Pansarvärnsrobotbandvagn 551

Pansarvärnsrobotbandvagn 551
Pansarvärnsrobotbandvagn 551
Type	Tank destroyer
Place of origin	Sweden
Production history
Designer	Landsverk
Designed	1980
Manufacturer	Landsverk and Hägglunds
Produced	1984 to 1986
Number built	57
Specifications
Weight	9.7 t (21,000 lb)
Length	4.81 m (15 ft 9 in)
Width	2.54 m (8 ft 4 in)
Height	2.62 m (8 ft 7 in)
Crew	4 (commander, gunner, driver, loader)
Main armament	BGM-71 TOW
Secondary armament	1 x Ksp 58 machine gun
Engine	Ford model 2658E V-6 petrol engine 136 hp
Suspension	Torsion bar
Operational range	300 km
Speed	45 km/h (28 mph)

The Pansarvärnsrobotbandvagn 551 (PvRbBv 551) was a tank destroyer developed by Landsverk and Hägglunds.

History

When the Infanterikanonvagn 102/103 were replaced in the years 1975 to 1978 with the Infanterikanonvagn 91, the Swedish Army used their chassis as the basis for a new armoured fighting vehicle with anti-tank and anti-air variants. The Pansarvärnsrobotbandvagn 551 was the anti-tank variant while the Luftvärnsrobotvagn 701 was the anti-air variant.

Description

The PvRbBv 551 had a new superstructure built on the old chassis. The primary armament was a BGM-71 TOW. Secondary armament was a Ksp 58 machine gun. The vehicle also had a new engine and gear similar to Bandvagn 206 installed. The vehicle was operated by a crew of four. The commander and driver are seated at the front of the vehicle. The gunner and loader are located in the middle of the hull under two large roof hatches. When the PvRbBv 551 goes into firing position, the hatches are opened and the BGM-71 TOW is raised above the vehicle roof. The gunner and loader are exposed in this position.

Production

The work was carried out between 1984 and 1986 at Hägglund & Söner in Örnsköldsvik. 57 PvRbBv 551 was produced and served in with the Swedish Army from 1984 to 2000.