The people behind the research
AB Landsverk in Landskrona, Sweden became an important part in the development and construction of tanks and armoured cars in the early 1930's. German interests had saved the old family company from bankrupcy in the 1920's and were soon involved in the establishment of a department for constructing tanks and armoured cars. Otto Merker became the first chief of the department, and the first projects and prototypes were obviosly in the works in 1929. It was not until the outbreak of World War II, Sweden placed any major orders to Landsverk. One of it's most famous designs were undoubtly the Landsverk L-60 light tank, the first tank ever built with the modern torsion bar suspension - used by Sweden in several variants, and the export license sold to Hungary who built their own L-60's under the designation Toldi.
After the war, Landsverk continued it's work and were involved in several post-war tank projects including the stridsvagn 103 (S tank). However, other industries were involved and won major deals - the tank production were scaled down in favor of agricultural machines. Production and profits fell and Landsverk were soon incorporated in other industrial firms.
Large parts of AB Landsverks archive concerning the production of armoured fighting vehicles were much fortunately saved from the trash cans in the 1970's by the enthusiasts of the SPHF (Swedish Armour Historical Society), including the gentlemens Tommy "KIT" Nilsson and Putte Hallberg. Ever since, the material has been kept safe and it was soon discovered that the narrow field of research in the Landsverk family of AFVs, in fact was a vast line of projects, prototypes and interesting ideas - of which some were realized, while other advanced projects never left the drawing board. Christer Baadstöe and Kjell Svensson are other enthusiasts of the SPHF who have engaged themselves in quality indepth research about many of the vehicle types of Landsverk. A thorough work which is ongoing yet today!
AB Landsverk designed and produced several types of armoured cars before the outbreak of World War II. The most numerous type where the six-wheeled armoured car Landsverk L-181, L-182 and L-180, of which 49 vehicles were built from 1933 up to 1940 and used by several European countires including: Lithuania, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Ireland and Sweden. Captured vehicles saw service with both German regular police units, as with reconaissance elements of several Infantry divisions of the Wehrmacht. Recently photo evidence also came about showing the use of Landsverk in the Red Army.
Our aim is to continue our research, in an attempt to trace each of the 49 vehicles all the way from the assembly line at Landsverk, to it's final destiny - whether it was abandoned on a distant battlefield in Europe, or ended up in a small and almost forgotten scrapyard somewhere. Fortunately, not all vehicles are gone today - at least five vehicles are known to have survived - all of them from the Irish inventory as they kept their vehicle in active service until the early 1980's.
The Landsverk had soldiered on for more than 40 years before being retired!
We are hoping to hear from all of you out there who may have something to contribute with, may it be knowledge, photos or a small story from experience!
Everyone should feel free to contact us - we would love to discuss more! // Thorleif Olsson, webmaster.
After the war, Landsverk continued it's work and were involved in several post-war tank projects including the stridsvagn 103 (S tank). However, other industries were involved and won major deals - the tank production were scaled down in favor of agricultural machines. Production and profits fell and Landsverk were soon incorporated in other industrial firms.
Large parts of AB Landsverks archive concerning the production of armoured fighting vehicles were much fortunately saved from the trash cans in the 1970's by the enthusiasts of the SPHF (Swedish Armour Historical Society), including the gentlemens Tommy "KIT" Nilsson and Putte Hallberg. Ever since, the material has been kept safe and it was soon discovered that the narrow field of research in the Landsverk family of AFVs, in fact was a vast line of projects, prototypes and interesting ideas - of which some were realized, while other advanced projects never left the drawing board. Christer Baadstöe and Kjell Svensson are other enthusiasts of the SPHF who have engaged themselves in quality indepth research about many of the vehicle types of Landsverk. A thorough work which is ongoing yet today!
AB Landsverk designed and produced several types of armoured cars before the outbreak of World War II. The most numerous type where the six-wheeled armoured car Landsverk L-181, L-182 and L-180, of which 49 vehicles were built from 1933 up to 1940 and used by several European countires including: Lithuania, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Ireland and Sweden. Captured vehicles saw service with both German regular police units, as with reconaissance elements of several Infantry divisions of the Wehrmacht. Recently photo evidence also came about showing the use of Landsverk in the Red Army.
Our aim is to continue our research, in an attempt to trace each of the 49 vehicles all the way from the assembly line at Landsverk, to it's final destiny - whether it was abandoned on a distant battlefield in Europe, or ended up in a small and almost forgotten scrapyard somewhere. Fortunately, not all vehicles are gone today - at least five vehicles are known to have survived - all of them from the Irish inventory as they kept their vehicle in active service until the early 1980's.
The Landsverk had soldiered on for more than 40 years before being retired!
We are hoping to hear from all of you out there who may have something to contribute with, may it be knowledge, photos or a small story from experience!
Everyone should feel free to contact us - we would love to discuss more! // Thorleif Olsson, webmaster.
