Infanterikanonvagn 91
Encyclopedia
The Ikv 91, or Infanterikanonvagn 91, was a high mobility tank destroyer
that was developed to meet the operational requirements of the Swedish Army
. It was designed and manufactured by Hägglund and Söner (now Hägglunds Vehicle AB
) and employed common components with the Pbv 302 armoured personnel carrier
series. The first prototypes of the Ikv 91 were completed in 1969 with production running from 1975 until 1978. The total numbers manufactured were 212.
In layout, the Ikv 91 resembled a large light tank. The main armament consisted of a Bofors
90 mm L/54 rifled low pressure gun, firing HEAT
, armor-piercing and HE rounds, in a well sloped revolving turret which gave protection up to 25 mm calibre. This gun had an elevation of +15 degrees and depression of -10. In addition, the Ikv 91 was fitted with two 7.62 mm Browning machine guns; one in a coaxial mounting, and the second on a pintle attached to the commander's cupola. The machine guns were first used for a range firing but in later versions a laser is used; however the machine guns prove very useful against enemy infantry positions. Two 71 mm Lyran flare launchers were mounted on the turret along with a set of smoke dischargers (usually 12). The vehicle was equipped with a laser rangefinder, nightvision and a computerised fire-control system for increased first-round hit probability. The rate of fire was 8 rounds per minute and 59 rounds of 90 mm ammunition were carried internally. The tank can even fire while in water with the water taking most of the recoil. The turret itself has a small hatch which can be opened by the loader to eject used cartridge cases to prevent clutter in the tank.
With wide tracks and a high power-to-weight ratio
, the Ikv 91 offered exceptionally good off-road mobility, and the low ground pressure
enabled it to operate over summer taiga
and winter snow. The vehicle was fully amphibious with little preparation by the crew, and some models were equipped with propellers for increased speed in the water. Screens are erected to stop water from entering the engine and the cabin compartment and a vane to protect from oncoming waves. The vehicle weighed 16.3 tonnes and had a crew of four. It was powered by a Volvo 12 liter, 330 hp, diesel engine. Maximum road speed was 65 km/h. The range on roads was about 500 km.
Ikv 91 was retired from the Swedish army in the late 1990s–early 2000s and was partly replaced by Strf 90 combat vehicles and partly by Leopard 2
tanks. When in active duty, the Ikv 91 was assigned to the Swedish infantry brigades, who had one company of 12 vehicles each, and temporarily the 10th Mechanized Brigade, who had two companies along with Centurion tanks during the 1980s. In 2000 all Swedish infantry brigades were phased out and the 10th mech. bge had its Ikv 91 replaced with centurion tanks in late 1980s – early 1990s. Plans were made to replace its 90 mm gun with a 105 mm gun or even a TOW missile launcher, only the 105mm gun was made as a prototype in 1983 (Ikv 105), but none went into production as the tasks these vehicle could have performed could easily be tasked to Leopard tanks or CV90s.
The Ikv 105 was marketed for export and was tested by both India and the United States. The weight was 18 tons and the speed in water was increased to 12 km/h, the main gun was a low recoil fully stabilized version of a high pressure Bofors gun. It was night vision driving and fire control enabled by an IR system provided by SAAB, with fire control monitors for both gunner and tank commander.
Tank destroyer
A tank destroyer is a type of armored fighting vehicle armed with a gun or missile launcher, and is designed specifically to engage enemy armored vehicles...
that was developed to meet the operational requirements of the Swedish Army
Swedish Army
The Swedish Army is one of the oldest standing armies in the world and a branch of the Swedish Armed Forces; it is in charge of land operations. General Sverker Göranson is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army.- Organization :...
. It was designed and manufactured by Hägglund and Söner (now Hägglunds Vehicle AB
Land Systems Hägglunds
BAE Systems AB is a Swedish defence company and a subsidiary of BAE Systems Land and Armaments, whose ultimate parent is the British defence contractor BAE Systems. The company was formed in 2006 by the merger of Land Systems Hägglunds AB and BAE Systems Bofors.-BAE Systems Hägglunds:AB Hägglund &...
) and employed common components with the Pbv 302 armoured personnel carrier
Armoured personnel carrier
An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
series. The first prototypes of the Ikv 91 were completed in 1969 with production running from 1975 until 1978. The total numbers manufactured were 212.
In layout, the Ikv 91 resembled a large light tank. The main armament consisted of a Bofors
Bofors
The name Bofors has been associated with the iron industry for more than 350 years.Located in Karlskoga, Sweden, the company originates from the hammer mill "Boofors" founded 1646. The modern corporate structure was created in 1873 with the foundation of Aktiebolaget Bofors-Gullspång...
90 mm L/54 rifled low pressure gun, firing HEAT
High explosive anti-tank
High explosive anti-tank warheads are made of an explosive shaped charge that uses the Munroe effect to create a very high-velocity partial stream of metal in a state of superplasticity that can punch through solid armor....
, armor-piercing and HE rounds, in a well sloped revolving turret which gave protection up to 25 mm calibre. This gun had an elevation of +15 degrees and depression of -10. In addition, the Ikv 91 was fitted with two 7.62 mm Browning machine guns; one in a coaxial mounting, and the second on a pintle attached to the commander's cupola. The machine guns were first used for a range firing but in later versions a laser is used; however the machine guns prove very useful against enemy infantry positions. Two 71 mm Lyran flare launchers were mounted on the turret along with a set of smoke dischargers (usually 12). The vehicle was equipped with a laser rangefinder, nightvision and a computerised fire-control system for increased first-round hit probability. The rate of fire was 8 rounds per minute and 59 rounds of 90 mm ammunition were carried internally. The tank can even fire while in water with the water taking most of the recoil. The turret itself has a small hatch which can be opened by the loader to eject used cartridge cases to prevent clutter in the tank.
With wide tracks and a high power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio is a calculation commonly applied to engines and mobile power sources to enable the comparison of one unit or design to another. Power-to-weight ratio is a measurement of actual performance of any engine or power sources...
, the Ikv 91 offered exceptionally good off-road mobility, and the low ground pressure
Ground pressure
Ground pressure is the pressure exerted on the ground by the tires or tracks of a motorized vehicle, and is one measure of its potential mobility, especially over soft ground. Ground pressure is measured in pascals which corresponds to the EES unit of pounds per square inch...
enabled it to operate over summer taiga
Taiga
Taiga , also known as the boreal forest, is a biome characterized by coniferous forests.Taiga is the world's largest terrestrial biome. In North America it covers most of inland Canada and Alaska as well as parts of the extreme northern continental United States and is known as the Northwoods...
and winter snow. The vehicle was fully amphibious with little preparation by the crew, and some models were equipped with propellers for increased speed in the water. Screens are erected to stop water from entering the engine and the cabin compartment and a vane to protect from oncoming waves. The vehicle weighed 16.3 tonnes and had a crew of four. It was powered by a Volvo 12 liter, 330 hp, diesel engine. Maximum road speed was 65 km/h. The range on roads was about 500 km.
Ikv 91 was retired from the Swedish army in the late 1990s–early 2000s and was partly replaced by Strf 90 combat vehicles and partly by Leopard 2
Leopard 2
The Leopard 2 is a main battle tank developed by Krauss-Maffei in the early 1970s for the West German Army. The tank first entered service in 1979 and succeeded the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the German Army. Various versions have served in the armed forces of Germany and twelve...
tanks. When in active duty, the Ikv 91 was assigned to the Swedish infantry brigades, who had one company of 12 vehicles each, and temporarily the 10th Mechanized Brigade, who had two companies along with Centurion tanks during the 1980s. In 2000 all Swedish infantry brigades were phased out and the 10th mech. bge had its Ikv 91 replaced with centurion tanks in late 1980s – early 1990s. Plans were made to replace its 90 mm gun with a 105 mm gun or even a TOW missile launcher, only the 105mm gun was made as a prototype in 1983 (Ikv 105), but none went into production as the tasks these vehicle could have performed could easily be tasked to Leopard tanks or CV90s.
The Ikv 105 was marketed for export and was tested by both India and the United States. The weight was 18 tons and the speed in water was increased to 12 km/h, the main gun was a low recoil fully stabilized version of a high pressure Bofors gun. It was night vision driving and fire control enabled by an IR system provided by SAAB, with fire control monitors for both gunner and tank commander.
See also
- List of tanks
- List of modern armoured fighting vehicles
- Swedish Armed ForcesSwedish Armed ForcesThe Swedish Armed Forces is a Swedish Government Agency responsible for the operation of the armed forces of the Realm. The primary task of the agency is to train, organize and to deploy military forces, domestically and abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to defend the Realm in the...