Copyright 2006 by Brandon Cope
 

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Stridsvagn m/39 and m/40 light tanks

Sweden did not possess a large tank force at the start of WWII and the m/39 tank (entering service in 1941) was the newest she had, despite only 20 being built. It was very similar to the earlier m/38 (based on the L-60 of 1934). In 1941 the provision of bolting on 35mm of additional armor plate to the front during wartime was added; this became known as the m/40. However, since the extra weight caused faster wear on the tanks, the armor was not fitted during peacetime.

The Stridsvagn m/40 has a crew of three. The commander sits in the turret and loads the cannon. Also in the turret is the gunner, who fires the cannon and MG. The driver sits in the body. The commander manually traverses the turret at 3 degrees per second. The m/40 uses 4.8 gallons per hour at routine usage.

Subassemblies: Small Tank chassis +3, full rotation Small AFV turret [Body:T] +2, tracks +3.
Powertrain: 106-kW gas engine w/106-kW tracked drive train and 45 gallons fuel in standard fuel tank [body]; 8,000-kWs batteries.
Occupancy: 1 CS Body, 2 CS Turret  Cargo: 5 Body, 2 Turret.
 
 
Armor F RL B T U
Body 4/195 4/60 4/60 4/25 4/25
Tracks 4/35 4/35 4/35 4/35 4/35
Turret 4/195 4/60 4/60 4/25 0/0

Weaponry
37mm Medium TG/Bofors m/38 [Tur:F] (100).
2¥Ground LMG/m/36 [Tur:F] (2,500).

Statistics
Size: 16’¥7’¥7’ Payload: 0.56 tons Lwt:  8.95 tons
Volume: 63 Maint.: 67 hours Price: $9,000

HT: 11
HP: 500 [Body], 75 [Turret], 200 [Each Track]
 
gSpeed: 28 gAccel: 3 gDecel: 20 gMR: 0.25 gSR: 6 GP: Low (2/3)

Design Notes
The design weight was reduced 7% to match historical weight and gSpeed was reduced from the 34mph design speed. Chassis cost, weight and HP were divided by two. Turret armor is Expensive.

Without the added armor, frontal DR is 6o and weight 8.7 rons.

Variants
The m/38 (1940) was generally the same, lacking the additional armor and having only one machine gun. Sixteen were built.

The 100 m/40L (1941) were virtually identical.

The m/40K (1943) had a slightly more powerful engine. Even with a weight of 11 tons, it could reacg 28 mph. Unlike the earlier tanks, the "extra" armor was integral and not removable. 180 were built.

The Hungarian 38M Toldi (based on the L-60 like the m/38) was also similar. Early versions used a 20mm cannon (20mm Long Ground AC), but in 1942 80 tanks were upgunned with 40mm weapons (treat as 37mm Medium TGs). Frontal armor was DR 135. A total of 202 were built, 92 with 40mm guns.