"It's like hitting 'em with tennis balls!"
Posted on 04/05/2016 11:54:27 AM PDT by C19fan
The Swedish Stridsvagn 103 (or "S-Tank") was one of the most unusual tanks ever built. Designed to give good defensive firepower to enforce Sweden's armed neutrality, it's unique design came at a cost: it is absolutely no good on offense.
During the Cold War Sweden maintained a position of armed neutrality. Sandwiched between NATO powers and members of the Warsaw Pact, it took neither side and prepared to defend its territory from all comers. The trick with armed neutrality is to appear strong enough to deter an enemy from attacking, while appearing weak enough to not look threatening. In other words, build a force that's weak in offensive firepower, but strong in defensive firepower.
(Excerpt) Read more at popularmechanics.com ...
"It's like hitting 'em with tennis balls!"
I know I would be.
The Germans could build good armor but they liked to over-engineer too much.
The Tiger is a prime example.
Yeah, that’s kind of what it looked like. Not a bad design, really, if you limited the mission. Cheap, and likely pretty effective in defense, particularly in areas with limited avenues of approach.
Guffy was wrapped a bit too tightly....
More of an assault gun. I built a model of one many years ago.
Big Joe was a better grounded.
Isn’t this just a self-propelled gun? Isn’t artillery mounted on turretless, tracked vehicles a common category of weapon?
Uh....if you lose territory, don’t you need to take it back (eventually)?
That, plus, the point is kind of moot. The Swedes are letting themselves be invaded without a shot being fired.
Yes - not really a tank. Could be classed as either a Tank Destroyer or an Assault Gun.
Self-propelled artillery generally has much thinner protective armor than does a TD or Tank.
Suprised it has more elevation range than a regular tank
can't defend itself on the move... screw that
“Interesting picket fence “
Supposedly to defeat HEAT anti-tank rounds. For a while.
It was decided to call it a tank because it was the only turret less type vehicle and tactically it was used like a tank. It could hold its own in target acquisition with a Leopard. Tactically it would be on the first line of defense to attrit the attacking force while delaying to the MLR and merging in with the Leopards. With the 103C model every vehicle in the platoon had a dozer blade. I have the B&C in 1/35 and 1/72.
it's OK for point defense
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