Monday 3 September 2018

The Swedes are here - Modern 1/300 Swedish 1980's

Hmmm Swedes

One of my first armies when I started out in 6mm Moderns under Challenger 2 all those years ago was a Swedish army. Once again this regrettably was sold off when finances were low. When Steve passed I inherited some Swedish vehicles, and it got me thinking.  A little while later I found a tray of PBV302 from my original army, so out come the army list and DOH! I needed more stuff.

Recently Heroics and Ros added some new vehicles to their range of Swedish Moderns. A little while later I had placed an order and a few days later the stuff arrived. 2 days later I had finished.
1/300 Swedish Army
 
My Army except for the 20mm AA guns is from Heroics & Ros. It consists of two tank companies, a Infantry Gun company, 2 Infantry Companies, an Anti-tank company and a Recce Company, supported by some BandKanons and SAABs. As with the British I have done two types of command stands.
Centurion 5/2 STRV-101/102
 H&R new releases included a new Centurion 5/2 which now makes up one of the tank companies representing the STRV-101 /102, If they ever release a STRV-104, I will replace the current vehicles and these will be re-purposed into the makings of a Swiss army. The second tank company is made up of STRV-103 'S' Tanks, both companies have a platoon of Infantry mounted in PBV-302 APCs.
S-Tanks
The Armoured Infantry companies and the Anti-tank company are equipped with the TGB11 C303 mounting a recoilless-rifle.  The Anti-Tank company still needs six C303 equipped with the Bantam ATGW. I hope these will be released soon.
C303 - TGB11 Recoilless Anti-tank
 The Recce Company is equipped with the L3304 both in its RECCE and Anti-Tank roles. Although these may have been out of service by the mid 80's and the Challenger list calls for C303 TGB11's, I like this vehicle and wanted to include it in the army.
L3304 from the RECCE company
 What Swedish army would not be complete if it did not include a battery of BandKanons. These quirky vehicles are really starting to grow on me.
BANDKANON
 The Anti-Aircraft Company calls for TGB13's with RBS70 missiles, but I doubt these were ever used in that way as I can find no pictures.  As there are no TGB11 or TGB13's available I am using Land Rover 101's with a small hatch added to the roof as stand in TGB11's and I am using the C302 as a stand in TGB13. The 20mm AA guns are from Scotia models and are incorrectly of the French variety.
Land Rover 101 (Stand in C303) and C303s (on Right)
 The Challenger lists prohibits the use of the Tank companies along side the Assault gun companies. but the picture of the battlegroup (Top of page) shows them deployed together, so I have added one company of IKV91s to the army.
IKV91
 The Anti-tank company once again called for TGB11 with MG and TG13. Once again the Land-Rover 101 with added hatch and MG has been used as a stand in and the C302 again as the TGB13.
Anti-tank Company

SAAB VIGGENS
 Some of Stephens Saab Viggens, I may just do a little touch up , but in the main will leave them alone.

Centurion Mk5/2  acting as STRV-101/102
 I chose the snow bases as I wanted a different feel for the army. The Vehicles that Steve painted have only had some white added for snow camouflage. Some of the newer vehicles I have painted in Green as I like the look of them. To be honest there are few pictures of the Swedish vehicles in snow camouflage, but plenty of them in their basic green or splinter camouflage in the snow.
S-Tank STRV103

PBV302

H&R have said that they are going to be doing more Swedish. I look forward to what they will release. I need some Bantam ATGW vehicles and some RBS70 AAGW, along with its radar vehicle to complete the army.

Thanks
Jon