The Bandkanon was a Self-Propelled Artillery Gun developed by Bofors from 1960 to 1965. It was part of a longer Swedish Army project to develop a modern autoloaded SPAG for its forces. The Bkan was based on the S-tank chassis and initially used the powerpack of the A version, which was severely underpowered to drive this 50-ton tank. Because of this, all Bkans were later upgraded to the powerpack of the Strv 103C, giving it the 1C designation.
Due to budget cuts, only 28 of the originally planned 70 Bkan were produced and delivered. The Bandkanon mounts a fully autoloaded 155mm cannon with an insanely quick reload speed, capable of firing not only normal HE but also HE-VT ammunition. The vehicle remained in service from 1967 until 2003.
The vehicle was added to War Thunder in the “Winged Lions” update and is part of the Swedish ground forces tech tree. This behemoth can be found in the SPG line leading up to the Strf 9040 BILL.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Crew and modules are very spaced out, making it hard to destroy the vehicle when the ammo rack is empty or not visible | Guaranteed destruction of the vehicle when the exposed ammorack at the back of the turret is hit |
| Keeps the same top speed in both directions, making retreating into cover easier | Poor top speed, making the vehicle feel sluggish and difficult to use in close ranges |
| High-Explosive shells have higher muzzle velocity than comparable vehicles, making them easier to aim | Gunner view zoom is only x4, making it hard to spot and fire at enemies at distance |
| Reload of only 3.2 seconds, making it possible to take a second follow-up shot in case the first one did not hit | Armor on the turret is quite poor, can be penetrated by .50 cal machine guns at close range |
Mobility
Even though the Bandkanon is based on the Strv 103, which, among other things, is known for its good mobility, the same cannot be said about the Bkan, as its mobility can only be described as mediocre. With a top speed of only 30 km/h in both directions, the tank is significantly slower than the 103C it is based upon. Furthermore, when traversing on soft terrain, getting the vehicle to top speed takes quite some time. The momentum loss when driving up any inclination is also immense, sometimes the vehicle can go from top speed down to 5 km/h when driving up any steeper hill.
But not everything is bad about the tank’s mobility. In contrast to the mobility in rural environments, the Bkan’s mobility is excellent on roads and hard terrain, where it can reach its top speed surprisingly quickly thanks to its good transmission and peak engine output of 600 horsepower. Apart from that, the Bkan also has good neutral steering, allowing it to turn around rather quickly even in tight spots, making it possible for limited use of the vehicle in urban environments. Overall the vehicle’s mobility is neither great nor terrible, and it gets affected a lot by terrain, making it less versatile than other SPGs in the game.
Firepower
The Bkan’s only armament is the fully autoloaded 155mm m/60 cannon. The reload time of this gun is only 3.2 seconds, which allows it to empty the entire rack of 14 shells in only 45 seconds. This, combined with the great ballistics of the HE shells, which are similar to APHE shells of comparable caliber, makes it easier to aim and use at a distance.
Due to the vehicle’s nature as a SPAG, it has great upward elevation angles of up to 40 degrees. However, the same cannot be said for the downward angles, with only -3 degrees of gun depression, this vehicle cannot engage smaller targets at close ranges. The whole gun and its autoloader are fitted on a big turret that gives the vehicle its unique look. Sadly, this turret is only rotatable to 15 degrees in both directions, which is a big downside compared to similar artillery pieces such as the French AuF1 or the Israeli Sholef.
The Bandkanon has access to only 2 shells, the sgr m/60 HE and its HE-VT counterpart, the sgr m/60 (PF). Both grenades are identical in terms of explosion mass, weight, velocity, and penetration, the only difference is the proximity fuze on the PF round. The explosive mass of this HE is enough to overpressure all ground vehicles the Bkan can face. However, due to the lack of any rangefinder, it is hard always to land a good hit with the first shot, especially when firing at a distance, but thanks to the reload of only 3.2 seconds, it is possible to adjust the aim and make a follow-up shot before the enemy can react.
This vehicle is not only a great tank destroyer, it is also an effective anti-air thanks to its good HE-VT. With the good ballistics, high explosive mass, and the 3-meter trigger radius on the proximity fuze, this HE-VT can take care of any kind of plane with ease.
Thanks to the recent addition of a keybind to switch the fuze mode of a shell, there is no reason to choose between normal HE and HE-VT. Instead, load only the proximity shells and set a keybind to turn off the proximity fuze when it is unnecessary.
Usage in Battle
The Bkan is an easy-to-learn and straightforward vehicle, but there are some important considerations to remember.
It is recommended to stay distanced from any foes and use the surprise effect instead. The best way to do this is by learning how players usually move on a map and then positioning the vehicle at a safe distance from that hotspot while waiting and aiming for that 1 good hit from a spot they will not expect to be shot from. However, patience is key—it may sometimes be better to hold fire and wait for a softer target. Especially when facing heavier tanks such as the American T34, the T26E1, or the German Tiger II (H), it is recommended to hold back from firing, as hitting a spot which the HE can overpressure and take out such vehicles from a long distance is rather hard. Remember, the element of surprise is a one-time advantage—once you fire, the enemy will have a rough idea of your location and adjust accordingly.
Thanks to its fast rate of fire, the Bkan excels at holding cap points or setting up crossfires alongside allies. Even when faced with multiple enemies, this vehicle is capable of dealing significant damage.
In urban environments or at close ranges, the Bkan becomes more challenging to use effectively, but success is still possible. Again, its strength lies in the element of surprise. Despite its large size, the Bkan can still be hidden behind buildings, corners, or even windows. Proper positioning allows you to wait for an enemy to make a mistake, such as moving carelessly or looking in the wrong direction. Additionally, the Bkan’s decent acceleration on roads and hard terrain, coupled with its good neutral steering, enables it to engage in limited close-quarters combat. However, in these situations, it is better to operate alongside heavier allied vehicles that can absorb hits, as the Bkan itself is not designed for direct confrontation.
