AB Landsverk

AB Landsverk (full name: Aktiebolaget Landsverk, lit.'The Corporation Landsverk') was a Swedish heavy industry company, manufacturing a wide variety of tracked and wheeled military vehicles, such as tractor units, off-road vehicles and armoured vehicles, etc, most notably the world's first welded tank constructions, among others, but also a wide variety of civilian heavy equipment, such as railroad cars, harbour cranes and agricultural machinery.

Landsverk's logotype
Landsverk M38 top view

It was founded in 1872 as Firman Petterson & Ohlsen. It was located in Landskrona, Sweden.

Early days

In late 1920 the company found itself on the verge of bankruptcy. Through a German company, the Gutehoffnungshütte Aktienverein für Bergbau und Hüttenbereich Oberhausen (GHH), invested heavily and gained control of 50% of the shares.

In 1923 the company manufactured a small number of tracked agricultural tractors based on an American design. The Germans increased their ownership to 61% in 1925, three years later the name was changed to AB Landsverk. In 1929 the German engineer Otto Merker was assigned to Landsverk to develop armoured vehicles, a few prototypes of a German design with both wheels and tracks were manufactured in Landskrona. In 1930 the Swedish Army ordered an armoured car for trials, and a few years later three light tanks on wheels and tracks.

In 1933 Lithuania ordered six, in 1935 the Netherlands twelve Landsverk L181 and in 1937 an order of thirteen L-180 armoured cars. Landsverk presented the L-60 in 1934, the first tank with torsion-bar suspension. There was some very limited export of armoured cars to other countries like Denmark and Finland. Hungary manufactured the L-60 as the Toldi. The Landsverk anti-II was an AA variant of this tank.

Landsverk built a few L-120 light tanks in the 1930s, one of which was exported to Norway, it was the first tank operated by the Norwegian Army.[1]

The modern era

During the Second World War Landsverk designed and partly manufactured, most of the Swedish Army's tanks. At the conclusion of that conflict Landsverk was confiscated by the Swedish state and sold to Kockums.

The Irish Army operated several Landsverk vehicles over the last 80 years. Two L-60 tanks were purchased in 1935 as training vehicles to supplement the single Vickers Mk D. Although three tanks were of dubious military value, budget constraints prevented additional purchases. Both were out of service by 1953 due to a lack of tracks. Both are still in existence, one has been restored to working condition.

The Irish Army also used the L-180 armoured car. The type was adopted to replace the aging Rolls-Royce fleet in 1937. Eight were delivered by 1939, but the last five on order were never delivered due to the outbreak of the Second World War (they were instead taken over and used by Sweden). The same was the case with many other vehicles in the Irish Army, budget constraints meant that the L180s were still in front-line service (albeit up-gunned with 20mm cannon) until 1972. Incredibly, they were then transferred to the Irish Army Reserve, the FCA, where they were kept in service until the mid-1980s. Five are preserved, including one donated to the Swedish Army.

The Landsverk Company produced an armoured scout car based on the Unimog S404 in the late 1950s. The Irish Army purchased 15 of the vehicles (originally intended for the police force in the Belgian Congo), in 1971 at a bargain price. They were intended as a stop-gap vehicle for use until the first Panhard M3 VTT APCs entered service in 1972. The type had excellent off-road capability but poor on-road handling due to a high centre of gravity and several accidents occurred as a result. A four-man dismountable squad arrangement was carried, but space was cramped and in any case a four-man detachment was far too small for any sort of realistic military purpose. Other criticisms were that the gunner's position was too exposed. Eventually the Unimog Scout Cars arrived in Ireland in February 1972, their departure having been delayed by a local peace group who thought they were destined for the Provisional Irish Republican Army. By mid-1978 all had been transferred to the Irish Army Reserve, the FCA. All were withdrawn by 1984, two are preserved; one in the transport museum in Howth, County Dublin and one in England.

Materiel produced by AB Landsverk

Military equipment by AB Landsverk
Name Year Variants Type Status Caliber (mm) Main armament/Notes
Strv m/21-29 1929 - Tank Swedish service 6,5 Ksp m/14-29 machine gun × 1
L-5 1929 - Tank Prototype 37 cannon × 1
L-10 1929 - Tank Swedish service 37 Bofors AT-gun × 1
L-30 1931 - Tank Prototype 37 Bofors AT-gun × 1
L-60 1934 L-60 Tank Export 20 Madsen autocannon × 1
L-60Ö (Österrike "Austria") Tank Export 20 Madsen autocannon × 1
Toldi I Tank Export 20 Solothurn anti tank rifle × 1
Original Toldi I plan Tank Blueprint 25 Bofors autocannon × 1
Suggested Swedish version Tank Blueprint 25 Bofors autocannon × 1
Strv m/48 Tank Blueprint 25 automatkanon m/32 × 1
L-60 (export alternative) Tank Blueprint 37 Madsen AT-gun × 1
L-60S I (Strv m/38) Tank Swedish service 37 Bofors strvkan m/38 × 1
L-60S II (Strv m/39) Tank Swedish service 37 Bofors strvkan m/38 × 1
L-60S III (Strv m/40L) Tank Swedish service 37 Bofors strvkan m/38 × 1
L-60S V (Strv m/40K) Tank Swedish service 37 Bofors strvkan m/38 × 1
Suggested Swedish version Tank Blueprint 37 Bofors autocannon × 1
Pvkv IV Värjan TD Prototype 57 PvKan m/43 × 1
L-62 1936 Anti (concept) SPAAG Blueprint 40 QF 2 pounder pom-pom × 1
Anti I SPAAG Export 40 Bofors L/60 × 1
Anti II SPAAG Export 40 Bofors L/60 × 1
L-63 1933 - SPAAG Blueprint 25 Bofors automatkanon m/32 × 1
L-64 1933 - SPAAG Blueprint 20 Oerlikon autocannon × 1
L-65 1933 - SPAAG Blueprint 47 AA-gun × 1
L-80 1933 - Tank Blueprint 20 Madsen autocannon × 1
L-100 1934 Prototype Light tank Prototype 6,5 Ksp m/14-29 machine gun × 1
Suggestion Light tank Blueprint 20 Madsen autocannon × 1
L-101 1934 - TD Blueprint 20 Madsen autocannon × 1
L-110 1933 - Tank Prototype Unknown Unknown
L-120 1937 Norwegian version Light tank Export/Prototype 7,92 Colt M/29 ksp × 1
Swedish version Light tank Prototype 8 Ksp m/36 machine gun × 2
Export Light tank Blueprint 20 Madsen autocannon × 1
L-131 1934 - Artillery tractor Export - To Siam
L-132 1934 - Artillery tractor Export - To Siam
L-135 1936 L-135 Artillery tractor Export - To Siam
L-135S Artillery tractor Prototype - Swedish prototype
L-140 1936 - Artillery tractor/SPAAG Prototype 37 Flak 36[2] × 1: SPAAG conversion
Artillery tractor/SPAAG 40 LvAkan m/36[3] × 1: SPAAG conversion
L-170 1930 Pbil fm/29 Armored car Prototype 37 Marinkanon 98B cannon × 1
L-180 1935 Autocannon version Armored car Export 20 Madsen autocannon × 1
PV M36 Armored car Export 20 Madsen autocannon × 1
Pbil m/41 Armored car Swedish service 20 Bofors akan m/40 × 1
AT-cannon version Armored car Export 37 Madsen AT-gun × 1
L-181 1933 Autocannon version Armored car Export 20 Oerlikon autocannon × 1
AT-cannon version Armored car Export 37 Bofors AT-gun × 1
L-182 1935 L-182 Armored car Export 13,2 L-35/36 machine gun × 1
L-182A Armored car Field mod 20 L-39 Lahti anti-tank rifle × 1
L-185 1933 PV M34 Armored car Export 20 Madsen akan × 1
L-190 1932 - Armored motorcycle Prototype 6,5 Ksp m/14-29 machine gun × 1
L-210 1938 - Armored motorcycle Prototype 8 Madsen machine gun × 1
Transportvagn 1934 - Transport wagon Export - A transport wagon for Siam
Strålkastarvagn 1934 SIA Stockholm (Stockholms version) Searchlight wagon Swedish service - A searchlight wagon named SIA
SIA Searchlight wagon Swedish service -
Lynx 1938 PV M/39 Armored car Export 20 Madsen autocannon × 1
Pbil m/39 Armored car Swedish service 20 Bofors akan m/40 × 1
Pbil m/40 (Volvo version) Armored car Swedish service 20 Bofors akan m/40 × 1
Lago 1936 Lago I (Hungarian variant) Medium tank Prototype 40 MÁVAG cannon × 1
Lago I (Export variant) Medium tank Blueprint 47 Skoda cannon × 1
Lago I (Swedish variant) Medium tank Blueprint 57 Bofors AT-gun × 1
Lago II (Strv m/42 TM) Medium tank Swedish service 75 Bofors strvkan m/41 L31 × 1
Lago III (Strv m/42 TH) Medium tank Swedish service 75 Bofors strvkan m/41 L31 × 1
Lago IV (Strv m/42 EH) Medium tank Swedish service 75 Bofors strvkan m/41 L31 × 1
Strv m/42 TV Medium tank Swedish service 75 Bofors strvkan m/41 L31 × 1
Strv m/42 DT (Delat torn) Medium tank Prototype 75 Pvkan L/54 m/43 strv × 1
Ikv 73 Assault gun Swedish service 75 Bofors strvkan m/41 L31 × 1
Terro 1941 L-60 IV Tank Blueprint 37 Bofors strvkan m/38 × 1
KP-bil 1942 1942 version APC Swedish service - -
1956 version APC Swedish service/Export 8 Ksp m/39 machine gun × 2
1980 version APC Swedish service 7,62 Ksp 58 machine gun × 2
Bandtraktor 1942 - Artillery tractor Swedish service - License built Allis-Chalmers M
Skogsbrandvagn 1943 - Fire fighting vehicle Prototype - Foam cannon × 1
Pvkv m/43 1943 1946 version TD Swedish service 75 PvKan m/43 × 1
1954 version TD Swedish service
1963 version TD Swedish service
Lvkv fm/43 1943 Lvkv fm/43-47 SPAAG Swedish service 40 Bofors L/60 lvakan m/36/43 × 2
Lvkv m/43-57 SPAAG Swedish service 40 Bofors L/60 lvakan m/36/43 × 2
Sländan 1944 - Self-propelled armored sled Prototype - A self-propelled armored sled called sländan
Pricken 1944 Pricken m/44 Medium tank Blueprint 75 Pvkan L54 m/43 strv × 1
Pricken m/48 pvkan m/43 Medium tank Blueprint 75 Pvkan L54 m/43 strv × 1
Pricken m/48 pvkan m/48 Medium tank Blueprint 105 Pvkan m/48 × 1
Strv m/46 1946 LS 46 Medium tank Blueprint 105 Lvkan m/42 × 1
TLS 47 Medium tank Blueprint 105 Lvkan m/42 × 1
Pvkv m/46 1946 LP 46 TD Blueprint 105 Lvkan m/42 × 1
TLP 47 TD Blueprint 105 Lvkan m/42 × 1
Leo 1948 Leo pvkan m/43 Medium tank Blueprint 75 Pvkan L/54 m/43 strv × 1
Leo kan m/34 Medium tank Blueprint 105 Kanon m/34 × 1
Lansen 1948 Lansen m/48 Light tank Blueprint 75 Pvkan L/54 m/43 strv × 1
Lansen m/50 pvkan L/57 Light tank Blueprint 84 Pvkan L/57 × 1
Lansen m/50 pvkan L/65 Light tank Blueprint 84 Pvkan L/65 × 1
Lansen m/51 pvkan L/65 Light tank Blueprint 84 Pvkan L/65 × 1
Lansen m/51 pvkan L/60 Light tank Blueprint 90 Pvkan L/60 × 1
Lansen m/51S pvkan L/60 Light tank Blueprint 90 Pvkan L/60 × 1
Lansen m/51S strvkan fm/49 Light tank Blueprint 105 Strvkan fm/49 × 1
Lansen m/51S strvkan fm/50 Light tank Blueprint 105 Strvkan L/40 fm/50 × 1
Pilen 1948 - Light tank Blueprint 75 StrvKan m/41 L31 × 1
Lvkv 42 (fm/49) 1948 - SPAAG Prototype 40 Bofors L/70 lvakan m/47 × 1
Pvkv II 1949 Pvkv III TD Prototype 57 PvKan m/43 × 1
Pvkv II TD Prototype 75 LvKan m/36 × 1
Pbv T fm/49 1949 - APC Prototype 8 Ksp m/39 B strv × 3
Ikv 72 1953 Ikv 72 Assault gun Swedish service 75 StrvKan m/41 L31 × 1
Ikv 102 Assault gun Swedish service 105 Ikvkan m/55 ikv L/22 × 1
Ikv 103 1956 - Assault gun Swedish service 105 Ikvkan m/55 ikv L/22 × 1
Kranvagn 1955 EMIL 1951 Heavy tank Blueprint 120 L/40 smoothbore autocannon × 1
EMIL 1 Heavy tank Blueprint 150 L/40 smoothbore autocannon × 1
EMIL 2 Heavy tank Blueprint 150 L/40 smoothbore autocannon × 1
EMIL 3 Heavy tank Prototype 150 L/40 smoothbore autocannon × 1
Strv K MBT Blueprint 105 Royal Ordnance L7 × 1
Unimog 1957 Irish Bren variant Armored car Export 7,62 Bren machine gun × 1
Irish Colt variant Armored car Export 7,62 Colt machine gun × 1
Ethiopian variant Armored car Export 7,62 Madsen-Saetter machine gun × 2
Ethiopian modification Armored car Export 75 M20 recoilless rifle × 1
Unimog with 8 cm rocket launchers Armored car Prototype 80 Oerlikon 8 cm rocket launcher × 2
Unimog with 90 mm recoilless rifles Armored car Blueprint 90 Pvpj 11110 × 2
Strv 74 1957 Strv 74 H Tank Swedish service 75 Kanon strv 74 × 1
Strv 74 V Tank Swedish service 75 Kanon strv 74 × 1
Pbv 301 1957 Pbv 301 APC Swedish service 20 Akan m/45 B × 1
Pbv 3011 APC Swedish service 20 Akan m/45 B × 1
Pbv 3012 APC Swedish service 20 Akan m/45 B × 1
Strv A 1958 Main variant MBT Blueprint 105 autocannon × 1
Suggestion MBT Blueprint 120 Pvkan × 1
Strv T 1958 - MBT Blueprint 105 Royal Ordnance L7 × 1
Strv S 1956 Strv 103A MBT Swedish service 105 Bofors L/62 × 1
Strv 103B MBT Swedish service 105 Bofors L/62 × 1
Strv 103C MBT Swedish service 105 Bofors L/62 × 1
Strv 103D MBT Prototype 105 Bofors L/62 × 1
Akv 151 1960 - SPG Prototype 155 Akan m/60 × 1
Bkan 1 1964 Bkan 1A SPG Swedish service 155 Akan m/60 × 1
Bkan 1B SPG Prototype 155 Akan m/60 × 1
Bkan 1C SPG Swedish service 155 Akan m/60 × 1
Lvkv VEAK 40 1964 - SPAAG Prototype 40 Bofors L/70 lvakan m/47 × 2
Pbv 302 1965 Pbv 302A APC Swedish service 20 Akan m/47D × 1
Pbv 302B APC Swedish service
Pbv 302C APC Swedish service
Ikv 91 1969 1969 version Assault gun/TD Swedish service 90 Bofors L/54 räfflad pvkan × 1
1975 version Assault gun/TD Swedish service 90 Bofors L/54 räfflad pvkan × 1

References

  1. Dag Sundkvist; Daniella Carlsson; Thorleif Olsson (13 February 2003). "Norway". Tanks! Armoured warfare prior to 1946. Florida State University. Archived from the original on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  2. "l-140 flak 36". Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  3. "L-140 med lvakan". Retrieved 2018-05-25.
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