Military equipment of Sweden during the Cold War

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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

Personal equipment

Name Image Origin Type Quantity Years in service Notes
Uniforms and Gears
m/1952
M/1952 uniform jacket shown in museum.
M/1952 uniform peaked cap shown in museum.
  Sweden Service dress uniform Unknown 1952-????
m/1954  Sweden Guard duty uniform Unknown 1954-???? Kit consisted of a white helmet, belt, gloves and ankle gaiters. "White outfit m/1954" was a collective term for the kit. It was used by the army together with uniform m/1952 and later to uniform m/1960 for guard duty.[1]
m/1958
Field uniform m/1958. (From the Army Museum's collections).
  Sweden Combat uniform Unknown 1958-???? Produced in parallel with m/1959 uniform. Intended for winter use.[2]
m/1959
Soldier in m/1959 uniform with AK4.
  Sweden Combat uniform Unknown 1958-???? Intended for summer use.
Combat Helmets
m/1921
Swedish soldier with m/1921 helmet and m/1923 gas mask.
  Sweden Steel helmet Unknown 1921-????
m/1926
M/1926 helmet.
  Sweden Steel helmet Unknown 1926-???? Used primarily by the Swedish Civil Defense.
m/1937
M/1937 helmet.
  Sweden Steel helmet Unknown 1937-1990s The m/1937 would see modernization in 1965, with an updated liner.
m/1990
M/1990 helmet with an M90 camouflage pattern cover.
  Sweden Kevlar helmet Unknown 1990s-???? Two versions were made that were virtually identical but had different inner linings.[3]

Small arms

Name Origin Type Versions Quantity Years in service Notes
Pistol m/39  Germany Semi-automatic pistol Pistol m/38 1,500 1939-???? Walther-built Model HP
Pistol m/40  Finland
 Sweden		 Semi-automatic pistol Pistol m/40
Pistol m/40B		 100,000 1940-1990s License-built Lahti L-35, manufactured by
Husqvarna
Pistol 88
  Austria
 Sweden		 Semi-automatic pistol Glock 17 (pist 88)
Glock 19 (pist 88B)		 Unknown 1980s-present Modern standard-issue sidearm
Kpist m/37  Finland
 Sweden		 Submachine gun Kpist m/37 35,000 1939-1980s -
M39  Germany
 Sweden		 Submachine gun M39 Unknown 1940s-???? -
MP 18  German Empire Submachine gun MP 18 Unknown 1920s-???? -
Kpist m/45
  Sweden Submachine gun M/45
M/45B
M/45C
M/45BE
M/45BET
M/45S		 Unknown 1945–2007 Standard 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  Sweden Bolt-action rifle M/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 rifle Kar 98k 5,000 1939-1970s -
Ag m/42
  Sweden Semi-automatic rifle Ag m/42A
Ag m/42B		 Unknown 1942–1965 -
Ak 4  Germany
 Sweden		 Battle rifle AK4
AK4B
AK4OR		 Unknown 1965–present Standard version
Equipped with
Aimpoint
red dot sight
Equipped with 4×24 telescopic sight
Ak 5  Sweden Assault 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–present Modern 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 States Light machine gun KG m/40 Unknown 1937–1980 -
Kg m/40
  Sweden Light machine gun KG m/40 5,000 1940-???? -
Kulspruta m/41
  Sweden Medium machine gun Kulspruta m/41 Unknown 1910s-1940s -
Ksp 58  Belgium
 Sweden		 General-purpose machine gun Ksp 58
Ksp 58B
Ksp 58 Strv		 Unknown 1958–present
1972–present
1958-1990s		 Standard version
Improved caliber to 7.62×51mm
Equipped for the
Strv 103
Ksp 90  Belgium
 Sweden		 Light machine gun Ksp 90
Ksp 90B		 Unknown 1980s-present -
Ksp 95  Soviet Union
 Sweden		 Squad automatic weapon Ksp 95 Unknown 1980s-present -
Ksp m/39  United States
 Sweden		 Medium machine gun Ksp m/39 Unknown 1940s-present -
Ksp m/94
  Germany General-purpose machine gun Ksp m/94 Unknown 1960s-present -
Tksp 12,7 mm  United States Heavy machine gun Tksp 12,7 mm Unknown 1940s-present -
Grsp 40 mm  United States Automatic grenade launcher Grsp 40 mm Unknown 1970s-present -
M203
  United States Grenade launcher M203 Unknown 1970s-present -
Grg m/48
  Sweden Multirole recoilless rifle Grg m/48 Unknown 1948–present Then standard-issue rocket launcher/anti-tank weapon
Raketgevär 46  United States
 Sweden		 Recoilless anti-tank weapon Raketgevär 46 Unknown 1940s-1960s -
Pskott m/68  Sweden Recoilless anti-tank weapon Pskott m/68 Unknown 1968-1980s -
RBS 69  United States
 Sweden		 Man-portable air-defense system RBS 69 Unknown 1968-1990s -
RBS 70  Sweden Man-portable air-defense system RBS 70 Unknown 1977–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		  Sweden 4×4 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		 Thousands 1959-1977 -
-
-
Equipped with the
Pvpj 1110
90mm recoilless gun
Equipped with the Robot 53 ATGM
-

Terrängbil 11		  Sweden 4×4 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 6,500 1967–present -
Equipped with the Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless gun
-
-
-
-
-
-
Equipped with the RBS 70

Bv 202		  Sweden Tracked all-terrain vehicle 5,000 1964–present -

Bv 206		  Sweden All-terrain carrier
Military ambulance
Military firefighting apparatus
Improved intelligence vehicle
Mobile military radio transmitter		 Bv 206
Bv 206A
Bv 206F
Bv 2064
Bv2068		 4,500 1980-present -
Pbil m/39
  Sweden Armoured car Pbil m/39
Pbil m/40		 15
30		 1939-1956
1939-1960s		 Standard version
Powered by a Volvo engine
Pbil m/41
  Sweden Armoured car L-180 5 1933–1980 -
Tgbil m/42 KP
  Sweden Armored personnel carrier SKP
VKP		 262
100		 1944–2004 Manufactured by
Scania-Vabis
Manufactured by Volvo
Pbv 301
  Sweden Armored personnel carrier 185 1961–1971 -
Pbv 302
  Sweden Armored personnel carrier 400+ 1965–2014 -

Patria Pasi		  Finland Armored personnel carrier
Command vehicle
Armored personnel carrier		 XA-180S
XA-202S
XA-203S		 200 1980s–present -
-
Armed with a 20mm auto cannon
Ikv 91
  Sweden Infantry support vehicle Ikv 91
Ikv 105		 212 1975–2002 -
Prototype with a 105mm anti-tank gun
Strv m/37
  Czechoslovakia
 Sweden		 Tankette Strv m/37 48 1938–1953 License-built version of the AH-IV
Strv L-60
  Sweden Light tank Strv 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 tank Strv m/41 238 1942-1950s License-built, slightly upgraded version of the Panzer 38(t)
Strv m/42
  Sweden Medium tank Lago I (Strv m/42)
Lago II (Strv m/42 TM)
Lago III (Strv m/42 TH)
Lago IV (Strv m/42 EH)		 342 total 1943-????
1943-????
1944-????
1944-????		 Standard version
Two engines and electromagnetic gearbox
Two engines and two hydraulic gearboxes
One engine and a hydraulic gearbox
Strv 74
  Sweden Medium tank Strv 74 H
Strv 74 V		 659 1958-1984 -
Centurion tank
  United Kingdom Main battle tank Strv 81
Strv 101
Strv 101R
Strv 102
Strv 102R
Strv 104		 350 total 1953-1992
Strv 103
  Sweden Main battle tank Strv 103A
Strv 103B
Strv 103C
Strv 103D		 290 1967-1997
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
  Sweden Heavy mortar 219 1941–present 120mm caliber mortar

Haubits FH77		  Sweden Towed howitzer FH77 A
FH77 B		 220 1978-2006
PvBv 2062
  Sweden Mobile anti-tank gun Unknown 1980s-present Equipped with
Pvpj 1110
90mm recoilless gun
PvBv 2063
  Sweden ATGM carrier Unknown 1980s-present Equipped with
Rbs 56
Bkan 1
  Sweden Self-propelled artillery Bkan 1A
Bkan 1C		 26 1967-2003 -
Bofors 40 mm
  Sweden Anti-aircraft autocannon Bofors L/60
Bofors L/70		 Unknown 1934–present -

MIM-23 Hawk		  United States Surface-to-air missile RBS 77
RBS 97		 8 launchers 1960s-present Unknown number of missiles, at least 24
Lvrbv 701
  Sweden MANPADS carrier 49 1980s-2000 Equipped with RBS 70[4]

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.

Navy

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		  Sweden Seaplane cruiser HSwMS Gotland 1 1933-1963 Could carry 8 aircraft

Dristigheten class		  Sweden Seaplane cruiser HSwMS Dristigheten 1 1901-1947 Could carry 2 aircraft

Cruisers

Sweden possessed four cruisers throughout the Cold War.

Ship Origin Type Names Quantity Years in service Notes

Clas Fleming class		  Sweden Mine cruiser HSwMS Clas Fleming 1 1912-1960 -

Fylgia class		  Sweden Armored cruiser HSwMS Fylgia 1 1907-1957 -

Tre Kronor class		  Sweden Cruiser HSwMS Tre Kronor
HSwMS Göta Lejon		 2 1944-1964
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.[a]

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		  Sweden Destroyer HSwMS Ehrensköld
HSwMS Nordenskjöld		 2 1927-1963 -

Göteborg class		  Sweden Destroyer HSwMS Göteborg
HSwMS Stockholm
HSwMS Malmö
HSwMS Karlskrona
HSwMS Norrköping
HSwMS Gävle		 6 1936-1962
1937-1965
1939-1970
1940-1979
1941-1965
1941-1968		 -

Halland class		  Sweden Destroyer HSwMS Halland
HSwMS Småland		 2 1955-1985
1956-1979		 -

Hugin class		  Sweden Destroyer HSwMS Hugin
HSwMS Munin		 2 1911-1947
1911-1946		 -

Klas class		  Sweden Destroyer HSwMS Klas Horn 1 1932-1958 -

Mode class		  Sweden Destroyer HSwMS Magne
HSwMS Magne
HSwMS Munin
HSwMS Mjölner		 4 1942-1966
1942-1970
1942-1968
1942-1966		 All converted to frigates in 1953/1957

Romulus class		  Italy
 Sweden		 Destroyer HSwMS Romulus
HSwMS Remus		 2 1934-1958
1934-1958		 -

Psilander class		  Italy
 Sweden		 Destroyer HSwMS Psilander
HSwMS Puke		 2 1926-1947
1926-1947		 -
Vidar class  Sweden Destroyer HSwMS Ragnar
HSwMS Sigurd
HSwMS Vidar		 3 1910-1947 -

Visby class		  Sweden Destroyer HSwMS Hälsingborg
HSwMS Kalmar
HSwMS Sundsvall
HSwMS Visby		 4 1942-1982 -

Wrangel class		  Sweden Destroyer HSwMS Wrangel
HSwMS Wachtmeister		 2 1918-1947 -

Öland class		  Sweden Destroyer HSwMS Uppland
HSwMS Öland		 2 1947-1979 -

Östergötland class		  Sweden Destroyer HSwMS Gästrikland
HSwMS Hälsingland
HSwMS Södermanland
HSwMS Östergötland		 4 1955-1982 -

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.

  • Draken-class
    submarine (5)
  • Hajen-class
    submarine (6)
    • HSwMS Bävern
    • HSwMS Hajen
    • HSwMS Illern
    • HSwMS Sälen
    • HSwMS Uttern
    • HSwMS Valen
  • Neptun-class submarine (3)
  • Näcken-class submarine (3)
  • Sjöormen-class submarine (5)
    • HSwMS Sjöbjörnen
    • HSwMS Sjöhunden
    • HSwMS Sjöhästen
    • HSwMS Sjölejonet
    • HSwMS Sjöormen
  • Västergötland-class submarine (4)
    • HSwMS Helsingland
    • HSwMS Södermanland
    • HSwMS Västergötland
    • HSwMS Östergötland

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.[5]

Fighter aircraft

Name Origin Type Versions Quantity In service Notes
J 9  United States
 Sweden		 Fighter aircraft J 9 60 1940–1951 Sweden's first monoplane aircraft
J 11
 Kingdom of Italy Italy
 Sweden		 Biplane fighter aircraft J 11 72 1940–1946 -
J 21
  Sweden Fighter 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  Sweden Fighter and attack aircraft J 21R 64 1945–1956 Sweden's first indigenous jet fighter
J 22
  Sweden Fighter aircraft J 22A
J 22B		 143
55		 1942–1952 Numbers may not be correct for the World War II era; some may have been built in 1946
J 26  United States Fighter aircraft P-51B
P-51D		 2
52		 1945–1954 Originally P-51 Mustang, another 111 aircraft purchased immediately after the war
J 28  United Kingdom Fighter aircraft J 28A
J 28B
J 28C		 70
310
57		 1946-1956 1st generation jet fighter; 437 total
J 29
  Sweden Experimental 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		 1949-1976 1st generation jet fighter; 666+ total
S 31  United Kingdom Fighter and reconnaissance aircraft S 31 50 1946-1950s -
J 32  Sweden Attack 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		 1956-1997 2nd generation jet fighter; 452 built
J 34  United Kingdom Fighter and attack aircraft J 34 120 1946-1956 2nd generation jet fighter
J 35  Sweden Fighter 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		 1955-1998 2.5 generation jet fighter; 651 built
J 37  Sweden Multirole aircraft AJ 37
SK 37
SF 37
SH 37
JA 37
AJS
JA 37C
JA 37D
JA 37DI
SK 37E		 329 total 1971-2005 3rd generation jet fighter

Bomber aircraft

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

Trainers

Transport aircraft

  • Lockheed C-130
    - 8

Helicopters

  • Piasecki Hkp 1
    transport helicopter - 14
  • Bell Hkp 3
    utility helicopter - 29
  • Boeing-Vertol Hkp 4
    transport helicopter - 21
  • Eurocopter Hkp 10
    utility helicopter - 12

Resource management

The need for safe storage of large quantities of oil to support anticipated use of military equipment led to creative solutions, in particular the use of undressed rock chambers, the full environmental effects of which have not yet been ascertained.[6]

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. ^ "Military - Hans Högman". www.hhogman.se. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  2. ^ "Military - Hans Högman". www.hhogman.se. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  3. ^ "Composite Helmet, Ballistic helmets, Military helmets SWEDEN SWEDISH helmet, Kevlar helmet". www.gostak.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  4. ^ "PVRBBV 551". Archived from the original on 2013-10-08. Retrieved 2013-10-11.
  5. ^ "Sweden | Coldwarsites".
  6. ^ Nilson, Sofi The Swedish Oil Weapon, Storage of fuel in Sweden during the Cold War: Energy security and environmentally related aspects. (2021) https://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1642502/FULLTEXT01.pdf Retrieved 30 September 2023

Sources and further reading

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