Posts Tagged: 105mm VAK SPG
Considerations regarding self-propelled 105 mm howitzer (1949)
A few documents from 1949 regarding the development of a self-propelled 105 mm howitzer. This project has been seen before on this blog, but these documents seem to be where the project first originated, namely with a memo from the army headquarters regarding replacement of older artillery pieces.
The documents mention that Bofors proposes to mount a modernized version of the existing haubits m/40 on the chassis of the lvkv fm/49 SPAAG, but to save costs KATF is ordered to investigate if it’s possible to mount the same artillery piece on a very light tankette chassis that is being developed at Landsverk. Bofors is said to be skeptical, but the investigation proposes three alternatives for doing so (called a, b, and c; drawings are attached). Alternative a is notable for having the gun mounted backwards on the chassis, but alternative c is considered to be the most suitable.
For whatever reason the project never got off the ground and a self-propelled 105 mm artillery piece would continue to be discussed for several years until the project was ultimately cancelled for cost reasons at some point in the 60’s.
Archive reference: SE/KrA/0062/D/01/016:H/F I/17
Objectives for the 105mm tracked SPG project
Three documents regarding the 105mm tracked SPG project.
The first document (original title: Målsättning för 10,5 cm haubits i bandlavett) is a letter from the Commander of the Army to the Weapons Bureau at KATF, dated 1959-06-25, in which the objectives for the 105mm tracked SPG project are laid out. The letter recognizes that much regarding the construction of the SPG is still undecided and asks KATF to present a few main alternatives that are to be considered in a final decision, and that this presentation should be completed no later than September 15th, 1959.
The second document (original title: VPM ang projektering och konstruktion av 10,5 cm bandhaub) is a memo from the 1st Weapons Bureau, discussing some of the main alternatives available for the project and requesting that the 2nd Weapons Bureau and the Vehicle Bureau respond to the memo with their opinions.
The third document (original title: Yttrande över “VPM ang projektering och konstruktion av 10,5 cm bandhaub”) is the Vehicle Bureau’s response to the second document.
Archive reference: SE/KrA/0266/002/01:H/F I/30
105 mm tracked SPG project, contract and technical specification
An agreement (dated 1960-03-22) between KATF and Bofors, authorizing the latter to complete certain development work on a 105mm tracked SPG. As an appendix to the agreement is a rough technical specification for the SPG; this is the interesting part.
Archive reference: SE/KrA/0266/002/01:H/F I/40
Memo regarding 105mm tracked SPG
Original title: VPM ang. 10,5 cm artilleripjäs i bandlavettage
A memo (dated 1958-06-13) from the Bureau of Weapons regarding tracked 105mm SPG’s. Bofors already has two alternatives based on the VAK 40 (aka. lvkv fm/49) chassis drawn up, one with the gun in the open but space available for the crew to sit under armor while the vehicle is moving, and one with the entire gun installation under 8-10 mm armor. The memo then goes on to discuss the current status of similar foreign projects and mentions a French project with a 105 mm gun on an AMX 13 chassis as well as three American projects (M37, M52 and an experimental T195).
Finally, the memo lists some technical requirements that would seem reasonable for such a weapon system.
Archive reference: SE/KrA/0266/002/01:H/F I/19