Military equipment of Sweden during the Cold War

Sweden played a role of major importance during the Cold War, despite not officially participating. Sweden's location made it an ideal base of operations for both the Soviet Union and the United States. Sweden was never invaded throughout the war, mainly due to their strong defensive power - ranked among the top five in the world at this time.

Army

Small arms

Name Origin Type Versions Quantity Years in service Notes
Pistol m/39 GermanySemi-automatic pistolPistol m/381,5001939-????Walther-built Model HP
Pistol m/40 Finland
 Sweden
Semi-automatic pistolPistol m/40
Pistol m/40B
100,0001940-1990sLicense-built Lahti L-35, manufactured by Husqvarna
Pistol 88 Austria
 Sweden
Semi-automatic pistolGlock 17 (pist 88)
Glock 19 (pist 88B)
Unknown1980s-presentModern standard-issue sidearm
Kpist m/37 Finland
 Sweden
Submachine gunKpist m/3735,0001939-1980s-
M39 Germany
 Sweden
Submachine gunM39Unknown1940s-????-
MP 18 German EmpireSubmachine gunMP 18Unknown1920s-????-
Kpist m/45 SwedenSubmachine gunM/45
M/45B
M/45C
M/45BE
M/45BET
M/45S
Unknown1945–2007Standard version
Minor improvements
Comes equipped with a bayonet mount
Selective-fire version, used by police
Comes equipped with a tear gas launcher
Uses a 50-round coffin magazine
Gevär m/96 SwedenBolt-action rifleM/1894
M/1896
M/1938
M/1941
M/1941B
127,000
535,000
88,000
5,300
5,300
1895-1980s-
Karbin M40 Germany
 Sweden
Bolt-action rifleKar 98k5,0001939-1970s-
Ag m/42 SwedenSemi-automatic rifleAg m/42A
Ag m/42B
Unknown1942–1965-
Ak 4 Germany
 Sweden
Battle rifleAK4
AK4B
AK4OR
Unknown1965–presentStandard version
Equipped with Aimpoint red dot sight
Equipped with 4×24 telescopic sight
Ak 5 SwedenAssault rifle
Designated marksman rifle
Assault rifle
Assault rifle
Carbine
Police combat rifle
FFV Ak 5
FFV Ak 5B
Bofors Ak 5C
Bofors Ak 5CF
Bofors Ak 5D
CGA5P
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
40,000
Unknown
Unknown
1986–presentModern standard-issue assault rifle
4× tritium sight
Multiple modifications by Bofors
Multiple modifications by Bofors
Lightweight carbine version
Semi-automatic version with improved accuracy
Kg m/37 United StatesLight machine gunKG m/40Unknown1937–1980-
Kg m/40 SwedenLight machine gunKG m/405,0001940-????-
Kulspruta m/41 SwedenMedium machine gunKulspruta m/41Unknown1910s-1940s-
Ksp 58 Belgium
 Sweden
General-purpose machine gunKsp 58
Ksp 58B
Ksp 58 Strv
Unknown1958–present
1972–present
1958-1990s
Standard version
Improved caliber to 7.62×51mm
Equipped for the Strv 103
Ksp 90 Belgium
 Sweden
Light machine gunKsp 90
Ksp 90B
Unknown1980s-present-
Ksp 95 Soviet Union
 Sweden
Squad automatic weaponKsp 95Unknown1980s-present-
Ksp m/39 United States
 Sweden
Medium machine gunKsp m/39Unknown1940s-present-
Ksp m/94 GermanyGeneral-purpose machine gunKsp m/94Unknown1960s-present-
Tksp 12,7 mm United StatesHeavy machine gunTksp 12,7 mmUnknown1940s-present-
Grsp 40 mm United StatesAutomatic grenade launcherGrsp 40 mmUnknown1970s-present-
M203 United StatesGrenade launcherM203Unknown1970s-present-
Grg m/48 SwedenMultirole recoilless rifleGrg m/48Unknown1948–presentThen standard-issue rocket launcher/anti-tank weapon
Raketgevär 46 United States
 Sweden
Recoilless anti-tank weaponRaketgevär 46Unknown1940s-1960s-
Pskott m/68 SwedenRecoilless anti-tank weaponPskott m/68Unknown1968-1980s-
RBS 69 United States
 Sweden
Man-portable air-defense systemRBS 69Unknown1968-1990s-
RBS 70 SwedenMan-portable air-defense systemRBS 70Unknown1977–present-

Armored fighting vehicles

The Swedish army during the Cold War possessed more or less 24,000 ground vehicles, including 2,354 tanks, 1,257 armored fighting vehicles, and up to 20,000 utility vehicles.

Vehicle Origin Type Versions Quantity Years in service Notes

Pltgb 903
 Sweden4×4 infantry truck
4×4 infantry truck
4×4 communications vehicle
4×4 anti-tank vehicle
ATGM carrier
Firefighting vehicle
Pltgb 903
Pltgb 903B
Raptgb 9033
Pvpjtgb 9031
Pvrbtgb 9032
Brtgb 921
Thousands1959-1977-
-
-
Equipped with the Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless gun
Equipped with the Robot 53 ATGM
-

Terrängbil 11
 Sweden4×4 infantry truck
4×4 anti-tank vehicle
6×6 communications vehicle
6×6 infantry truck
6×6 communications vehicle
6×6 ambulance
6×6 artillery spotter
6×6 armored personnel carrier
MANPADS carrier
Tgb 11
Tgb 1111
Tgb 1112
Tgb 13
Tgb 1313
Tgb 1314
Tgb 1321
Tgb 21
Tgb 22
Roughly 6,5001967–present-
Equipped with the Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless gun
-
-
-
-
-
-
Equipped with the RBS 70

Bv 202
 SwedenTracked all-terrain vehicle5,0001964–present-

Bv 206
 SwedenAll-terrain carrier
Military ambulance
Military firefighting apparatus
Improved intelligence vehicle
Mobile military radio transmitter
Bv 206
Bv 206A
Bv 206F
Bv 2064
Bv2068
4,5001980-present-

Pbil m/39
 SwedenArmoured carPbil m/39
Pbil m/40
15
30
1939-1956
1939-1960s
Standard version
Powered by a Volvo engine

Pbil m/41
 SwedenArmoured carL-18051933–1980-

Tgbil m/42 KP
 SwedenArmored personnel carrierSKP
VKP
262
100
1944–2004Manufactured by Scania-Vabis
Manufactured by Volvo

Pbv 301
 SwedenArmored personnel carrier1851961–1971-

Pbv 302
 SwedenArmored personnel carrier400+1965–present-

Patria Pasi
 FinlandArmored personnel carrier
Command vehicle
Armored personnel carrier
XA-180S
XA-202S
XA-203S
2001980s–present-
-
Armed with a 20mm auto cannon

Ikv 91
 SwedenInfantry support vehicleIkv 91
Ikv 105
2121975–2002-
Prototype with a 105mm anti-tank gun

Strv m/37
 Czechoslovakia
 Sweden
TanketteStrv m/37481938–1953License-built version of the AH-IV

Strv L-60
 SwedenLight tankStrv m/38
Strv m/39
Strv m/40
Strv m/40L
Strv m/40K
15
20
?
100
80
1939-????
1940-????
????-????
1941-????
1944-????
-

Strv m/41
 Czechoslovakia
 Sweden
Medium tankStrv m/412381942-1950sLicense-built, slightly upgraded version of the Panzer 38(t)

Strv m/42
 SwedenMedium tankLago I (Strv m/42)
Lago II (Strv m/42 TM)
Lago III (Strv m/42 TH)
Lago IV (Strv m/42 EH)
342 total1943-????
1943-????
1944-????
1944-????
Standard version
Two engines and electromagnetic gearbox
Two engines and two hydraulic gearboxes
One engine and a hydraulic gearbox

Strv 74
 SwedenMedium tankStrv 74 H
Strv 74 V
6591958-1984-

Centurion tank
 United KingdomMain battle tankStrv 81
Strv 101
Strv 101R
Strv 102
Strv 102R
Strv 104
350 total1953-1992

Strv 103
 SwedenMain battle tankStrv 103A
Strv 103B
Strv 103C
Strv 103D
2901967-1997
1970s-1997
1986-1997
1990s
Standard version
Enhanced engine
Enhanced engine and laser rangefinder
Modernized prototype, only 1 built

Artillery and mortars

Name Origin Type Versions Quantity Years in service Notes

M/41D
 SwedenHeavy mortar2191941–present120mm caliber mortar

Haubits FH77
 SwedenTowed howitzerFH77 A
FH77 B
2201978-2006

PvBv 2062
 SwedenMobile anti-tank gunUnknown1980s-presentEquipped with Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless gun
PvBv 2063 SwedenATGM carrierUnknown1980s-presentEquipped with Rbs 55 or Rbs 56

Bkan 1
 SwedenSelf-propelled artilleryBkan 1A
Bkan 1C
261967-2003-

Bofors 40 mm
 SwedenAnti-aircraft autocannonBofors L/60
Bofors L/70
Unknown1934–present-

MIM-23 Hawk
 United StatesSurface-to-air missileRBS 77
RBS 97
8 launchers1960s-presentUnknown number of missiles, at least 24
Lvrbv 701 SwedenMANPADS carrier491980s-2000Equipped with RBS 70[1]

Coastal defence

The eastern coast of Sweden, along a length of more than 1500 kilometres, probably had the most powerful coastal defence system in the world. The system consisted of coastal artillery, submarines, battleships and aircraft. No less than 90 heavy cannons (typically 7.5 cm cannons) with large underground facilities were strategically located along the coast, together with a large number of bunkers and pillboxes.

The Swedish navy possessed a total of 129 ships between 1945 and 1991.

Seaplane cruisers

Ship Origin Type Names Quantity Years in service Notes

Gotland class
 SwedenSeaplane cruiserHSwMS Gotland11933-1963Could carry 8 aircraft

Dristigheten class
 SwedenSeaplane cruiserHSwMS Dristigheten11901-1947Could carry 2 aircraft

Cruisers

Sweden possessed four cruisers throughout the Cold War.

Ship Origin Type Names Quantity Years in service Notes

Clas Fleming class
 SwedenMine cruiserHSwMS Clas Fleming11912-1960-

Fylgia class
 SwedenArmored cruiserHSwMS Fylgia11907-1957-

Tre Kronor class
 SwedenCruiserHSwMS Tre Kronor
HSwMS Göta Lejon
21944-1964
1945-1971
-

Destroyers

Sweden had a total of 35 destroyer-class vessels throughout the Cold War, most of them World War II models. As time went on, Sweden begun to put less effort in keeping large surface combatants and instead increasingly relied on patrol boats, fast attack craft, coastal artillery and air superiority. However this approach (especially the overreliance on lighter surface combatants) was somewhat discredited by the early 1980s. Attempts were then made to move back towards heavier more capable surface combatants (e.g. the Ytstridsfartyg Större [Surface Combatant Large] program), but this was ultimately curtailed by the sudden end to the Cold War.[lower-alpha 1]

Destroyers in 1945: 28
Destroyers in 1950: 21
Destroyers in 1960: 24
Destroyers in 1970: 17
Destroyers in 1980: 13
Destroyers in 1991: 0

Ship Origin Type Names Quantity Years in service Notes

Ehrensköld class
 SwedenDestroyerHSwMS Ehrensköld
HSwMS Nordenskjöld
21927-1963-

Göteborg class
 SwedenDestroyerHSwMS Göteborg
HSwMS Stockholm
HSwMS Malmö
HSwMS Karlskrona
HSwMS Norrköping
HSwMS Gävle
61936-1962
1937-1965
1939-1970
1940-1979
1941-1965
1941-1968
-

Halland class
 SwedenDestroyerHSwMS Halland
HSwMS Småland
21955-1985
1956-1979
-

Hugin class
 SwedenDestroyerHSwMS Hugin
HSwMS Munin
21911-1947
1911-1946
-

Klas class
 SwedenDestroyerHSwMS Klas Horn11932-1958-

Mode class
 SwedenDestroyerHSwMS Magne
HSwMS Magne
HSwMS Munin
HSwMS Mjölner
41942-1966
1942-1970
1942-1968
1942-1966
All converted to frigates in 1953/1957

Romulus class
 Italy
 Sweden
DestroyerHSwMS Romulus
HSwMS Remus
21934-1958
1934-1958
-

Psilander class
 Italy
 Sweden
DestroyerHSwMS Psilander
HSwMS Puke
21926-1947
1926-1947
-
Vidar class SwedenDestroyerHSwMS Ragnar
HSwMS Sigurd
HSwMS Vidar
31910-1947-

Visby class
 SwedenDestroyerHSwMS Hälsingborg
HSwMS Kalmar
HSwMS Sundsvall
HSwMS Visby
41942-1982-

Wrangel class
 SwedenDestroyerHSwMS Wrangel
HSwMS Wachtmeister
21918-1947-

Öland class
 SwedenDestroyerHSwMS Uppland
HSwMS Öland
21947-1979-

Östergötland class
 SwedenDestroyerHSwMS Gästrikland
HSwMS Hälsingland
HSwMS Södermanland
HSwMS Östergötland
41955-1982-

Coastal defense ships

The Swedish navy maintained 7 coastal defense ships after World War II, though some were taken out of service shortly after.

Corvettes

The Swedish navy had as few as six corvettes in service during the Cold War, relying on larger vessels during this time.

  • Göteborg-class corvette (4)
    • HSwMS Gävle (1990–present)
    • HSwMS Göteborg (1990–present)
    • HSwMS Kalmar (1990–present)
    • HSwMS Sundsvall (1991–present)
  • Stockholm-class corvette (2)
    • HSwMS Malmö (1985–present)
    • HSwMS Stockholm (1984–present)

Mine warfare vessels

Sweden possessed 19 mine warfare vessels throughout the time period 1945-1991.

  • HSwMS Alnösund minelayer
  • HSwMS Arkösund minelayer
  • HSwMS Barösund minelayer
  • HSwMS Grundsund minelayer
  • HSwMS Furusund minelayer
  • HSwMS Fårösund minelayer
  • HSwMS Kalmarsund minelayer
  • HSwMS Kalvsund minelayer
  • HSwMS Skramsösund minelayer
  • HSwMS Älvsborg minelayer
  • HSwMS Älvsnabben minelayer
  • HSwMS Öresund minelayer
  • Landsort-class mine countermeasures vessel (7)
    • HSwMS Arholma (1984-2010)
    • HSwMS Koster (1986–present)
    • HSwMS Kullen (1986–present)
    • HSwMS Landsort (1982–present)
    • HSwMS Ulvön (1980s-present)
    • HSwMS Ven (1980s-present)
    • HSwMS Vinga (1980s-present)

Patrol boats

Seventeen patrol boats were in service in the Royal Swedish Navy between 1945 and 1991.

  • HSwMS Hugin
  • HSwMS Jägaren
  • HSwMS Kaparen
  • HSwMS Magne
  • HSwMS Mjölner
  • HSwMS Mode
  • HSwMS Munin
  • HSwMS Mysing
  • HSwMS Snapphanen
  • HSwMS Spejaren
  • HSwMS Starkodder
  • HSwMS Styrbjörn
  • HSwMS Tirfing
  • HSwMS Tordön
  • HSwMS Vale
  • HSwMS Vidar
  • HSwMS Väktaren

Torpedo boats

Sweden had 12 torpedo boats during the Cold War.

  • Perseus-class torpedo boat (1)
    • HSwMS Perseus
  • Plejad-class torpedo boat (11)
    • HSwMS Alderbaran
    • HSwMS Altair
    • HSwMS Antares
    • HSwMS Arcturus
    • HSwMS Argo
    • HSwMS Astrea
    • HSwMS Plejad
    • HSwMS Polaris
    • HSwMS Pollux
    • HSwMS Regulus
    • HSwMS Rigel

Submarines

Sweden had a total of 26 submarines throughout the Cold War.

Auxiliary vessels

Air force

Sweden had a huge air force - the fourth largest in the world - throughout the Cold War, consisting of more than 4,000 aircraft. Out of these, no less than 3,574 aircraft were armed fighters along with many hundred bombers.[2]

Fighter aircraft

Name Origin Type Versions Quantity In service Notes
J 9 United States
 Sweden
Fighter aircraftJ 9601940–1951Sweden's first monoplane aircraft
J 11 Italy
 Sweden
Biplane fighter aircraftJ 11721940–1946-
J 21 SwedenFighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Attack aircraft
Experimental aircraft
J 21A-1
J 21A-2
J21A-3
J 21B
54
124
132
0
1945–1949
1946-1954
1947-1954
1940s
-
J 21R SwedenFighter and attack aircraftJ 21R641945–1956Sweden's first indigenous jet fighter
J 22 SwedenFighter aircraftJ 22A
J 22B
143
55
1942–1952Numbers may not be correct for the World War II era; some may have been built in 1946
J 26 United StatesFighter aircraftP-51B
P-51D
2
52
1945–1954Originally P-51 Mustang, another 111 aircraft purchased immediately after the war
J 28 United KingdomFighter aircraftJ 28A
J 28B
J 28C
70
310
57
1946-19561st generation jet fighter; 437 total
J 29 SwedenExperimental aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Attack aircraft
Reconnaissance aircraft
Experimental aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
J 29
J 29A
J 29B
A 29B
S 29C
J 29D
J 29D
J 29F
4
224
332
?
76
1
29
308
1949-19761st generation jet fighter; 666+ total
S 31 United KingdomFighter and reconnaissance aircraftS 31501946-1950s-
J 32 SwedenAttack aircraft
All-weather fighter
Maritime reconnaissance aircraft
Target tug aircraft
ECM aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
A 32A
J 32B
S 32C
J 32D
J 32E
J 32AD
J 32U
287
120
45
6
14
0
0
1956-19972nd generation jet fighter; 452 built
J 34 United KingdomFighter and attack aircraftJ 341201946-19562nd generation jet fighter
J 35 SwedenFighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Trainer aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Reconnaissance aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
J 35A
J 35B
SK 35C
J 35D
S 35E
J 35F
J 35J
90
73
25
120
60
230
66
1955-19982.5 generation jet fighter; 651 built
J 37 SwedenMultirole aircraftAJ 37
SK 37
SF 37
SH 37
JA 37
AJS
JA 37C
JA 37D
JA 37DI
SK 37E
329 total1971-20053rd generation jet fighter

Bomber aircraft

  • Saab 17 bomber & reconnaissance aircraft - 323
  • Saab 18 twin-engine bomber - 245

Trainers

Transport aircraft

Helicopters

See also

Notes

  1. Though the 'Större' program was then merged with the Ytstridsfartyg Mindre [Surface Combatant Small] program to form the YS2000 (Surface Combatant 2000) program that would later result in the Visby-class corvette.

References

  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-08. Retrieved 2013-10-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Sweden | Coldwarsites".

Sources and further reading

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