Military equipment of Sweden during World War II

Sweden was formally a non-belligerent nation throughout World War II, but saw considerable military build-up as the level of threat from the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany increased. Between 10,000 and 20,000 Swedes fought as volunteers abroad, a majority of them in service of Finland during the Winter War.

Army

Small arms

In the early stages of the war, Sweden relied on a numerous army through conscription and the use of a Total Defence policy. In 1945, the Swedish army had been modernized from the use of World War I weapons to semi-automatic rifles and high-tech firearms such as the Carl Gustav. The infantry had also been equipped with a great deal of rocket launchers for anti-tank warfare, and the availability of artillery had increased drastically with the World War II build-up. Throughout World War II, Sweden held the largest infantry army of the Nordic countries with more than 1,000,000 soldiers.

Name	Origin	Type	Versions	Quantity	In service	Notes
Pistol m/40	Finland/ Sweden	Semi-automatic pistol	Pistol m/40 Pistol m/40B	100,000	1940-1990s	License-built Lahti L-35, manufactured by Husqvarna
Kpist m/37	Finland/ Sweden	Submachine gun	Kpist m/37	35,000	1939-1980s	-
Kpist m/45	Sweden	Submachine gun	M/45 M/45B M/45C M/45BE M/45BET M/45S	300,000	1945–2007	Standard version Minor improvements Comes equipped with a bayonet mount Selective-fire version, used by police Comes equipped with a tear gas launcher Uses a 50-round coffin magazine
M39	Germany/ Sweden	Submachine gun	M39	Unknown	1940s-????	-
MP 18	German Empire	Submachine gun	MP 18	Unknown	1920s-????	-
Gevär m/96	Sweden	Bolt-action rifle	M/1894 M/1896 M/1938 M/1941 M/1941B	127,000 535,000 88,000 5,300 5,300	1895-1980s	-
Karbin M40	Germany/ Sweden	Bolt-action rifle	Kar 98k	5,000	1939-1970s	-
Ag m/42	Sweden	Semi-automatic rifle	Ag m/42	30,000	1942-1960s	-
Kg m/37	United States/ Sweden	Light machine gun	KG m/40	Unknown	1937–1980	-
Kg m/40	Sweden	Light machine gun	KG m/40	5,000	1940-????	-
Kulspruta m/41	Sweden	Medium machine gun	Kulspruta m/41	Unknown	1910s-1940s	-
Kulspruta m/42	United States/ Sweden	Medium machine gun	Kulspruta m/42	Unknown	1942–present	License-built, heavily modified M1919
Raketgevär 46	United States/ Sweden	Recoilless anti-tank weapon	Raketgevär 46	Unknown	1940s-1960s	License-built M1 Bazooka

Armoured fighting vehicles

At the beginning of World War II, Sweden had a very low number of motorized vehicles, instead relying horses for transportation. When the war broke out in 1939, Sweden had one armoured division consisting of merely 13 light tanks, only 3 of which were considered to be modern (the remaining 10 had been in service since the 1920s). In 1945, the number of tanks serving the Swedish army had increased from 13 to more than 800.

Number of tanks pre-war: 14

Number of tanks in 1939: 29

Number of tanks in 1940: 38

Number of tanks in 1941: 135

Number of tanks in 1942: 373

Number of tanks in 1943: 544

Number of tanks in 1944: 795

Number of tanks in 1945: 795+

Name	Origin	Type	Versions	Quantity	In service	Notes
Pbil m/39	Sweden	Armoured car	Pbil m/39 Pbil m/40	15 30	1939-1956 1939-1960s	Standard version Powered by a Volvo engine
Pbil m/41	Sweden	Armoured car	L-180 L-181 L-182	5 0 (18) 0 (1)	1933–1980	More than 50 produced, most of them sold to other countries before and during the war.
KP-bil	Sweden	Armoured personnel carrier	SKP VKP	262 100	1944–2004	Manufactured by Scania-Vabis Manufactured by Volvo
Strv m/37	Czechoslovakia/ Sweden	Tankette	Strv m/37	48	1938–1953	License-built version of the AH-IV
Landsverk L-120	Sweden	Light tank	L-120	1	1937–1940	Prototype in active service but never mass-produced
Strv m/21-29	Sweden	Light tank	M/21 M/21-29	5 5	????-1939	Standard version Enhanced engine and armour
Strv m/31	Sweden	Light tank	Strv m/31	3	1935–1940	Dug in as static bunkers for the Skåne Line
Strv L-60	Sweden	Light tank	Strv m/38 Strv m/39 Strv m/40 Strv m/40L Strv m/40K	15 20 ? 100 80	1939-???? 1940-???? ????-???? 1941-???? 1944-????	-
Strv m/41	Czechoslovakia/ Sweden	Medium tank	Strv m/41	238	1942-1950s	License-built, slightly upgraded version of the Panzer 38(t)
Strv m/42	Sweden	Medium tank	Lago I (Strv m/42) Lago II (Strv m/42 TM) Lago III (Strv m/42 TH) Lago IV (Strv m/42 EH)	342 total	1943-???? 1943-???? 1944-???? 1944-????	Standard version Two engines and electromagnetic gearbox Two engines and two hydraulic gearboxes One engine and a hydraulic gearbox

Artillery

Sweden's artillery corps was made to specialize in mobility and warfare in the Swedish homeland terrain, which mostly consisted of thick forests and small, remote towns. Anti-aircraft warfare was considered important even before the war began, due to Sweden's small aircraft capacity in the 1930s. The Bofors 40 mm, a Swedish auto cannon, was exported to most warring countries in thousands of examples, making it the most common anti-aircraft weapon of the war.

Name	Origin	Type	Versions	Quantity	In service	Notes
Bofors 37 mm	Sweden	Light anti-tank gun	Bofors 37 mm	Unknown	1935-????	-
Bofors 20 mm	Sweden	Anti-aircraft auto cannon	Bofors 20 mm	2,592^[1]	1940-????	-
Bofors 40 mm	Sweden	Anti-aircraft auto cannon	L/60 L/70	924^[2]	1934–present	Standard version Greatly improved version for combat against jet aircraft
Bofors 75 mm Model 1929	Sweden	Anti-aircraft gun	7.5 cm m/30 8 cm m/29	350^[2]	1930–present	Another 8 bought by Finland, 36 by the Netherlands and dozens by Hungary
Bofors 75 mm Model 1934	Sweden	Mountain gun	Bofors 75 mm	74^[1]	1934-????	-
10.5 cm kanon modell 1927	Sweden	Heavy field gun	Model 1927	4 in the coastal artillery, many more in the army	1927–1945	-
Kanon m/34	Sweden	Heavy field gun	M/34	68	1942-????	-
Bofors 12 cm M. 14	Sweden	Towed howitzer	M.14	Unknown	????-????	-
Haubits m/40	Sweden	Towed howitzer	M/40	400 total	1940-????	-
Sav m/43	Sweden	Self-propelled artillery	M/43	36	1943–1973	-
L-62	Sweden	Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun	L-62 Anti L-62 Anti II	136 6	1938-???? 1942-????	Most in Hungarian service All served the Swedish corps in the Winter War

In addition to these weapons, Sweden also possessed 9 unspecified heavy anti-aircraft guns with a caliber of 105 mm.^[2]

Navy

The Swedish government saw a strong naval defense against a possible Soviet invasion as a high priority during World War II, and like with the rest of Sweden's military the Royal Navy lived through an enormous enhancement, ending up as the second-strongest naval power of the Baltic Sea after the Soviet Union.

Major surface combatants

Class	Origin	Type	Names	Quantity	In service	Notes
Gotland class	Sweden	Seaplane cruiser	HMS Gotland	1	1933-1963	The Swedish response to an aircraft carrier, able to carry 8 Hawker Osprey
Tre Kronor class	Sweden	Cruiser	HMS Göta Lejon HMS Tre Kronor	2	1944-1984	The Göta Lejon was launched on 17 November 1945, 94 days after the surrender of Japan and the end of World War II
Fylgia class	Sweden	Armoured cruiser	HMS Fylgia	1	1905-1957	The HMS Fylgia is the smallest armoured cruiser ever to be launched
Clas Fleming class	Sweden	Mine cruiser	HMS Clas Fleming	1	1912-1960	-
Dristigheten class	Sweden	Coastal defence ship	HMS Dristigheten	1	1900-1947	-
Sverige class	Sweden	Coastal defence ship	HMS Drottning Victoria HMS Gustav V HMS Sverige	3	1915-1957	-

Destroyers

Number of destroyers pre-war: 13

Number of destroyers in 1939: 14

Number of destroyers in 1940: 19

Number of destroyers in 1941: 20

Number of destroyers in 1942: 23

Number of destroyers in 1943: 27

Number of destroyers in 1944: 28

Number of destroyers in 1945: 28

Class	Origin	Type	Names	Quantity	In service	Notes
Göteborg class	Sweden	Destroyer	HMS Göteborg HMS Stockholm HMS Malmö HMS Karlskrona HMS Norrköping HMS Gävle	6	1935-1962 1936-1965 1938-1970 1939-1979 1940-1965 1941-1968	After World War II, all ships were rebuilt as frigates
Romulus class	Italy/ Sweden	Destroyer/torpedo boat	HMS Romulus HMS Remus	2	1940-1958	Originally torpedo boats, rebuilt as destroyers for patrolling the Baltic Sea
Psilander class	Italy/ Sweden	Destroyer	HMS Psilander HMS Puke	2	1940-1947	-
Vidar class	Sweden	Destroyer	HMS Wale HMS Ragnar HMS Sigurd HMS Vidar HMS Wale	4	1909-1947 1909-1947 1910-1947 1908-1940	-
Wrangel class	Sweden	Destroyer	HMS Wachtmeister HMS Wrangel	2	1917-1947	-
Ehrensköld class	Sweden	Destroyer	HMS Ehrensköld HMS Nordenskjöld	2	1926-1963	-
Klas class	Sweden	Destroyer	HMS Klas Horn HMS Klas Uggla	2	1932-1958 1932-1942	-
Mode class	Sweden	Destroyer	HMS Magne HMS Mjölner HMS Mode HMS Munin	4	1942-1966 1942-1966 1942-1970 1943-1968	-
Visby class	Sweden	Destroyer	HMS Hälsingborg HMS Kalmar HMS Sundsvall HMS Visby	4	1943-1978 1944-1978 1943-1982 1943-1982	-

Air force

Sweden's air force at the beginning of World War II was relatively small and lacked modern radar systems, engines, or weaponry. This changed during the build-up in the 1940s, though, eventually providing Sweden with an aircraft storage that was both numerous and of high quality, in preparation for the Cold War.

Fighter aircraft

Just as the rest of the Swedish Armed Forces, the number of fighter aircraft increased drastically from 98 before the war to almost 600 in 1945. 239 additional aircraft were manufactured immediately after the war.

Number of fighters pre-war: 98

Number of fighters in 1939: 158

Number of fighters in 1940: 290

Number of fighters in 1941: 290

Number of fighters in 1942: 485

Number of fighters in 1943: 485

Number of fighters in 1944: 485

Number of fighters in 1945: 593

Number of fighters post-war: 832

Name	Origin	Type	Versions	Quantity	In service	Notes
J 3	Germany/ Sweden	Biplane fighter aircraft	J 3B	7	1930-1945	Another 8 aircraft were in use prior to the war
J 6	Sweden	Biplane fighter aircraft	J 6 J 6A J 6B	7 3 7	1929–1941	3 donated to Finland for the Winter War
J 7	United Kingdom/ Sweden	Biplane reconnaissance aircraft	J 7	11	1930–1940	2 donated to Finland for the Winter War
J 8	United Kingdom/ Sweden	Biplane reconnaissance aircraft	J 8 J 8A	37 18	1937-1942 1938-1945	Some used in Finland
J 9	United States/ Sweden	Fighter aircraft	J 9	60	1940–1951	Sweden's first monoplane aircraft
J 11	Italy/ Sweden	Biplane fighter aircraft	J 11	72	1940–1946	-
J 12	Italy/ Sweden	Fighter aircraft	J 12	60	1939–1945	-
J 21	Sweden	Fighter and attack aircraft	J 21A-1	54	1945–1949	Another 128 aircraft were built immediately after the war
J 22	Sweden	Fighter aircraft	J 22A J 22B	143 55	1942–1952	Numbers may not be correct for the World War II era; some may have been built in 1946
J 26	United States	Fighter aircraft	P-51B P-51D	2 52	1945–1954	Originally P-51 Mustang, another 111 aircraft purchased immediately after the war

Bomber aircraft

During World War II the Swedish government maintained a neutral (alternatively, defensive) stance and thus saw no priority in adding offensive aircraft to the air force. Despite this, a fairly large number of bombers and ground-attack aircraft served in the Swedish air force during World War II and after, possibly for intimidation purposes - in fact, after 1940, Sweden had more bombers than fighter aircraft. These offensive aircraft may have been meant to attack Soviet naval bases in the Baltic Sea, and some of the later designs could even reach Moscow with full payload.

Number of bombers pre-war: 88

Number of bombers in 1939: 116

Number of bombers in 1940: 276

Number of bombers in 1941: 346

Number of bombers in 1942: 534

Number of bombers in 1943: 743

Number of bombers in 1944: 775

Number of bombers in 1945: 879

Name	Origin	Type	Versions	Quantity	In service	Notes
B 3	Germany/ Sweden	Bomber aircraft	B 3 B 3A B 3B B 3C B 3D	3 35 2 16 16	1936-1948 1937-1958 1937-1958 1939-1944 1941-1958	72 total
B 4	United Kingdom/ Sweden	Biplane bomber	B 4 B 4A	3 42	1937–1947	5 used in the Winter War
B 5	United States/ Sweden	Ground attack aircraft	B 5A B 5B B 5C	1 64 38	1938-1942 1940-1950 1941-1950	103 total
B 6	United States/ Sweden	Ground attack aircraft	B 6	2	1940-1953	More were ordered but never entered service
S 16	Italy/ Sweden	Light bomber Reconnaissance aircraft Reconnaissance aircraft Torpedo bomber Light transport	B 16A S 16A S 16B T 16A Tp 16A	30 66 14 14 2	1940-1943 1940-1945 1942-1945 1941-1942 1941-1946	126 total
Saab 17	Sweden	Bomber and reconnaissance aircraft	B 17 B 17B B 17C S 17BL S 17BS	132 54 77 64 56	1943-1948 1942-1945 1943-1947 1942-1949 1942-1949	383 total
Saab 18	Sweden	Bomber and reconnaissance aircraft	B 18A B 18B	62 120	1944-1947 1945-1958	-
T 1	Germany/ Sweden	Torpedo bomber	T 1	2	1928–1939	-
T 2	Germany/ Sweden	Torpedo bomber seaplane	T 2	12	1939–1948	-

Auxiliary aircraft

Name	Origin	Type	Versions	Quantity	In service	Notes
Trp 1	Germany	Small passenger transport aircraft	Trp 1	3	1928-1946	The world's first all-metal transport aircraft
Trp 2	Germany	Passenger and transport aircraft	Trp 2 Trp 2A	0 2	1933-1945	One Trp 2 was in use until 1935
Trp 3	United Kingdom	Light transport aircraft	Trp 3	1	1936-1942	-
Trp 4	United States	Trainer and utility aircraft	Trp 4	1	1940-1953	-
Tp 5	Germany	Transport aircraft	Tp 5	5	1940-1945	-
Tp 6	United States	STOL aircraft	Tp 6	1	1940-1941	-
Tp 7	United Kingdom	Transport and trainer aircraft	Tp 7	1	1940-1944	Still preserved in flying condition
Tp 8	United States	Biplane transport aircraft	Tp 8 Tp 8A	3 1	1940-????	-
Tp 9	Germany	Bomber, reconnaissance and airliner	Tp 9	1	1940-????	-
Tp 10	Germany	Airliner	Tp 10	1	1942-1944	-
Tp 11	Poland	Reconnaissance aircraft	Tp 11	1	1939-1951	-
Tp 12	Sweden	Reconnaissance aircraft	GV 38	6	1941-1945	-

References

1 2 http://www.smhs.eu/gallery_116.html
1 2 3 Militärhistoria issue 10, 2015

Sources and further reading

Off-site sources

Fellow Wikipedia articles used as sources

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