Stridsvagn 122

Stridsvagn 122
Type	Main battle tank
Place of origin	Germany Sweden
Service history
In service	1997–present [1]
Used by	Swedish Army
Production history
Manufacturer	BAE Systems AB
Unit cost	US$5.74 million
Produced	1994-present
Number built	120 (91 license-produced in Sweden)
Variants	Strv 122 Strv 122B
Specifications
Weight	62.5 tonnes (61.5 long tons; 68.9 short tons)[1][2]
Length	9.97 m (32 ft 9 in) (gun forward)
Width	3.75 m (12 ft 4 in)
Height	3.0 m (9 ft 10 in)
Crew	4
Armour	3rd generation composite; including high-hardness steel, tungsten and plastic filler with ceramic component.
Main armament	1 x 120 mm Rheinmetall L44 smoothbore gun 42 rounds
Secondary armament	2 x 7.62×51mm NATO Ksp m/94 machine gun 4,750 rounds 4 x 2 GALIX smoke grenade launchers[2]
Engine	MTU MB 873 Ka-501 liquid-cooled V-12 Twin-turbo diesel engine 1,500 PS (1,479 hp, 1,103 kW) at 2,600 rpm
Power/weight	24.19 PS/t (17.79 kW/t)
Transmission	Renk HSWL 354
Suspension	Torsion-bar suspension
Ground clearance	540 mm
Fuel capacity	1,200 liters (317 US gallons; 264 imp. gal)
Operational range	550 km (340 mi) (internal fuel)[1][2]
Speed	68 km/h (42 mph)[1][2]

Stridsvagn 122 during an urban warfare exercise, 2006

Stridsvagn 122 (Strv 122) ("Tank 122") is a Swedish main battle tank based on the German Leopard 2. As with the Leopard 2A5 it is based on the German Leopard 2 Improved variant, utilizing newer technology such as command, control, and fire control systems, as well as reinforced armour and long-term combat capacity. Externally, the vehicle can be distinguished from the Leopard 2A5 by the French GALIX smoke dispensers, different storage bins, and the thicker crew hatches.^[3] The Strv 122B, has been equipped with modular AMAP composite armour from IBD Deisenroth to give "360° protection" against threats such as EFPs, rocket propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices.

Features

The Leopard 2A5's width of 3.75 metres (12.3 ft)^[2] has been kept, while the weight increased by only 350 kilograms (770 lb).^[4]

The Stridsvagn 122 was designed to fight in Swedish conditions including heavily forested areas as well as urban terrain. The designation derives from the 12 cm gun, on the second tank in Swedish service featuring this calibre (the first being Strv 121, Leopard 2A4s fitted with Swedish lights and radios and painted in Swedish camouflage). Strv 122 also had to overcome the perceived flaws of the original German tank, and features the following abilities:^[5]

• Heavily reinforced armour to protect against man-portable anti-tank weapons.
• An advanced CBRN defence system for protection against chemical, biological and radioactive weapons.
• Wading capability to pass through water up to 1.4 m deep.
• Quick ability to discover, identify and lock on a target with the assistance of a laser rangefinder, thermographic camera, and a speed/distance/accuracy calculator for maximum accuracy.
• Ability to lock onto numerous targets at once, enabling the tank to fight numerous enemy vehicles without having to manually re-aim the gun after every shot.
• Active communication for improved cooperation between units.
• Tank Command & Control System TCCS by Celsius Tech Systems AB.^[2]

Production and service

As of 2013, 42 of these tanks remain in active service. Most of the 160 Leopard 2 A4s (local designation Strv 121) that were originally leased are being returned to Germany.^[6] The active tanks are divided between three companies, two at P4, Skövde and one at I 19, Boden.^[7]

Comparison with other main battle tanks

Comparison of some modern main battle tanks

	Strv 122	M1A2	T-90	Leopard 2A5	Challenger 2
Unit cost	US$5.74 million[8]	US$6.21 million[9]	US$4.25 million[10]	US$6.86 million[11]	US$6.53 million[12]
Weight	62.5 t[1][2]	63.0 t[13]	46 t[14]	62.3 t[15]	62.5 t[16]
Length	9.97 meters[17]	9.77 meters[13]	9.63 meters[14]	9.97 meters[15]	11.50 meters[16]
Width	3.75 meters[17]	3.7 meters[13]	3.78 meters[14]	3.75 meters[15]	3.5 meters[16]
Height	3 meters[17]	2.4 meters[13]	2.22 meters[14]	3 meters[15]	2.49 meters[16]
Crew	4[17]	4[13]	3[14]	4[15]	4[16]
Armour	3rd generation composite[17]	Depleted Uranium composite[13]	Composite/reactive[14]	3rd generation composite[15]	Dorchester Level 2 (classified)[16]
Main armament	1x 120 mm Rheinmetall L/44 smoothbore gun[17]	1x M256 120 mm L/44 smoothbore gun[13]	1x 125 mm L/48 smoothbore gun[14]	1x 120 mm Rheinmetall L/44 smoothbore gun[15]	1x 120 mm L30 L/55 rifled gun[16]
Main ammunition	42 rounds[17]	42 rounds[13]	42 rounds[14]	42 rounds[15]	52 rounds[16]
Secondary armament	2x 7.62mm machine guns[17]	1x 12.7mm heavy machine gun 2x 7.62mm machine guns[13]	1x 12.7mm heavy machine gun 1x 7.62mm machine gun[14]	2x 7.62mm machine guns[15]	Coaxial 7.62×51mm L94A1 EX-34 (chain gun), 7.62×51mm L37A2 Commander's cupola machine gun[16]
Secondary ammunition	4,750 rounds[17]	900 rounds 10,000 rounds[13]	7,000 rounds[14]	4,750 rounds[15]	4,000[18]
Engine power	1,500 hp[17]	1,500 hp[13]	1,000 hp[14]	1,500 hp[15]	1,200 bhp
Power/weight	24.00 hp/t[17]	24.15 hp/t[13]	26.31 hp/t[14]	25.06 hp/t[15]	19.2 hp/t[16]
Suspension	Torsion-bar suspension[17]	Torsion-bar suspension[13]	Torsion-bar suspension[14]	Torsion-bar suspension[15]	Hydropneumatic[16]
Fuel capacity	1,200 liters[17]	1,900 liters[13]		1,200 liters[15]	1,592 liters[16]
Operational range	550 km[1][2]	425 km[13]	500 km[14]	550 km[15]	550 km
Speed	68 km/h[1][2]	68 km/h[13]	65 km/h[14]	72 km/h[15]	59 km/h[16]

Notes

1. Lindström, Rickard O. and Svantesson, Carl-Gustaf (2009). Svenskt Pansar 90 år av svensk stridsfordonsutveckling, p. 112. Bookwell, Finland. ISBN 978 91 85789 375.
2. Swedish Defence Materiel Administration: Leopard 2 – Stridsvagn 122 Facts (Swedish)
3. Swedish Defence Materiel Administration: Leopard 2 – Stridsvagn 122 (Swedish)
4. "New MBT122B Evolution with Unprecedented Protection" (PDF). IBD Deisenroth Engineering. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
5. Sidan Kunde Inte Hittas (in Swedish)
6. "Sydsvenskan: Stridsvagnar kör sista varvet" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2014-07-18. Retrieved 2014-09-22.
7. "Stridsvagn 122 (Strv 122) Main Battle Tank (1998)". Militaryfactory.com. 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
8. Foss, p. 116.
9. Foss, pp. 149–153
10. "Denial of Defense Procurement MBT T-90 is not connected with the qualitative characteristics of this sample of military equipment – Ministry of Industry of the Russian Federation". Arms-Tass. March 17, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
11. Foss, p. 114.
12. Foss, pp. 130–135
13. Pike, John (2013). "M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank". Global security.org. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
14. "T-90 Main Battle Tank (MBT) (1995)". MilitaryFactory.com. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
15. Genys, Andrius (2014). "Leopard 2A5 Main Battle Tank". Military-today.com. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
16. "Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank (1998)". Militaryfactory.com. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
17. Foss, p. 117.
18. Challenger 2 main battle tank

Sources

• Foss, Christopher F. (2002). Jane's Armour and Artillery. Jane's Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-7106-0964-9.

External links

• Stridsvagn 122 – Strv122