Pvkv IV Värjan tank destroyer

[Tasty95215 2,099]

 

The Pvkv IV "Värjan" was an experimental Swedish tank destroyer, converted and tested in 1952 as a way to extend the life of the L-60 light tank (aka the Strv m/38 - m/40K). It used a 57mm anti-tank gun in a new turret. "Pansarvärnskanonvagn" stands for tank destroyer, while "Värjan" was a type of sword used by the Swedish Carolean army in the 16th century.

 

Compared to the similar Pvkv III, this one has:

• (+) Better mobility
• (+) Better turret armor
• (+) Lower profile
• (+) Coaxial machine gun
• (-) Much worse reload rate
• (-) Really slow turret traverse
• (-) Less hull armor
• (-) Fewer crew members

 

Design:

One Strv m/40L was modified to create the Pvkv IV. The hull remained mostly the same, albeit with the removal of the applique armor in order to keep the weight down. The new turret was very lightly armored, being 12 mm all-around with the exception of its 20 mm gun mantlet.

 

 

The gun used was the Pvkan m/43 towed anti-tank gun. It could use the following shells:

 

 

• Sgr m/43 HE
  • 2.82 kg
  • 500g TNT
  • 600 m/s
• Slpgr m/43 APHEBC-T 
  • 2.51 kg
  • 60g TNT
  • 850 m/s
  • Has 88 mm penetration from Gaijin's calculator
• Slpprj m/43 AP-T
  • 2.7kg
  • 830 m/s
  • Has 102 mm penetration from Gaijin's calculator
• Slpprj m/49 APDS-T
  • 37mm core
  • 1.0kg
  • 1200 m/s
  • Penetration: 140mm at 90° and 500 meters. Source (note that these are from experimental trials)
    Spoiler

    

     

57mm Shells:

Spoiler

Photos:

Slpgr m/43 APHEBC-T: https://digitaltmuseum.se/011024371389/57-mm-patron-m-1943

Slpprj m/43 AP-T: https://digitaltmuseum.se/011024371386/57-mm-patron-m-1943

Slpprj m/49 APDS-T: https://digitaltmuseum.se/011024429264/57-mm-patron-m-1943

 

 

Trials showed that there were big problems regarding aiming, so the Pvkv IV was rejected in favor of another conversion based on the Strv m/41 (TNH) chassis (possibly the Pvkv III, though that one also ended up getting rejected). The Pvkv IV most likely ended up being scrapped.

 

From left to right, the Pvkv IV Varjun, the Pvkv III, the Pvkv II

 

More pictures:

 

 

Mock-up turret lacking coaxial MG and thermal sleeve on barrel

 

 

Specifications:

• Length: 4800 mm
• Height: 2250 mm
• Width: 2075 mm
• Weight: 9.56 tons
• Crew: 3 - Commander/Radioman/loader, Driver, Gunner/Machinegunner
• Top speed: 45 km/h
• Engine: Scania-Vabis 1664 (Gasoline 145 hp at 2300 rpm)
• Power to weight ratio: 15,1 hp/t

• Gradient: 40 dg

• Side slope: 30 dg

• Trench: 1,75 m

• Ground clearance: 350 mm

• Track width: 286 mm

• Ground contact length: 2290 mm

• Ground pressure: 0,73 kg/cm²

• Turning radius: 4,7 m

• Vertical step: 0,7 m

• Fording: 0,7 m

 

Armament:

• 1 x 57mm Pvkan m/43 
• 1 x 8 mm Ksp m/39 (coaxial)
• Gun elevation/depression: +19°/-14°
• Turret traverse speed: 2.3 degrees/second
• Ammo count:
  • 40 rounds of 57mm
  • 2000 rounds of 8mm
• Rate of fire: 5-6 rounds per minute (10-12 second reload)

 

Armor:

• Turret armor:
  • Gun mantlet: 20 mm
  • Front: 12 mm
  • Side: 12 mm
  • Rear: 12 mm
  • Roof: 5 mm
  • Floor: 5 mm
• Hull armor:
  • Front: 13 mm
  • Side: 13 mm
  • Rear: 13 mm
  • Roof: 5-9 mm
  • Floor: 5-8 mm

 

Strv m/40L armor scheme (without applique)

Spoiler

 

Strv m/40L specification sheet

Spoiler

 

Sources:

• https://digitaltmuseum.se/owners/S-AM
• https://fromtheswedisharchives.wordpress.com/2018/10/08/l-60-in-swedish-service-strv-m-38-m-40k/
• https://www.ointres.se/strv_m_40.htm
• http://www.ointres.se/1950-01-25--27_skjutprov_kungstigern.htm
• https://imgur.com/a/6f7jvYG
• http://tanks.mod16.org/pdf/datasheets/Stridsvagn m40L.pdf
• http://tanks.mod16.org/pdf/Amregister, 1960.pdf
• http://ftr.wot-news.com/2014/03/21/swedish-tanks-part-iv-landsverk-l-60/
• https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/417466-standalone-swedish-ground-forces-tree

Edited April 13, 2020 by Tasty95215

[TerikG2014 1,389]

Open for discussion. 

[Wolf_89 2,525]

I do hope they add Pvkv IV Värjan TD. Its needed.

Also hope they add Pvkv III.

[ramy353 71]

Honestly surprised this was not in the tech tree on release and the Pvkv III. As there is a gap from 3.3 to 6.0 in that TD line that would be less of gap with the two vehicles.  

[Zombificus 793]

This would be great for that big BR gap, along with Pvkv III. Speaking of, wouldn't the mystery TNH / Strv m/41 conversion that Varjan was rejected in favour of probably be Pvkv III? The Pvkv II was based on that chassis, and from the picture it and Pvkv III seem to have the same hull. In any case, this has good penetration and thin armour, so would work really well as a lower-tier equivalent to Strv 74, which is a similar glass cannon conversion with great gun depression. The barely existent 3.7/4.0 lineup would grow significantly stronger with this tank in the mix, especially since the Pvkv II is moving up to 3.7 in the next BR change as well. Besides being a useful addition, it's also bizarre, which is a big selling point for me personally. I'd love to see this in the game!

[Milocat 4,857]

Very cool find, this gets my full support.  +1.

[eleks12 1,079]

+1

[Tasty95215 2,099]

Sorry, but I messed up the information on the Slpgr m/43 APHE. It actually has 60 grams of explosives, not 6 grams. Also, since it's an APHE-BC shell, not APCBC, it doesn't get the extra penetration bonus from Gaijin's pen calculator. As such, the penetration (according to the calculator) is 88mm, not 111mm. However, the other rounds should be correct.

 

[ForeverAloneRage 130]

[Tasty95215 2,099]

9 hours ago, ForeverAloneRage said:

 

Thanks for the picture, I'll add it to the OP. I'm guessing that picture as well as this one are of a mock-up turret, given the lack of a coaxial MG?

 

[ForeverAloneRage 130]

14 hours ago, Tasty95215 said:

 

Thanks for the picture, I'll add it to the OP. I'm guessing that picture as well as this one are of a mock-up turret, given the lack of a coaxial MG?

 

Probably

[Stridswombat 1,089]

On 09/04/2020 at 23:31, Tasty95215 said:

Thanks for the picture, I'll add it to the OP. I'm guessing that picture as well as this one are of a mock-up turret, given the lack of a coaxial MG?

Yes. The real turret had a full barrel sleeve over the barrel. If you want you could add pictures of the shell on here.

 

AP-T: https://digitaltmuseum.se/011024371386/57-mm-patron-m-1943

 

APHEBC-T: https://digitaltmuseum.se/011024371389/57-mm-patron-m-1943

 

APDS-T: https://digitaltmuseum.se/011024429264/57-mm-patron-m-1943

[Tasty95215 2,099]

20 minutes ago, Stridswombat said:

Yes. The real turret had a full barrel sleeve over the barrel. If you want you could add pictures of the shell on here.

 

AP-T: https://digitaltmuseum.se/011024371386/57-mm-patron-m-1943

 

APHEBC-T: https://digitaltmuseum.se/011024371389/57-mm-patron-m-1943

 

APDS-T: https://digitaltmuseum.se/011024429264/57-mm-patron-m-1943

 

Thanks, I'll add these to the post, as well as the Pvkv III one.

[CokeSpray 7,274]

Suggestion passed to the developers for consideration.