Stridsvogn m/49

The Stridsvogn 58 was a medium tank in use with the Ringerike Army Home Guard and Sorlander Forces from 1949 to 1976. It was a modification of the older Stridsvogn m/43, which was phased out of service in the early 1950s. Instead of scrapping the vehicles altogether, the chassis were used to build a new tank which could be compete with modern foreign designs. The turret of the Strv. m/49was completely new, with a 77 mm high-velocity gun taken from the Panservernkanonvogn m/43. Engines and transmission were modified or changed from the Strv.43, broader tracks and a separate electrical motor for the turret rotation was introduced while retaining the manual control as a backup.

History
Beginning production in 1949, weighing 26,000 kilograms (29 short tons; 26 long tons) and powered by two six cylinder gasoline engines, the Stridsvogn m/49 had a top speed of 45 kilometers per hour (28 miles per hour), and a range of 200 km/124.3 miles. With a crew of four, it mounted a 77mm main gun and had two machine-guns in its updated turret, which was later further modified with a more sophisticated fire-control type system.

Stridsvogn m/49
The Stridsvogn m/49 was the original variant accepted into service, it's function was to provide support to maneuver forces and plug the gap between older models and at the time in development main battle tanks. This model was then further updated over it's service life with minor updates to it's Fire Control System and ancillary components.

Stridsvogn m/49F1
Updates included an overhaul of the vehicle's powerplant, an improved fire control system and main armament which was replaced with a version capable of achieving higher muzzle velocity and a variety of firing new ammunition types.

Stridsvogn m/49F2
The Stridsvogn m/49F2 is essentially the exact same as the m/49F1 however fitted with Night Fighting and Laser Ranging systems, these were originally upgraded and the fielded back into the same units from which they had been sent.