Tank Chats #130 | Ikv 91 | The Tank Museum

I served a couple of years in the 80’s on IKV 91 as a platoon commander. The main uses for IKV was 1/ to be a rapid force cleaning up a field from BMD:s after a Soviet airdrop and 2/ do delaying warfare against a Soviet tank battalion that was advancing along a long road in canalizing terrain (for example between lakes, swamps, thick forests or steep hills). That meant waiting almost invisible in the flank, then hitting the first tanks in the side (the IKV could hit a target at 1 600 m range, but the preferred distance to the target was 1 000 m maximum. That would mean good chance of hitting with the first round and a guaranteed hit with the second round after slightly adjustment. However, canalizing terrain often meant doing battle on a 200-500 m range). Continue firing until the enemy began with serious response. Then fast regrouping to a similar position further down the road, then do the procedure again 2 or 3 times to weaken the enemy even more until the IKV company reached the decided bottom line where each tank received a new load of grenades (full load + one in the cannon + one in the hands of the loader). Then fight until death or victory together with the infantry brigade and perhaps heavy artillery support. T-55:s and T-62:s were considered easy targets for the IKV. T-64:s and T-72:s were worthy opponents. The only thing that would be a real nightmare for IKV was a battalion of T-80:s.

As a swede I'm always fascinated with the designs and history of Swedish armoured vehicles. I also love all the warning label we put in our tanks, one of the labels in the turret of the IKV 91 said "använd hörselskydd" (use ear protection) next to a the cannon

I served as a gunner on these back in 1979/1980. Fantastic machine, quick and stealthy. Excellent gun and ballistics computer for the time. I never missed a shot, not even on moving targets.

Served as a IKV-91 platoon commander. The vehicle was tactically deployed as an ambush tank ONLY. You basically used the exceptional terrain capabilities to hide hull down along along a wooded road, waiting. With lap-loading you shot 2 shots within 4 seconds against the first and last vehicle in a column 2 IKV's on each target, deployed smoke and moved back before the enemy could react. Platoon commanders loader was also a artillery guy, that could with the IKV high powered radio (we had 2 radios) call down pre-plotted artillery on the now struck column of vehicles. The best feature of the tank was that we had cocking abilities inside the tank. A direct hit on it would be like hitting a grocery store. We did not worry too much about other tanks but helicopter gunships that flew along the enemy tank columns would have been a menace. We had summer and winter net camouflage on until we sprung the ambush.

I used to eat doughnuts on the one exhibited at the Brigade Museum in Karlstad. Honestly, the Centurion engine deck is more suitable for doughnut consumption.

Another fascinating chat on a not-so-well-known armoured vehicle. Well done Mr. Wiley. Keep on keeping us interested!

70 km/h easily and we fired it up in much colder weather than that, sir. It's a fantastic vehicle to command and as you stated speed and portability is key to the tactics. 4 wagons in a platoon and one shot and then regroup whether that is fot infantry support or ambush.

War Thunder players: I fear no man…. but that thing….. it scares me

That was nice of Sweden to donate it. Racing it around the hills and valleys of Sweden must have been an adventure.

I've seen it in the field a couple of times. One time was during a refresher manoeuver in 1989, when an IKV 91 platoon supported our motorized rifle company in our attack on "enemy" forces in the port town of Oskarshamn. The other time was in the early 1990s, when I attended an anti-tank course, and we got to fire simfire LAWs at a IKV 91 with sensors. Later, it was driven across swampy ground in order to demonstrate the capabilities of Warsaw Pact vehicles with similar ground pressure. It got bogged down to the engine deck, and had to be towed out of the muck by another IKV 91...

No Fulda gap and lots of forest really bring about some interesting designs

An additional point to make is that Hägglunds also makes the Bv202, Bv 206, Bv 208 and Bvs 10, but its the experience from the Ikv91 that helps them build the CV90 in collaboration with the Swedish military which uses many of them same features when it comes to mobility

This video bring back some nice memorys from1983-1984 when I was serving as gunner on a PBV302 in MecBat10, a type of mechanised battalion used primarily in the middle and northern part of Sweden. One of the tasks we had was to counter air landing operations and the key was to get there fast. That was done by a type of alternate advance usualy done by an infantry platoon when advancing but this was down with one platoon of IFV91 and one platoon of PBV302. Quite fun to do this in speeds of up to 70 kmh on dirtroads.

Another superb piece. During lockdown I looked forward every week to your garden chats, they were such fun, a great distraction from the misery all around and were a weekly dose of "a chat down the pub" - it kept me sane so thank you so much

This type of tanks are my favorite: the one developed and built to defend a country and its specific environment.

I'd love to see a collaboration between Arsenalen and The Tank Museum. Stefan, David, and Mr. Fletcher all together would be amazing.

During my military service (infantry mid 80th) on a number of occasion we got IKV 91 assigned to our company and our squad rode on the rear deck holding on to rubber straps. Quite scary at times and I wondered if the driver had forgot that he had passenger on the back. (A hell of alot faster than the Centurions )

swedens ingenuity and for their ability to force multiply, well their capabilities are simply awe inspiring

I have ridden on the rear of an IKV91 in heavy snow when I did service as a Ranger in north sweden. Great fun and didnt feel very safe =)

This presenter is great.