Stridsvagn 81
In service 1953 - 1970s
Based onCenturion (national designation of)
Sweden Centurion Mk 3, bought in 1953 and modified with Swedish radios, sights and stowage.
Built byRoyal Ordnance Factories (UK), rebuilt in Sweden
Photograph pending. No clearly licensed photograph of this vehicle was found.
Development history
Unable to get a domestic heavy tank into production, Sweden bought eighty Centurion Mk 3 tanks in 1953 and designated them Stridsvagn 81, fitting Swedish radios, an infra-red searchlight and locally made sighting equipment. They were the backbone of Swedish armour until the 105 mm-armed Strv 101 and 102 arrived, and many were later rebuilt to Strv 102 and 104 standard rather than scrapped. The purchase shaped Swedish tank thinking straight through to the S-tank.
Variants
One canonical record, 2 recorded variants.
Strv 81
1953Centurion Mk 3 with Swedish radios, sights and stowage.
Strv 101
1965Centurion Mk 10 standard with the 105 mm L7 gun.
Related vehicles
Separate records that derive from this vehicle, grouped by how they relate to it.
Upgrade of this vehicle
Notable actions
- Cold War Swedish home defence