Difference between revisions of "Strv 103A"

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{{Specs-Card|code=sw_strv_103a}}
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{{About|about=Swedish medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''|usage=other versions|link=Strv 103 (Family)}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=sw_strv_103a
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
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[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
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The '''Strv 103A''' was the first production variant of the [[Strv 103 (Family)|Strv 103 family]]. It was delivered after the trials of the [[Strv 103-0|"zero series"]] provided satisfactory results. An order of 70 units was placed by the Army with a cost of 500 million kr (SEK). The first batch was delivered in 1964, and was quite liked by their crews. However, the vehicle also had some shortcomings, most notably in the form of its 300 hp engine, which was considered somewhat underpowered. This was remedied in the Strv 103B in 1970, with the gas turbine engine having its engine power increased to 490 hp.
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{{Break}}
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Swedish medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.97 "Viking Fury"]].  
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' was introduced in [[Update 1.97 "Viking Fury"]]. A unique vehicle in shape, it is a very unorthodox vehicle in design even beyond its turretless design. With a 4 second autoloader, almost invisible profile when hunkered behind a hill, and laser rangefinder, alongside its highly sloped frontal armour, the Strv 103 is a juggernaut at long range. Only the [[Ikv 91]], [[OF-40]], [[VIDAR]], and a select few others can compete in the same league as the Strv 103 with their laser rangefinders, but with the 103's superior and extremely consistent reload rate it is second to none at holding down long sightlines. However, the Strv 103 is somewhat clunky to use in close quarters, due to its reliance on hull aiming, and unless the enemy bounces their shot or fails to do any meaningful damage you can easily be caught out and rushed down. The front armour of the Strv 103 is something to keep note of - it can deflect many APDS and even HEATFS rounds to the upper plate due to its extreme angle, although some rounds can still make their way through - but the side armour is not, so making sure nobody flanks you is a top priority. Alongside this, the Strv 103 is prone to taking engine or transmission damage when being fired upon - another reason to stay at range, lest your enemy simply move sideways and shoot your weak sides as you sit there immobilized without a turret.
 +
 
 +
Long story short, the Strv 103 is a very specific kind of vehicle. Unlike the [[Ikv 91]] which is essentially made of paper and fires slower, higher arcing shells, the Strv 103 can be the closest thing to a heavy tank at this BR if positioned and played correctly. However, improper positioning or being caught out in a crossfire can also very easily lead to a painful death as your crew and FPE charges slowly get whittled down. Utilizing your very low profile, long range dominance as well as the ability to survive on 1 crew member will be the key for victory in the Strv 103.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
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<!--''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''-->
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{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
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With a superbly sloped front hull armour, incoming kinetic rounds are prone to harmlessly bounce off, though chemical rounds will typically do some damage. Side, rear and top armour of the vehicle are weak, most aircraft can penetrate the roof, especially if they have 20 mm rounds or larger. With a total of three crewmembers, survivability after taking hits tend to be slim. However, the Strv 103 series are the only tanks that can operate with only one crew member! A major drawback is without transmission/engine you can no longer manoeuvre the hull to aim left or right.
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<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
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The Strv 103 has an extremely angled upper front plate - this high angle means so long as you angle the plate slightly upwards against enemy fire, almost all rounds will either fail to penetrate or simply shatter/bounce off due to said extreme angle. Normal APHE rounds and French AP rounds also stand little chance against the upper plate unless they are able to fire downwards into the plate - something you should never let anyone do, given the actual thickness of the plate is only 40 mm!
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 +
However, should you expose your lower hull too much when firing, enemies can penetrate the lower hull of the Strv 103 with a decent chance of success. It is highly advised to try and prevent this from ever happening, as while this only very rarely (against APHE or HEATFS) penetrates into the crew compartment, it almost certainly knocks out either the engine or transmission of the tank, immobilizing it.
 +
 
 +
A penetrating shot into the upper plate via HEATFS is still possible sometimes, and if this does happen there is a high likelihood that it will set off a fire due to the frontal fuel tank behind the upper plate. If your gun and transmission are unharmed, consider firing a shot back at the offender before using FPE, as it is always best to ''not'' take fire while you repair or reposition lest it actually immobilize you.
 +
 
 +
The Strv 103 has fairly poor side armour. Being shot from the side or rear will most likely result in either instant death or a slow and painful death as the enemy disables your engine and slowly whittles down your crew.
 +
 
 +
A more [[Strv 103C]]-notable problem but something that still comes up in the 103A is facing APFSDS in the form of the [[T95E1]] or 9.0 uptiers - against darts, your armour will not hold up 99% of the time. Tread lightly if you see a vehicle capable of firing even a semi-capable MBT caliber gun, and make sure to knock them out first out of everyone else as they pose the greatest threat to your long-ranged playstyle and armour scheme.
 +
 
 +
'''Armour type:'''
 +
 
 +
* Rolled homogeneous armour
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 40 mm (77°) ''Upper Glacis'' <br> 40 mm (74°) ''Lower Glacis'' || 30 mm +10 mm ''Upper'' <br> 30 mm ''Lower'' || 30 mm || 20 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Cupola || 35 mm || 35 mm || 35 mm || 20 mm
 +
|-
 +
|}
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'''Notes:'''
 +
 
 +
* Tracks are 20 mm thick while the suspension is 15 mm thick.
 +
* The crew compartment is lined with 10 mm RHA.
 +
* Storage boxes are 4 mm thick.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
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{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
  
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 732|rbMinHp= 478}}
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When "hull aim" mode is activated the tank automatically turns and adjusts suspension to actually aim the gun where the mouse pointer is. This persists even when the player attempts to turn the tank left or right manually while driving, so driving should preferably be done entirely with the mouse instead while the mode is activated.
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 +
There is a significant delay after letting the movement buttons go (about 0.7 seconds) before the gunner takes control of the tank instead of the driver and starts actually aiming. The lower the nose of the tank was before stopping, the faster the tank will start aiming, but this might not allow the tank to fire on the move, so a choice must be made depending on the situation.
 +
 
 +
Mobility upgrades are extremely important for this tank, as additional stability allows it to snipe when tilted horizontally (which is otherwise impossible) and to turn around smoothly without awkward delays.
 +
 
 +
The tank climbs better when the nose is pulled up, but is also extremely vulnerable when it does so.
 +
 
 +
A major drawback of the tank is that without transmission/engine the tank can no longer manoeuvre the hull to aim left or right, so it is important to try and turn the tank onto enemy before they fire. The tank still can rock up and down until the enemy destroyed both tracks, so it is possible to "hull down" when suddenly shot or "pike up" and retaliate against high ground.
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 +
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=732|rbMinHp=478}}
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 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
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''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Advise about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
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<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
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{{main|L74 (105 mm)}}
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The gun is exceptionally accurate even without any upgrades, but the drawback is that it is bound to the hull - any explosions nearby, any erratic movement of "hull aim" (especially when tilted horizontally) and any unaware teammate pushing the platform from behind will cause the hull to rock until it settles down, requiring extra patience to aim. It is best to just embrace this situation as a fact instead of sacrificing defences to reduce the wobble of the hull and just time the shots with it.
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 +
The reload takes only 4 seconds, making Strv 103A the fastest reloading "medium tank". This is further supported by extremely powerful ammunition.
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 +
The tank has access to laser rangefinder, which allows to instantly measure the range at any distance and take aim nearly automatically.
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 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[L74 (105 mm)|105 mm L74]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || Reloading rate (seconds)
 +
|-
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! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
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! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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! Autoloader
 +
|-
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! ''Arcade''
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| rowspan="2" | 50 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+12° || rowspan="2" | - || rowspan="2" | - || 33.6 || 33.6 || 40.8 || 45.1 || 48.0 || rowspan="2" | 4.00
 +
|-
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! ''Realistic''
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| 21.0 || 21.0 || 25.5 || 28.2 || 30.0
 +
|-
 +
|}
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 +
==== Ammunition ====
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 +
The ammunition echoes previous Strv 101, but with addition of Slpprj m/66 which can cut through almost any tank within BR range. Coupled with extremely low profile of the tank, the gun can penetrate any LFP of any tank on the field and will often easily cut through the turrets of most heavy tanks.
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Slpprj m/61 has better penetration against flat surfaces (like the turrets of some American heavy tanks), but has much worse angled penetration than m/66. Angled penetration is much more important at the rank VI, even more so when the enemy has high ground, so prioritize upgraded ammunition over the standard one.
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Since the tank is super short, it makes sense to use HESH to shoot above destroyed enemies once it becomes impossible to shoot the remaining opponents directly with APDS. Remember to immediately pull the hull down to the ground, as HESH trajectory forces the tank to expose its LFP completely.
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 +
{{:L74 (105 mm)/Ammunition|slpprj m/61, slpprj m/66, slsgr m/61A, rökgr m/61, slspgr m/61}}
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 +
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 +
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
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<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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|-
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! Full<br>ammo
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! 1st<br>rack empty
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! 2nd<br>rack empty
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! 3rd<br>rack empty
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! 4th<br>rack empty
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! 5th<br>rack empty
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|-
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| '''50''' || 46&nbsp;''(+4)'' || 41&nbsp;''(+9)'' || 36&nbsp;''(+14)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+19)'' || 26&nbsp;''(+24)''
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|-
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! 6th<br>rack empty
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! 7th<br>rack empty
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! 8th<br>rack empty
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! 9th<br>rack empty
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! 10th<br>rack empty
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! Visual<br>discrepancy
 +
|-
 +
| 21&nbsp;''(+29)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+34)'' ||  11&nbsp;''(+39)'' || 6&nbsp;''(+44)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+49)'' || No
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
'''Note''':
 +
 
 +
* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
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''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
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<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
 +
{{main|ksp 58 (7.62 mm)}}
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The {{PAGENAME}} has 3 x 7.62 mm ksp 58 machine guns, 2 on the left side in their own mount and one on top of the commander's cupola.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[ksp 58 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm ksp 58]]
 +
|-
 +
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 500 (250) || 600 || N/A || N/A
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|-
 +
| Hull || 500 (250) || 600 || N/A || N/A
 +
|-
 +
| Pintle || 1,500 (250) || 600 || ±10° || ±120°
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
−
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
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<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 +
The Strv 103A is an amazing tank to take in defensive positions and snipe with. Although it's mainly used for the sniping role, it can also do close quarters combat quite well if one needs to push out to a capture point. Due to the armour design of the Strv 103, surviving conventional shells that can be found on the early Cold War-era Soviet tanks is easy. The only challenges with the tank is to learn key positions to lock down with the rapid firing 105 mm [[L74 (105 mm)|L7-derived cannon]] and learning the shooting mechanics of hull-aim. It is important to stay on flat ground when playing this tank, as slopes can cause issues with the hull-aim.
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 +
While the Strv 103 can easily hold its own against conventional shells, against chemical and more modern kinetic rounds it starts to lose its points. HEATFS shells can easily penetrate the frontal armour, going through both the armour and engine, knocking out the crew behind it (this gets remedied with the later [[Strv 103C|103C]], which has slat armour at the front to prematurely detonate the shell). In full uptiers, it's also highly likely to get shot at by APFSDS shells, which ignore the armour completely. That's why when facing these vehicles, one should take full utility of the smoke launchers and smoke rounds to create a quick escape out and avoid getting shot at.
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If the tank does get shot at, the survivability is quite high due to the crew all being located behind the transmission and the engine. And since the tank can be operated by only one crew member, the tank is mostly only destroyed by being set afire by the fuel tank and engine in the front of the tank, or by HEAT shells from tanks like the [[DF105]].
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
−
<!--''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''-->
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<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
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'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
 
* Low profile
 
* Low profile
−
* Fast reload
+
* Very short reload time
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* Effectively sloped front armour
+
* In favourable terrain and positioning it can become difficult to spot and penetrate
 +
* Can be controlled by one crew member
 +
* Gunner and Commander perform the same roles, so there is no crew switch if either is knocked out
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
* Hull aiming (must turn the entire tank to aim left or right)
+
* Slow aiming, significant delay between "travel" mode and "aiming" mode
−
* Slow aiming
+
* When caught exposed it can be easily penetrated by most of the MBTs, making the tank very situational
−
* Vulnerable to flanking
+
* Unusually compact interior makes any penetrating shot much more devastating
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* Only three crewmembers
+
* Only three crew members
 +
* Gun is prone to damage
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* Catches fire often when shot from the side and sometimes from the front, FPE is mandatory for survival
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''
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<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
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 +
After 6 months of trial with the Strv 103-0 and the goal settings for requirements that the tank needed to pass were done in 1963 it was not till Autumn 1964 that the first order for the Strv 103 came in to AB Bofors. 1967 the Strv 103A started to deliver to the army, a total of 70 Strv 103As were ordered to the army as the first series production. Strv 103A had a 300hk powered gasturbine that during delivery proved to be not quite effective and would be required a change in the upcoming version of the Strv 103. Directly when the S tank got delivered instructor courses began and it was not till 1968 that the first conscripts go the education on the Strv 103 "S" systems.
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 +
=== [[wt:en/news/6505-development-strv-103-0-last-man-standing-en|Devblog]] ===
 +
In the immediate postwar years, Sweden began looking for a replacement to the Centurion tanks, then in service with its army. The most straightforward solution was to once again look into the export market for potential candidates, although engineers were already working on a domestic design - the Kranvagn. While this process was ongoing, an engineer by the name of Sven Berge came up with a radical new tank design in 1956.
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 +
This new vehicle featured a turretless design with a cannon fixed to the hull, which would be trained onto its targets with the precise use of an adjustable suspension system. The design was based on results from a study on tank crew casualties during WWII and the Korean War, which showed a correlation between tank height and hit probability. As such, the 'S-Tank' was kept very small in dimensions and low in profile, while also utilizing some innovative new engineering solutions, such as a mixed power plant consisting of a diesel engine and a gas turbine.
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 +
In 1959, the Swedish government approved the construction and testing of two prototypes. In 1960, a pre-production batch of 10 vehicles of the '0-serie' was ordered for field trials, which went on into the mid '60s.  Generating more than favorable test results, the vehicle was formally ordered into production and procured as the 'Stridsvagn 103'.
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 +
Despite its original purpose being to replace the Centurion tanks in the Swedish Army, the Strv 103 ended up serving alongside it for a number of decades, until it was ultimately decommissioned in the late 1990s. By that time, 290 Strv 103s were built, spanning over five variants.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
−
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
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<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
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;Skins
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* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=sw_strv_103a Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
;Videos
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{{Youtube-gallery|LufGqZTfvoI|'''MBTs with Best Armor''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 02:54 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
Line 58: Line 217:
  
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
−
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
 
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
  
 +
{{TankManufacturer AB Bofors}}
 
{{Sweden medium tanks}}
 
{{Sweden medium tanks}}

Latest revision as of 21:26, 7 November 2024

Rank VI USSR | Premium | Golden Eagles
Su-25K Pack
This page is about the Swedish medium tank Strv 103A. For other versions, see Strv 103 (Family).
Strv 103A
sw_strv_103a.png
GarageImage Strv 103A.jpg
Strv 103A
Sweden flag.png Sweden
V Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
8.0 8.0 8.0
Class:
Research:61 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:340 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The Strv 103A was the first production variant of the Strv 103 family. It was delivered after the trials of the "zero series" provided satisfactory results. An order of 70 units was placed by the Army with a cost of 500 million kr (SEK). The first batch was delivered in 1964, and was quite liked by their crews. However, the vehicle also had some shortcomings, most notably in the form of its 300 hp engine, which was considered somewhat underpowered. This was remedied in the Strv 103B in 1970, with the gas turbine engine having its engine power increased to 490 hp.

The Stridsvagn 103A was introduced in Update 1.97 "Viking Fury". A unique vehicle in shape, it is a very unorthodox vehicle in design even beyond its turretless design. With a 4 second autoloader, almost invisible profile when hunkered behind a hill, and laser rangefinder, alongside its highly sloped frontal armour, the Strv 103 is a juggernaut at long range. Only the Ikv 91, OF-40, VIDAR, and a select few others can compete in the same league as the Strv 103 with their laser rangefinders, but with the 103's superior and extremely consistent reload rate it is second to none at holding down long sightlines. However, the Strv 103 is somewhat clunky to use in close quarters, due to its reliance on hull aiming, and unless the enemy bounces their shot or fails to do any meaningful damage you can easily be caught out and rushed down. The front armour of the Strv 103 is something to keep note of - it can deflect many APDS and even HEATFS rounds to the upper plate due to its extreme angle, although some rounds can still make their way through - but the side armour is not, so making sure nobody flanks you is a top priority. Alongside this, the Strv 103 is prone to taking engine or transmission damage when being fired upon - another reason to stay at range, lest your enemy simply move sideways and shoot your weak sides as you sit there immobilized without a turret.

Long story short, the Strv 103 is a very specific kind of vehicle. Unlike the Ikv 91 which is essentially made of paper and fires slower, higher arcing shells, the Strv 103 can be the closest thing to a heavy tank at this BR if positioned and played correctly. However, improper positioning or being caught out in a crossfire can also very easily lead to a painful death as your crew and FPE charges slowly get whittled down. Utilizing your very low profile, long range dominance as well as the ability to survive on 1 crew member will be the key for victory in the Strv 103.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull40 / 30 / 30
Turret0 / 0 / 0
Crew3 people
Visibility73 %

The Strv 103 has an extremely angled upper front plate - this high angle means so long as you angle the plate slightly upwards against enemy fire, almost all rounds will either fail to penetrate or simply shatter/bounce off due to said extreme angle. Normal APHE rounds and French AP rounds also stand little chance against the upper plate unless they are able to fire downwards into the plate - something you should never let anyone do, given the actual thickness of the plate is only 40 mm!

However, should you expose your lower hull too much when firing, enemies can penetrate the lower hull of the Strv 103 with a decent chance of success. It is highly advised to try and prevent this from ever happening, as while this only very rarely (against APHE or HEATFS) penetrates into the crew compartment, it almost certainly knocks out either the engine or transmission of the tank, immobilizing it.

A penetrating shot into the upper plate via HEATFS is still possible sometimes, and if this does happen there is a high likelihood that it will set off a fire due to the frontal fuel tank behind the upper plate. If your gun and transmission are unharmed, consider firing a shot back at the offender before using FPE, as it is always best to not take fire while you repair or reposition lest it actually immobilize you.

The Strv 103 has fairly poor side armour. Being shot from the side or rear will most likely result in either instant death or a slow and painful death as the enemy disables your engine and slowly whittles down your crew.

A more Strv 103C-notable problem but something that still comes up in the 103A is facing APFSDS in the form of the T95E1 or 9.0 uptiers - against darts, your armour will not hold up 99% of the time. Tread lightly if you see a vehicle capable of firing even a semi-capable MBT caliber gun, and make sure to knock them out first out of everyone else as they pose the greatest threat to your long-ranged playstyle and armour scheme.

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 40 mm (77°) Upper Glacis
40 mm (74°) Lower Glacis 		30 mm +10 mm Upper
30 mm Lower 		30 mm 20 mm
Cupola 35 mm 35 mm 35 mm 20 mm

Notes:

  • Tracks are 20 mm thick while the suspension is 15 mm thick.
  • The crew compartment is lined with 10 mm RHA.
  • Storage boxes are 4 mm thick.

Mobility

 
Controlled suspension
It is possible to adjust the ground clearance or more complex suspension positions
Speedforward / back
AB56 / 49 km/h
RB and SB50 / 44 km/h
Number of gears7 forward
6 back
Weight36.9 t
Engine power
AB1 030 hp
RB and SB540 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB27.9 hp/t
RB and SB14.6 hp/t

When "hull aim" mode is activated the tank automatically turns and adjusts suspension to actually aim the gun where the mouse pointer is. This persists even when the player attempts to turn the tank left or right manually while driving, so driving should preferably be done entirely with the mouse instead while the mode is activated.

There is a significant delay after letting the movement buttons go (about 0.7 seconds) before the gunner takes control of the tank instead of the driver and starts actually aiming. The lower the nose of the tank was before stopping, the faster the tank will start aiming, but this might not allow the tank to fire on the move, so a choice must be made depending on the situation.

Mobility upgrades are extremely important for this tank, as additional stability allows it to snipe when tilted horizontally (which is otherwise impossible) and to turn around smoothly without awkward delays.

The tank climbs better when the nose is pulled up, but is also extremely vulnerable when it does so.

A major drawback of the tank is that without transmission/engine the tank can no longer manoeuvre the hull to aim left or right, so it is important to try and turn the tank onto enemy before they fire. The tank still can rock up and down until the enemy destroyed both tracks, so it is possible to "hull down" when suddenly shot or "pike up" and retaliate against high ground.

Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 56 49 36.9 732 1,030 19.84 27.91
Realistic 50 44 478 540 12.95 14.63

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB4 374 → 5 769 Sl icon.png
RB4 873 → 6 427 Sl icon.png
SB6 909 → 9 112 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications96 400 Rp icon.png
163 800 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 200 Ge icon.png
Crew training98 000 Sl icon.png
Experts340 000 Sl icon.png
Aces1 300 Ge icon.png
Research Aces780 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
140 / 200 / 240 % Sl icon.png
202 / 202 / 202 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
10 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
380 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
4 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
4 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
8 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
5 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 800 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
5 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 800 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
6 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
380 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
3 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement sw.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
8 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
5 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 800 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
4 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
105mm_usa_HESH_ammo_pack
Research:
4 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
105mm_us_M416_Smoke_ammo_pack
Research:
8 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods tank laser rangefinder.png
Laser rangefinder
Research:
5 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 800 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
5 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 800 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
105mm_sweden_APDS_ammo_pack
Research:
5 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 800 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Laser rangefinder
Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder

Main armament

105 mm L74 cannon
Autoloader
Automatically feeds projectiles into the breech. The speed does not depend on the skills of the loader
Ammunition50 rounds
Reload4.0 s
Vertical guidance-10° / 12°
Main article: L74 (105 mm)

The gun is exceptionally accurate even without any upgrades, but the drawback is that it is bound to the hull - any explosions nearby, any erratic movement of "hull aim" (especially when tilted horizontally) and any unaware teammate pushing the platform from behind will cause the hull to rock until it settles down, requiring extra patience to aim. It is best to just embrace this situation as a fact instead of sacrificing defences to reduce the wobble of the hull and just time the shots with it.

The reload takes only 4 seconds, making Strv 103A the fastest reloading "medium tank". This is further supported by extremely powerful ammunition.

The tank has access to laser rangefinder, which allows to instantly measure the range at any distance and take aim nearly automatically.

105 mm L74 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Autoloader
Arcade 50 -10°/+12° - - 33.6 33.6 40.8 45.1 48.0 4.00
Realistic 21.0 21.0 25.5 28.2 30.0

Ammunition

The ammunition echoes previous Strv 101, but with addition of Slpprj m/66 which can cut through almost any tank within BR range. Coupled with extremely low profile of the tank, the gun can penetrate any LFP of any tank on the field and will often easily cut through the turrets of most heavy tanks.

Slpprj m/61 has better penetration against flat surfaces (like the turrets of some American heavy tanks), but has much worse angled penetration than m/66. Angled penetration is much more important at the rank VI, even more so when the enemy has high ground, so prioritize upgraded ammunition over the standard one.

Since the tank is super short, it makes sense to use HESH to shoot above destroyed enemies once it becomes impossible to shoot the remaining opponents directly with APDS. Remember to immediately pull the hull down to the ground, as HESH trajectory forces the tank to expose its LFP completely.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
slpprj m/61 APDS 358 355 341 324 308 293
slpprj m/66 APDS 272 269 258 246 233 222
slsgr m/61A HE 23 23 23 23 23 23
slspgr m/61 HESH 127 127 127 127 127 127
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (kg) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
slpprj m/61 APDS 1,500 4 - - - 75° 78° 80°
slpprj m/66 APDS 1,450 4.53 - - - 75° 78° 80°
slsgr m/61A HE 680 15.5 0 0.1 1.83 79° 80° 81°
slspgr m/61 HESH 760 11.4 0.1 4 3.15 73° 77° 80°
Smoke shell characteristics
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Screen radius
(m) 		Screen deploy
time (s) 		Screen hold
time (s) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
rökgr m/61 330 18.7 20 5 25 50

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Strv 103A
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty
50 46 (+4) 41 (+9) 36 (+14) 31 (+19) 26 (+24)
6th
rack empty 		7th
rack empty 		8th
rack empty 		9th
rack empty 		10th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
21 (+29) 16 (+34) 11 (+39) 6 (+44) 1 (+49) No

Note:

  • Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.

Machine guns

2 x 7.62 mm ksp 58 machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition1 000 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reload8.0 s
Fire rate600 shots/min
7.62 mm ksp 58 machine gun
Ammunition1 500 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reload8.0 s
Fire rate600 shots/min
Main article: ksp 58 (7.62 mm)

The Strv 103A has 3 x 7.62 mm ksp 58 machine guns, 2 on the left side in their own mount and one on top of the commander's cupola.

7.62 mm ksp 58
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Hull 500 (250) 600 N/A N/A
Hull 500 (250) 600 N/A N/A
Pintle 1,500 (250) 600 ±10° ±120°

Usage in battles

The Strv 103A is an amazing tank to take in defensive positions and snipe with. Although it's mainly used for the sniping role, it can also do close quarters combat quite well if one needs to push out to a capture point. Due to the armour design of the Strv 103, surviving conventional shells that can be found on the early Cold War-era Soviet tanks is easy. The only challenges with the tank is to learn key positions to lock down with the rapid firing 105 mm L7-derived cannon and learning the shooting mechanics of hull-aim. It is important to stay on flat ground when playing this tank, as slopes can cause issues with the hull-aim.

While the Strv 103 can easily hold its own against conventional shells, against chemical and more modern kinetic rounds it starts to lose its points. HEATFS shells can easily penetrate the frontal armour, going through both the armour and engine, knocking out the crew behind it (this gets remedied with the later 103C, which has slat armour at the front to prematurely detonate the shell). In full uptiers, it's also highly likely to get shot at by APFSDS shells, which ignore the armour completely. That's why when facing these vehicles, one should take full utility of the smoke launchers and smoke rounds to create a quick escape out and avoid getting shot at.

If the tank does get shot at, the survivability is quite high due to the crew all being located behind the transmission and the engine. And since the tank can be operated by only one crew member, the tank is mostly only destroyed by being set afire by the fuel tank and engine in the front of the tank, or by HEAT shells from tanks like the DF105.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Low profile
  • Very short reload time
  • In favourable terrain and positioning it can become difficult to spot and penetrate
  • Can be controlled by one crew member
  • Gunner and Commander perform the same roles, so there is no crew switch if either is knocked out

Cons:

  • Slow aiming, significant delay between "travel" mode and "aiming" mode
  • When caught exposed it can be easily penetrated by most of the MBTs, making the tank very situational
  • Unusually compact interior makes any penetrating shot much more devastating
  • Only three crew members
  • Gun is prone to damage
  • Catches fire often when shot from the side and sometimes from the front, FPE is mandatory for survival

History

After 6 months of trial with the Strv 103-0 and the goal settings for requirements that the tank needed to pass were done in 1963 it was not till Autumn 1964 that the first order for the Strv 103 came in to AB Bofors. 1967 the Strv 103A started to deliver to the army, a total of 70 Strv 103As were ordered to the army as the first series production. Strv 103A had a 300hk powered gasturbine that during delivery proved to be not quite effective and would be required a change in the upcoming version of the Strv 103. Directly when the S tank got delivered instructor courses began and it was not till 1968 that the first conscripts go the education on the Strv 103 "S" systems.

Devblog

In the immediate postwar years, Sweden began looking for a replacement to the Centurion tanks, then in service with its army. The most straightforward solution was to once again look into the export market for potential candidates, although engineers were already working on a domestic design - the Kranvagn. While this process was ongoing, an engineer by the name of Sven Berge came up with a radical new tank design in 1956.

This new vehicle featured a turretless design with a cannon fixed to the hull, which would be trained onto its targets with the precise use of an adjustable suspension system. The design was based on results from a study on tank crew casualties during WWII and the Korean War, which showed a correlation between tank height and hit probability. As such, the 'S-Tank' was kept very small in dimensions and low in profile, while also utilizing some innovative new engineering solutions, such as a mixed power plant consisting of a diesel engine and a gas turbine.

In 1959, the Swedish government approved the construction and testing of two prototypes. In 1960, a pre-production batch of 10 vehicles of the '0-serie' was ordered for field trials, which went on into the mid '60s. Generating more than favorable test results, the vehicle was formally ordered into production and procured as the 'Stridsvagn 103'.

Despite its original purpose being to replace the Centurion tanks in the Swedish Army, the Strv 103 ended up serving alongside it for a number of decades, until it was ultimately decommissioned in the late 1990s. By that time, 290 Strv 103s were built, spanning over five variants.

Media

Skins
Videos
MBTs with Best Armor discusses the Strv 103A at 02:54 - War Thunder Official Channel

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the vehicles;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


AB Bofors
MBTs 
Strv 103  Strv 103-0 · Strv 103A · Strv 103С
Tank Destroyers  SAV 20.12.48 · Bkan 1C
SPAA  Lvkv 42
Radar  VEAK 40
SAM  ASRAD-R*
See Also  BAE Systems AB
  *Saab Bofors Dynamics

Sweden medium tanks
Strv m/42  Lago I · Strv m/42 EH · Ikv 73 · Strv m/42 DT · Pvkv IV
Centurion derivatives  Strv 81 · Strv 81 (RB 52) · Strv 101 · Strv 104 · Strv 105
Strv 103  Strv 103-0 · Strv 103A · Strv 103С
Strv 121/122  Strv 121 · Christian II · Strv 122A · Strv 122B PLSS · Strv 122B+
Other  Sherman III/IV · T 80 U
Finland 
WWII  ▄T-28 · ▄T-34 · ▄Pz.IV · ▄T-34-85
Post War  ▄Comet I · ▄Charioteer Mk VII · ▄T-54 · ▄T-55M · ▄T-72M1 · ▄Leopard 2A4 · ▄Leopard 2A6
Norway  Leopard 1A5NO2

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