AB Landsverk

"Landsverk" redirects here. For the name, see Landsverk (name).

AB Landsverk (full name: Aktiebolaget Landsverk, lit. 'The Corporation Landsverk') was a Swedish heavy industry company, manufacturing a wide variety of tracked and wheeled military vehicles, such as tractor units, off-road vehicles and armoured vehicles, etc, most notably the world's first welded tank constructions, among others, but also a wide variety of civilian heavy equipment, such as railroad cars, harbour cranes and agricultural machinery.

Landsverk's logotype

Landsverk M38 top view

It was founded in 1872 as Firman Petterson & Ohlsen. It was located in Landskrona, Sweden.

Early days

In late 1920, the company found itself on the verge of bankruptcy. Through a German company, the Gutehoffnungshütte Aktienverein für Bergbau und Hüttenbereich Oberhausen (GHH), invested heavily and gained control of 50% of the shares.

In 1923, the company manufactured a small number of tracked agricultural tractors based on an American design. The Germans increased their ownership to 61% in 1925 and three years later the name was changed to AB Landsverk. In 1929, the German engineer Otto Merker was assigned to Landsverk to develop armoured vehicles, a few prototypes of a German design with both wheels and tracks were manufactured in Landskrona. In 1930, the Swedish Army placed an order of armoured car for trials, and a few years later three light tanks on wheels and tracks.

In 1933, Lithuania ordered six, in 1935, the Netherlands ordered twelve Landsverk L181 and in 1937, an order of thirteen L-180 armoured cars. Landsverk presented the L-60 in 1934, the first tank with torsion-bar suspension. There was some very limited export of armoured cars to other countries like Denmark and Finland. Hungary manufactured the L-60 as the Toldi. The Landsverk anti-II was an AA variant of this tank.

Landsverk built a few L-120 light tanks in the 1930s, one of which was exported to Norway, it was the first tank operated by the Norwegian Army.^[1]

The modern era

During the Second World War, Landsverk designed and partly manufactured, most of the Swedish Army's tanks. At the conclusion of that conflict, Landsverk was subject to an effort to dismantle German foreign business interests. Landsverk was confiscated by the Swedish state and, through its Flyktkapitalbyrån [sv] agency, sold to Kockums.

The Irish Army operated several Landsverk vehicles over the last 80 years. Two L-60 tanks were purchased in 1935 as training vehicles to supplement the single Vickers Mk D. Although, three tanks were of dubious military value, however, budget constraints prevented additional purchases. Both were out of service by 1953 due to a lack of tracks. Both are still in existence, whilst one has been restored to working condition.

The Irish Army also used the L-180 armoured car. The type was adopted to replace the aging Rolls-Royce fleet in 1937. Eight were delivered by 1939, but the last five on order were never delivered due to the outbreak of the Second World War (they were instead taken over and used by Sweden). The same was the case with many other vehicles in the Irish Army, budget constraints meant that the L180s were still in front-line service (albeit up-gunned with 20mm cannon) until 1972. Incredibly, they were then transferred to the Irish Army Reserve, the FCA, where they were kept in service until the mid-1980s. Five are preserved, including one donated to the Swedish Army.

The Landsverk Company produced an armoured scout car based on the Unimog S404 in the late 1950s. The Irish Army purchased 15 of the vehicles (originally intended for the police force in the Belgian Congo), in 1971 at a bargain price. They were intended as a stop-gap vehicle for use until the first Panhard M3 VTT APCs entered service in 1972. The type had excellent off-road capability but poor on-road handling due to a high centre of gravity and several accidents occurred as a result. A four-man dismountable squad arrangement was carried, but space was cramped and in any case a four-man detachment was far too small for any sort of realistic military purpose. Other criticisms were that the gunner's position was too exposed. Eventually the Unimog Scout Cars arrived in Ireland in February 1972, their departure having been delayed by a local peace group who thought they were destined for the Provisional Irish Republican Army. By mid-1978 all had been transferred to the Irish Army Reserve, the FCA. All were withdrawn by 1984, two are preserved; one in the transport museum in Howth, County Dublin and one in England.

Materiel produced by AB Landsverk

Military equipment by AB Landsverk

Name	Year	Variants	Type	Status	Caliber (mm)	Main armament/Notes
Strv m/21-29	1929	-	Tank	Swedish service	6,5	Ksp m/14-29 machine gun × 1
L-5	1929	-	Tank	Prototype	37	cannon × 1
L-10	1929	-	Tank	Swedish service	37	Bofors AT-gun × 1
L-30	1931	-	Tank	Prototype	37	Bofors AT-gun × 1
L-60	1934	L-60	Tank	Export	20	Madsen autocannon × 1
		L-60Ö (Österrike "Austria")	Tank	Export	20	Madsen autocannon × 1
		Toldi I	Tank	Export	20	Solothurn anti tank rifle × 1
		Original Toldi I plan	Tank	Blueprint	25	Bofors autocannon × 1
		Suggested Swedish version	Tank	Blueprint	25	Bofors autocannon × 1
		Strv m/48	Tank	Blueprint	25	automatkanon m/32 × 1
		L-60 (export alternative)	Tank	Blueprint	37	Madsen AT-gun × 1
		L-60S I (Strv m/38)	Tank	Swedish service	37	Bofors strvkan m/38 × 1
		L-60S II (Strv m/39)	Tank	Swedish service	37	Bofors strvkan m/38 × 1
		L-60S III (Strv m/40L)	Tank	Swedish service	37	Bofors strvkan m/38 × 1
		L-60S V (Strv m/40K)	Tank	Swedish service	37	Bofors strvkan m/38 × 1
		Suggested Swedish version	Tank	Blueprint	37	Bofors autocannon × 1
		Pvkv IV Värjan	TD	Prototype	57	PvKan m/43 × 1
L-62	1936	Anti (concept)	SPAAG	Blueprint	40	QF 2 pounder pom-pom × 1
		Anti I	SPAAG	Export	40	Bofors L/60 × 1
		Anti II	SPAAG	Export	40	Bofors L/60 × 1
L-63	1933	-	SPAAG	Blueprint	25	Bofors automatkanon m/32 × 1
L-64	1933	-	SPAAG	Blueprint	20	Oerlikon autocannon × 1
L-65	1933	-	SPAAG	Blueprint	47	AA-gun × 1
L-80	1933	-	Tank	Blueprint	20	Madsen autocannon × 1
L-100	1934	Prototype	Light tank	Prototype	6,5	Ksp m/14-29 machine gun × 1
		Suggestion	Light tank	Blueprint	20	Madsen autocannon × 1
L-101	1934	-	TD	Blueprint	20	Madsen autocannon × 1
L-110	1933	-	Tank	Prototype	Unknown	Unknown
L-120	1937	Norwegian version	Light tank	Export/Prototype	7,92	Colt M/29 ksp × 1
		Swedish version	Light tank	Prototype	8	Ksp m/36 machine gun × 2
		Export	Light tank	Blueprint	20	Madsen autocannon × 1
L-131	1934	-	Artillery tractor	Export	-	To Siam
L-132	1934	-	Artillery tractor	Export	-	To Siam
L-135	1936	L-135	Artillery tractor	Export	-	To Siam
		L-135S	Artillery tractor	Prototype	-	Swedish prototype
L-140	1936	-	Artillery tractor/SPAAG	Prototype	37	Flak 36[2] × 1: SPAAG conversion
			Artillery tractor/SPAAG		40	LvAkan m/36[3] × 1: SPAAG conversion
L-170	1930	Pbil fm/29	Armored car	Prototype	37	Marinkanon 98B cannon × 1
L-180	1935	Autocannon version	Armored car	Export	20	Madsen autocannon × 1
		PV M36	Armored car	Export	20	Madsen autocannon × 1
		Pbil m/41	Armored car	Swedish service	20	Bofors akan m/40 × 1
		AT-cannon version	Armored car	Export	37	Madsen AT-gun × 1
L-181	1933	Autocannon version	Armored car	Export	20	Oerlikon autocannon × 1
		AT-cannon version	Armored car	Export	37	Bofors AT-gun × 1
L-182	1935	L-182	Armored car	Export	13,2	L-35/36 machine gun × 1
		L-182A	Armored car	Field mod	20	L-39 Lahti anti-tank rifle × 1
L-185	1933	PV M34	Armored car	Export	20	Madsen akan × 1
L-190	1932	-	Armored motorcycle	Prototype	6,5	Ksp m/14-29 machine gun × 1
L-210	1938	-	Armored motorcycle	Prototype	8	Madsen machine gun × 1
Transportvagn	1934	-	Transport wagon	Export	-	A transport wagon for Siam
Strålkastarvagn	1934	SIA Stockholm (Stockholms version)	Searchlight wagon	Swedish service	-	A searchlight wagon named SIA
		SIA	Searchlight wagon	Swedish service	-
Lynx	1938	PV M/39	Armored car	Export	20	Madsen autocannon × 1
		Pbil m/39	Armored car	Swedish service	20	Bofors akan m/40 × 1
		Pbil m/40 (Volvo version)	Armored car	Swedish service	20	Bofors akan m/40 × 1
Lago	1936	Lago I (Hungarian variant)	Medium tank	Prototype	40	MÁVAG cannon × 1
		Lago I (Export variant)	Medium tank	Blueprint	47	Skoda cannon × 1
		Lago I (Swedish variant)	Medium tank	Blueprint	57	Bofors AT-gun × 1
		Lago II (Strv m/42 TM)	Medium tank	Swedish service	75	Bofors strvkan m/41 L31 × 1
		Lago III (Strv m/42 TH)	Medium tank	Swedish service	75	Bofors strvkan m/41 L31 × 1
		Lago IV (Strv m/42 EH)	Medium tank	Swedish service	75	Bofors strvkan m/41 L31 × 1
		Strv m/42 TV	Medium tank	Swedish service	75	Bofors strvkan m/41 L31 × 1
		Strv m/42 DT (Delat torn)	Medium tank	Prototype	75	Pvkan L/54 m/43 strv × 1
		Ikv 73	Assault gun	Swedish service	75	Bofors strvkan m/41 L31 × 1
Terro	1941	L-60 IV	Tank	Blueprint	37	Bofors strvkan m/38 × 1
KP-bil	1942	1942 version	APC	Swedish service	-	-
		1956 version	APC	Swedish service/Export	8	Ksp m/39 machine gun × 2
		1980 version	APC	Swedish service	7,62	Ksp 58 machine gun × 2
Bandtraktor	1942	-	Artillery tractor	Swedish service	-	License built Allis-Chalmers M
Skogsbrandvagn	1943	-	Fire fighting vehicle	Prototype	-	Foam cannon × 1
Pvkv m/43	1943	1946 version	TD	Swedish service	75	PvKan m/43 × 1
		1954 version	TD	Swedish service
		1963 version	TD	Swedish service
Lvkv fm/43	1943	Lvkv fm/43-47	SPAAG	Swedish service	40	Bofors L/60 lvakan m/36/43 × 2
		Lvkv m/43-57	SPAAG	Swedish service	40	Bofors L/60 lvakan m/36/43 × 2
Sländan	1944	-	Self-propelled armored sled	Prototype	-	A self-propelled armored sled called sländan
Pricken	1944	Pricken m/44	Medium tank	Blueprint	75	Pvkan L54 m/43 strv × 1
		Pricken m/48 pvkan m/43	Medium tank	Blueprint	75	Pvkan L54 m/43 strv × 1
		Pricken m/48 pvkan m/48	Medium tank	Blueprint	105	Pvkan m/48 × 1
Strv m/46	1946	LS 46	Medium tank	Blueprint	105	Lvkan m/42 × 1
		TLS 47	Medium tank	Blueprint	105	Lvkan m/42 × 1
Pvkv m/46	1946	LP 46	TD	Blueprint	105	Lvkan m/42 × 1
		TLP 47	TD	Blueprint	105	Lvkan m/42 × 1
Leo	1948	Leo pvkan m/43	Medium tank	Blueprint	75	Pvkan L/54 m/43 strv × 1
		Leo kan m/34	Medium tank	Blueprint	105	Kanon m/34 × 1
Lansen	1948	Lansen m/48	Light tank	Blueprint	75	Pvkan L/54 m/43 strv × 1
		Lansen m/50 pvkan L/57	Light tank	Blueprint	84	Pvkan L/57 × 1
		Lansen m/50 pvkan L/65	Light tank	Blueprint	84	Pvkan L/65 × 1
		Lansen m/51 pvkan L/65	Light tank	Blueprint	84	Pvkan L/65 × 1
		Lansen m/51 pvkan L/60	Light tank	Blueprint	90	Pvkan L/60 × 1
		Lansen m/51S pvkan L/60	Light tank	Blueprint	90	Pvkan L/60 × 1
		Lansen m/51S strvkan fm/49	Light tank	Blueprint	105	Strvkan fm/49 × 1
		Lansen m/51S strvkan fm/50	Light tank	Blueprint	105	Strvkan L/40 fm/50 × 1
Pilen	1948	-	Light tank	Blueprint	75	StrvKan m/41 L31 × 1
Lvkv 42 (fm/49)	1948	-	SPAAG	Prototype	40	Bofors L/70 lvakan m/47 × 1
Pvkv II	1949	Pvkv III	TD	Prototype	57	PvKan m/43 × 1
		Pvkv II	TD	Prototype	75	LvKan m/36 × 1
Pbv T fm/49	1949	-	APC	Prototype	8	Ksp m/39 B strv × 3
Ikv 72	1953	Ikv 72	Assault gun	Swedish service	75	StrvKan m/41 L31 × 1
		Ikv 102	Assault gun	Swedish service	105	Ikvkan m/55 ikv L/22 × 1
Ikv 103	1956	-	Assault gun	Swedish service	105	Ikvkan m/55 ikv L/22 × 1
Kranvagn	1955	EMIL 1951	Heavy tank	Blueprint	120	L/40 smoothbore autocannon × 1
		EMIL 1	Heavy tank	Blueprint	150	L/40 smoothbore autocannon × 1
		EMIL 2	Heavy tank	Blueprint	150	L/40 smoothbore autocannon × 1
		EMIL 3	Heavy tank	Prototype	150	L/40 smoothbore autocannon × 1
		Strv K	MBT	Blueprint	105	Royal Ordnance L7 × 1
Unimog	1957	Irish Bren variant	Armored car	Export	7,62	Bren machine gun × 1
		Irish Colt variant	Armored car	Export	7,62	Colt machine gun × 1
		Ethiopian variant	Armored car	Export	7,62	Madsen-Saetter machine gun × 2
		Ethiopian modification	Armored car	Export	75	M20 recoilless rifle × 1
		Unimog with 8 cm rocket launchers	Armored car	Prototype	80	Oerlikon 8 cm rocket launcher × 2
		Unimog with 90 mm recoilless rifles	Armored car	Blueprint	90	Pvpj 11110 × 2
Strv 74	1957	Strv 74 H	Tank	Swedish service	75	Kanon strv 74 × 1
		Strv 74 V	Tank	Swedish service	75	Kanon strv 74 × 1
Pbv 301	1957	Pbv 301	APC	Swedish service	20	Akan m/45 B × 1
		Pbv 3011	APC	Swedish service	20	Akan m/45 B × 1
		Pbv 3012	APC	Swedish service	20	Akan m/45 B × 1
Strv A	1958	Main variant	MBT	Blueprint	105	autocannon × 1
		Suggestion	MBT	Blueprint	120	Pvkan × 1
Strv T	1958	-	MBT	Blueprint	105	Royal Ordnance L7 × 1
Strv S	1956	Strv 103A	MBT	Swedish service	105	Bofors L/62 × 1
		Strv 103B	MBT	Swedish service	105	Bofors L/62 × 1
		Strv 103C	MBT	Swedish service	105	Bofors L/62 × 1
		Strv 103D	MBT	Prototype	105	Bofors L/62 × 1
Akv 151	1960	-	SPG	Prototype	155	Akan m/60 × 1
Bkan 1	1964	Bkan 1A	SPG	Swedish service	155	Akan m/60 × 1
		Bkan 1B	SPG	Prototype	155	Akan m/60 × 1
		Bkan 1C	SPG	Swedish service	155	Akan m/60 × 1
Lvkv VEAK 40	1964	-	SPAAG	Prototype	40	Bofors L/70 lvakan m/47 × 2
Pbv 302	1965	Pbv 302A	APC	Swedish service	20	Akan m/47D × 1
		Pbv 302B	APC	Swedish service
		Pbv 302C	APC	Swedish service
Ikv 91	1969	1969 version	Assault gun/TD	Swedish service	90	Bofors L/54 räfflad pvkan × 1
		1975 version	Assault gun/TD	Swedish service	90	Bofors L/54 räfflad pvkan × 1

References

1. Dag Sundkvist; Daniella Carlsson; Thorleif Olsson (13 February 2003). "Norway". Tanks! Armoured warfare prior to 1946. Florida State University. Archived from the original on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
2. "l-140 flak 36". Retrieved 2018-05-25.
3. "L-140 med lvakan". Retrieved 2018-05-25.

External links

• Dutch Cavalry Museum