan to get some paint on it next week. 

The kit removed from sprue, note the alignment on the chassis 

Note the huge sprue knob on the clear cast resin 

Piece removed, then wet and dry to smooth to level, a good hour of work 

Cheers

Matt 

Whisky on the Rocks - Invasion of Gotland 1981, outline

French Wargame Holidays Wargames 

Campaign Weekend 4-7th October 2024

Summer 1981 - “Admiral Ivan Kapitanets was relieved the briefing was over, finally the command to launch the offensive against the West.  The political animal Major General Vladimir Platov’s 11th Guards army is to take the southern Swedish mainland. His Naval Infantry command to the island of Gotland; the key to the eastern Baltic. Then there establish the installation of  Surface to Air missile batteries, controlling  the skies over the baltic and Northern Europe.” We are coming….

I have been thinking about the Cold War and new Wargame to close the 2024 Wargame Holidays.  A Long weekend of Cold War Wargaming. The weekend gaming scenario - “What if the invasion of Gotland circa October 1981?  For those with long memories a Soviet Nuclear Whisky class Submarine S363 grounded itself  off the coast of Sweden in October 1981.  The Swedes decide they want to to keep the grounded submarine and stop it from departing until investigations were completed. 

The game plays out the scenario’s :  The Russians commence operations to recover the submarine and invade Gotland and Mainland Sweden. The game will concentrate on the Russian invasion of Gotland, with airborne and amphibious landings.  The goal to take out the Swedish early warning radar, air assets, and the Naval gun 152mm emplacements defending the ports and channel. Capture the port, airfield and barracks of Visby, Närs coast guard base, the island of Faro with its anti shipping missile batteries and take out the Bunge airfield, all before the Swedish Marine and army reserve can arrive to tip the balance. 

I have researched available 1981 orders of Battle to create the game. To expand the scenario to a weekend game, some elements will take place on the board game ‘Next War, Deadly Northern Lights’. This will track off table Air assets, naval combat and reserves before the game commences etc. The table top will fight the ground actions with or without air support as per earlier map movement.

Gaming across 3 - 4 tables, broken into three phases, the opening moves are VDV spetsnaz assaults on radar installations, electrical supply, communications and the air bases. Followed by missile bombardment of the air bases, the VDV parachute - air landing assault, and Marine Sea landings. Each will carry over casualties and losses so the order of battle will be fluid. Each phase has the possibility to include a reinforcement phase for each side.  

Sign up to my blog to stay tuned for my next article covering 

 # The breakdown of the Orders of Battle

 # The tables layout using Force on Force special forces games. 

 # The order of Battle for the small element games

 # Rapid Fire Able Archer for the larger games. 

To enquire about booking contact me 

Email lhoteldeherce@orange.fr 

FB Messenger

Mobile - +33 06 45 40 30 50 & What’s App

French Wargame Holidays

Cheers 

Matt Williamson 

Swedish Army Project - 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. I am planning a company of Strivsvagen 81 and a company of Strivsvagen 101. 

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

Saab Viggen WIP 2

 Whilst I was in Newark I visited the air museum to get a few photos for reference, another great example was a Saab Viggen which is one of my Cold War jet builds this year. This is the only example of this jet in the UK and I was really interested in getting a good look at the iconic “splinter pattern” and markings worn by the AJSH variant. 

Looking at CyberModeller the colours are 

Vallejo Air colours 

Black                      71-057 Black

Dark Green             71-924 US forest green Matt

Sierra tan                 71-125 USAF brown 

Gray                        71-312 IJN medium green 

Light green             71-137 US light green 

Silver                       71-072 gun metal 

Not looking forward to the airbrush template cutting for this beast! 

Cheers

Matt

Saab Viggen WIP

 

 Saab Viggen WIP

Another aircraft for my Swedish army, a Saab Viggen from Airfix again straight out of the box. A simple build with very few fitting problems (body and wings needed clamping) we shall see how the decals hold up when I paint it in late April. 

Cheers 

Matt 

Saab Draken WIP

 

 Saab Draken wip part 1

A relaxing afternoon after Gardening all day I decided to put a kit together in my stash. I selected a simple Airfix 1/72 Drakken to build. I will build this straight of the box ready for my Swedish Cold War project. 

As always I paint my pilot and interior first before assembly, all together tonight ready for paint next week 

Saab Draken wip

Cheers

Matt