Tank Chats #130 | Ikv 91 | The Tank Museum

Curator David Willey discusses the Cold War era Swedish Ikv 91. Short for Infanterikanonvagn 91, this tank destroyer was developed to meet the operational requirements of the Swedish Army post WW2.
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[TendellGothenburg]

I served a couple of years in the 80’s on IKV 91 as a platoon commander. The main uses for IKV was 1/ to be a rapid force cleaning up a field from BMD:s after a Soviet airdrop and 2/ do delaying warfare against a Soviet tank battalion that was advancing along a long road in canalizing terrain (for example between lakes, swamps, thick forests or steep hills). That meant waiting almost invisible in the flank, then hitting the first tanks in the side (the IKV could hit a target at 1 600 m range, but the preferred distance to the target was 1 000 m maximum. That would mean good chance of hitting with the first round and a guaranteed hit with the second round after slightly adjustment. However, canalizing terrain often meant doing battle on a 200-500 m range). Continue firing until the enemy began with serious response. Then fast regrouping to a similar position further down the road, then do the procedure again 2 or 3 times to weaken the enemy even more until the IKV company reached the decided bottom line where each tank received a new load of grenades (full load + one in the cannon + one in the hands of the loader). Then fight until death or victory together with the infantry brigade and perhaps heavy artillery support. T-55:s and T-62:s were considered easy targets for the IKV. T-64:s and T-72:s were worthy opponents. The only thing that would be a real nightmare for IKV was a battalion of T-80:s.

[raptououour]

As a swede I'm always fascinated with the designs and history of Swedish armoured vehicles. I also love all the warning label we put in our tanks, one of the labels in the turret of the IKV 91 said "använd hörselskydd" (use ear protection) next to a the cannon

[svenohnander]

I served as a gunner on these back in 1979/1980. Fantastic machine, quick and stealthy. Excellent gun and ballistics computer for the time. I never missed a shot, not even on moving targets.

[kakmakt]

Served as a IKV-91 platoon commander. The vehicle was tactically deployed as an ambush tank ONLY. You basically used the exceptional terrain capabilities to hide hull down along along a wooded road, waiting.

With lap-loading you shot 2 shots within 4 seconds against the first and last vehicle in a column 2 IKV's on each target, deployed smoke and moved back before the enemy could react.

Platoon commanders loader was also a artillery guy, that could with the IKV high powered radio (we had 2 radios) call down pre-plotted artillery on the now struck column of vehicles.

The best feature of the tank was that we had cocking abilities inside the tank. A direct hit on it would be like hitting a grocery store.

We did not worry too much about other tanks but helicopter gunships that flew along the enemy tank columns would have been a menace.
We had summer and winter net camouflage on until we sprung the ambush.

[c.j.zographos]

Another fascinating chat on a not-so-well-known armoured vehicle. Well done Mr. Wiley. Keep on keeping us interested!

[fredriknilsson]

70 km/h easily and we fired it up in much colder weather than that, sir.
It's a fantastic vehicle to command and as you stated speed and portability is key to the tactics.
4 wagons in a platoon and one shot and then regroup whether that is fot infantry support or ambush.

[bjornh]

I've seen it in the field a couple of times. One time was during a refresher manoeuver in 1989, when an IKV 91 platoon supported our motorized rifle company in our attack on "enemy" forces in the port town of Oskarshamn. The other time was in the early 1990s, when I attended an anti-tank course, and we got to fire simfire LAWs at a IKV 91 with sensors. Later, it was driven across swampy ground in order to demonstrate the capabilities of Warsaw Pact vehicles with similar ground pressure. It got bogged down to the engine deck, and had to be towed out of the muck by another IKV 91...

[fakshen]

That was nice of Sweden to donate it. Racing it around the hills and valleys of Sweden must have been an adventure.

[dennistofvesson]

This video bring back some nice memorys from1983-1984 when I was serving as gunner on a PBV302 in MecBat10, a type of mechanised battalion used primarily in the middle and northern part of Sweden. One of the tasks we had was to counter air landing operations and the key was to get there fast. That was done by a type of alternate advance usualy done by an infantry platoon when advancing but this was down with one platoon of IFV91 and one platoon of PBV302. Quite fun to do this in speeds of up to 70 kmh on dirtroads.

[andrewbarratt]

Another superb piece. During lockdown I looked forward every week to your garden chats, they were such fun, a great distraction from the misery all around and were a weekly dose of "a chat down the pub" - it kept me sane so thank you so much

[johanbergqvist]

During my military service (infantry mid 80th) on a number of occasion we got IKV 91 assigned to our company and our squad rode on the rear deck holding on to rubber straps. Quite scary at times and I wondered if the driver had forgot that he had passenger on the back. (A hell of alot faster than the Centurions )

[patrikedstrom]

I was a platoon commander in the MBT’s, trained on both Strv 102 & 103, but I absolutely love these ”sports-tanks”! So agile, so cool! I saw them all the time during basic training and have several friends who trained on them. Great little vehicles!

[dacicus]

The most interesting and well made light tank of the 60s up to 2000s. I love it so much. Something like this one, would be great for romanian naval infantry.

[jnb]

This type of tanks are my favorite: the one developed and built to defend a country and its specific environment.

[laszlokaestner]

Seems really well thought out and designed.

[LN-ix]

I'd love to see a collaboration between Arsenalen and The Tank Museum. Stefan, David, and Mr. Fletcher all together would be amazing.

[jeriksson]

I have ridden on the rear of an IKV91 in heavy snow when I did service as a Ranger in north sweden. Great fun and didnt feel very safe =)

[alamore]

A cracking and versatile light tank. I like the thought and weapons capability. Attuned the the geography and challenges it would face. If you were a Swede you would be happy having these at your side. If you were an invading force with main battle tanks, getting bogged down, facing lakes and sticking out like a sore thumb - these IKV 91'S would be a serious threat. It looks the business too!

[MrOllevarm]

The IKV 91 stills servs to this day. A few of them is used at the infantry combat school at Kvarn training grounds, Östergötland. They are a part of an OPFOR unit, and the IKV is used at a model for the Russian Sprut-SD Airborne Tank Destroyer.

[Mornomgir]

the internet has lots of people whoms brains melt when this is the "td" and the "strv103" is the tank.

also i damn well adore you for putting this out there so well.

One thing though. it was tested in the early 2ks and the armor withstood 30mms.