The appearance of the tank strv 103 (https://info.wikireading.ru/114688)
Sweden's main battle tank from 1966 to the 1990s was the STRV-103. According to many it was an amazing machine in its concept. It was a turretless tank with a main gun barrel fixed in the hull, with automatic supply of ammunition to the main gun. Aiming the gun at the target using the hull, that is, the driver was actually the gunner. Hence his second profession in this tank (http://historius.narod.ru/spravka/tank/tank-tm-19.htm). There are many articles on the Internet about the history of creation and about the design of the machine itself (see a far from complete list of links at the end of the article that I have collected on the Internet). I will not repeat all the design features here. I want to draw attention to how this concept can be used in modern conditions. Can this tank be upgraded to meet modern requirements? Let's try to consider this on the example of two problems.
Problem 1. Inability to shoot on the move.
It can be solved by replacing the main gun with a 120 mm smooth-bore gun-launcher, which can fire, in addition to conventional and sub-caliber projectiles, also guided missiles. In this case, it is possible to hit moving targets on the move, for example, using remote laser guidance.
Guidance of a guided projectile by a laser. Upgraded for Peru T-55 "Typhon" (screenshot from video 3:12 https://youtu.be/Vd-zqBYq4Ms)
But for this it is necessary to install an optical tracking system on the external turret on the tank.
Then the tank can fire a guided missile on the move, moving roughly in the direction of the target, and then the tank can change direction. The tracking system in this case leads the missile to the target. Such a guidance system is theoretically capable of also fighting low-flying enemy air targets at low speed.
Problem 2. The impossibility of fighting infantry with an armed RPG or ATGM. Difficulties in hitting lightly armored moving targets.
The lack of a rotating turret with an automatic cannon or grenade launcher is a big problem for countering infantry, lightly armored vehicles and helicopters. It can be solved by installing an uninhabited combat module on the roof of the tank. The armament of the module may consist of a 30-40 mm automatic cannon and a MANPADS/ATGM launcher. It can also install radar and optical tracking and guidance systems. Such uninhabited combat modules are currently offered by many weapons manufacturers.
Rheinmetall universal combat module Skyranger 30 (https://en.topwar.ru/180771-boevoj-modul-protivovozdushnoj-oborony-rheinmetall-skyranger-30.html)
Robot Machine Gun Turret (https://singularityhub.com/2010/12/16/south-koreas-robot-machine-gun-turret-can-see-you-coming-3-km-away/)
Remote controlled weapon module KMW IWS-35 with 35 mm ATK Armament Systems Bushmaster III cannon, 12.7 mm machine gun and 40 mm WWS-40 launchers Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (via Jane's) (https://topwar.ru/35809-novyy-boevoy-modul-iws-35-ot-kmw.html)
In the case of using remotely detonated ammunition, an automatic cannon can replace an automatic grenade launcher to fight infantry that is in cover, for example, in a trench. A large elevation angle of the light automatic cannon will effectively counteract helicopters, UAVs and replace the machine gun used for these purposes, located on the commander's cupola.
Therefore, the installation of such a module seems now to be a necessary solution.
Moreover, the very idea of an automatic turret was incorporated into the concept of the strv-103 tank at the design stage. However, the technology of that time did not allow creating a reliable system.
Full-size layout of the Strv-S, 1960. In this form, the tank was later made in metal. A remote-controlled turret with a 20 mm automatic cannon is installed on the roof of the vehicle. (https://warspot.ru/7905-udivitelnyy-tank-strv-103)
This is reflected in the history of the development of the strv-103 tank, written in the article by Y. Pasholok "The amazing Strv-103 tank":
"...By the way, the S1 was the only tank from the Strv-S family to receive a turret with a 20mm "automatkanon m/45B" cannon. ... As for weapons, the tests of the turret with a 20-mm cannon did not work out. The ammunition load of only 40 rounds and insufficient pointing angles caused it to soon disappear from the Strv-S1 design ..." [5].
Thus, when developing a new tank based on the strv-103 or its deep modernization, taking into account new electronic components and their miniaturization, it is possible to return to the original concept of placing an uninhabited combat module on the roof of the vehicle, which is controlled remotely.
General view of Strv-103 in section. The driver and radio operator sit back to back in the fighting compartment to the left of the main gun [5].
The control of the combat module can be entrusted to a radio operator, whose place is located behind the driver's mechanic. Thus, he has a new profession: gunner of the combat module. He can also be a gunner of guided missiles launched from the main 120 mm gun, which, as described above, will have to be installed to replace the previous one.
When firing conventional or sub-caliber shells, the tank will still not be able to fire on the move. Therefore, when fighting enemy tanks, he will mainly have to act from an ambush, disguised or dug in. The hydraulic suspension of the tank allows you to change the pointing angles from -11 to +16 degrees (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stridsvagn_103#Variants), this allows limited use of the tank as artillery to fight the fortifications and manpower of the enemy.
What are the benefits of such an upgrade?
1. Price. For the price of 1 German Leopard-1 tank, the Swedish army could get 2 strv-103 tanks. The modern Leopard-2 tank is much more expensive, but the new tank, built according to the strv-103 concept, is expected to be cheaper even with the upgrade.
2. Such a machine seems to be more versatile than a classic tank, both in defense and on the offensive, as well as on the march. It combines the striking power of a classic tank and an armored support vehicle with an autonomous combat module.
a) On the offensive, it can be considered as an assault weapon to accompany mechanized infantry and suppress enemy fortified firing points and armored vehicles. It can also perform the task of covering from attacks by helicopters and attack aircraft (especially if there is a radar and MANPADS in the combat module).
b) In defense as anti-tank weapons, operating mainly from an ambush. And also as a means of air defense.
c) On the march to cover from enemy air attacks as part of an integrated network of mobile anti-aircraft weapons.
List of links on the topic of the tank strv-103
1. http://historius.narod.ru/spravka/tank/tank-tm-19.htm
2. http://armor.kiev.ua/Tanks/Modern/STRV/obtstrv.php?img=s_komp.gif.html
3. http://armor.kiev.ua/Tanks/Modern/STRV/s_komp.gif
4. https://svppbellum.blogspot.com/2020/03/lo-stridsvagn-103-o-strv-103-o-carro-s.html
5. https://warspot.ru/7905-udivitelnyy-tank-strv-103
6. https://www.pinterest.se/pin/467952217526163834/
7. https://hdpic.club/31194-strv-103b-39-foto.html
8. https://weapon.temadnya.com/2159404877792414540/bezbashennyj-tank-stridsvagn-103-ili-s-tank/
9. https://j-aircraftmodel.ru/military-vehicles-kits/trumpeter-00310-682411.html
10. https://modelist-konstruktor.com/bronekollekcziya/shvedskij-osnovnoj-boevoj-tank
11. https://www.super-hobby.ru/products/Sweden-Strv-103B-MBT.html
12. https://info.wikireading.ru/114688
13. http://www.alexfiles99.narod.ru/0001/STRV-103.htm
Modernization of the T-55 "Typhon" tank (the material shows the fundamental possibility of installing modern guns and equipment in obsolete tanks)
14. http://www.discasanave.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49:tanque-principal-de-combate&catid=35:modernizacion-de-carros-de-combate&Itemid=300011
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