Swedish World War Two Tanks

Swedish tank development began during the interwar years.

The first Swedish tank, the Stridsvagn M/21 light tank, was completed in 1921. It was designed by Joseph Vollmer, the German engineer who also designed Germany's A7V Sturmpanzer-Kraftwagen. The M/21 was based on Germany's LK I and LK II light tanks, which were also designed by Vollmer.

Although Sweden was officially neutral during World War Two, it continued to design and build tanks during the war, so that it could defend itself from an invasion.  This was part of an overall strategy to increase military preparedness that began in the 1930s.

Tank development in Sweden continued to focus on defense even into the 1960s, when the Swedish built the Stridsvagn 103 main battle tank, a turretless tank that could move backwards and forwards at equal speeds.

The first Swedish tanks were only produced in small quantities.

It was not until the early 1940s that Swedish tanks began to be mass produced.