ČKD-Praga AH-IV
| AH-IV Sv Stridsvagn m / 37 |
|
|---|---|
.JPG)
Stridsvagn m / 37 in Strängnäs |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 2 |
| length | 3.40 m |
| width | 1.85 m |
| height | 1.95 m |
| Dimensions | 4.5 t |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | 6-15 mm |
| Main armament | 2 × 8 mm MG m / 36 strv |
| agility | |
| drive |
Volvo FC CKD petrol engine 63 kW (85 PS) |
| Top speed | 60 km / h |
| Power / weight | |
The CKD-Praga AH-IV was a light tank of Czechoslovak design from the 1930s.
history
The company CKD-Praga dealt with the development of armored vehicles from 1930. One of these designs was the light tank AH-IV developed under the direction of chief engineer Alexander Surin from 1934. This was exported to Iran, Romania, Sweden and, after 1945, also to Ethiopia. His armament (consisting of MG) was in a rotating turret. It also formed the basis for the development of the ČKD-Praga LT-H and ČKD-Praga TNHP .
Deployment in Iran - RH
In the years 1935 to 1936 50 RH version vehicles were delivered to Iran. There they formed the equipment of the 1st and 2nd Divisions of the Imperial Guard together with the 50 TNH that were later delivered. The tanks were in use until 1957.
Deployment in Romania - R-1
In 1936 and 1937 35 slightly modified vehicles with the designation R-1 were delivered to Romania. They weighed 4.2 t and their armor was 5 to 12 mm. Command cars had an observation cupola on the turret. These vehicles were used by the Romanian Army during World War II.
Deployment in Sweden - AH-IV Sv (Stridsvagn m / 37)
In 1936 the Swedish army wanted to increase its tank inventory. At that time she only had five Stridsvagn m / 21 (Strv m / 21) and Stridsvagn m / 21-29 (Strv m / 21-29) (ex LK II ), each one Stridsvagn fm / 28 (Strv fm / 28 ) ( Renault NC 27 ), Carden-Loyd Mk.V *, Carden-Loyd Mk.VI, and Stridsvagn fm / 31 (Strv fm / 31) ( Landsverk L-30 ) in stock. In addition, the newest vehicles were three Stridsvagn m / 31 (Strv m / 31) ( Landsverk L-10 ), but they were not satisfied with them. Therefore, they were looking for an inexpensive alternative and found what they were looking for at CKD-Praga with the AH-IV. This was once again put into service in a slightly modified version (AH-IV Sv) under the army designation Stridsvagn m / 37 (Strv m / 37) in the years 1938 and 1939 in a total of 48 copies. Two of these tanks were built in Czechoslovakia, the other 46 under license from Jungner in Oskarshamn . They differed from the other AH-IV versions mainly in that a twin machine gun was built into the turret as the main armament. They were used - mainly as reconnaissance tanks - until 1953.
Deployment in Ethiopia - AH-IV
After the Second World War, another series of 20 vehicles for Ethiopia was produced in Prague. They were equipped with an air-cooled 12-cylinder Tatra T 103 diesel engine.
literature
- Walter J. Spielberger: The Panzerkampfwagen 35 (t) and 38 (t) and their variants. Volume 11, Motorbuch Verlag Stuttgart, ISBN 3-87943-708-4 .
- Didrik von Porat: Svenska armens Pansar. Army Museum Stockholm, 1985.
