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Swedish SKPF's in Cyprus


Mark

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The vehicles were called KP bilar or “KP cars”. KP stands for Karosseri Pansar (i.e. armoured body) and Scania-Vabis manufactured KP cars by adding an armoured body to a Terrängbil M/1942 (4x4 army truck). The vehicles were made by Volvo, called VKP, and by Scania, called VKP. A total of aprox 350 KP cars were built. They were equipped with a double mount for the heavy Swedish MG m/1936 in 1956. The KP had its baptism of fire during the Swedish UN mission to Congo in 1961. The KP’s became so popular with other UN troops that they refused to serve unless they too were equipped with KP’s

 

The KP’s were part of the Swedish army well into the 1980’s and 1990’s. A number of vehicles can be found at different museums and some have even found their way into private hands.

 

As always,

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

I recently visited the armed forces museum in Stockholm, which I think was pretty good. The Swedish armed forces have a long interesting history. Found this vehicle there.

 

width=640 height=480http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w197/martylee74/IMG_2548.jpg[/img]

width=640 height=480http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w197/martylee74/IMG_2550.jpg[/img]

width=640 height=480http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w197/martylee74/IMG_2551.jpg[/img]

 

Marty

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The KP cars were called "Likkistor" or "Coffins". Vision was very limited from the drivers position.

 

A KP car was involved in the only armoured battle Swedish troops had been involved in. It happened in the Congo where a KP car came up against a Ford M8 Greyhound. The M8 who shot at the KP car with it's 37mm gun. This angered the soldier in the turret of the KP car and he fired his twin M36 machineguns, killing both driver and gunner of the M8. Swedish UN forces actually used a number of captured M8's as well as White Scout Cars.

 

As always,

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Hi Snapper,

 

Thanks for the kind words. The camouflage painting might have been applied by the Army museum where the KP's are kept. The Swedish camo is usually matte and not shiny.

 

The camo KP was used by the armoured regiment on the island of Gotland until just a few years ago. There are supposedly 20, or so, KP chassies (no bodies, unfortunately) in a junkyard on the island.

 

As always,

 

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Veering slightly off-topic did you see the full display where they parked the viggens in a laager under the trees at the alladins plain end of the runway?????

 

I saw it in the early eighties - the speakers annouced the start of the Viggen demo with no plane in sight. We could hear an engine spooling up but that was all. As the spooling got louder the announcer went through the technical spec's. As he finished talking cam nets were pulled aside and the Viggen came barrelling out from under the trees, did a sharp left onto the runway and kicked in the reheat. After a very short take-off run it just rotated into a vertical climb. Last plane I saw do that was the old Lightning!!!

The noise and vibration were unbelievable.........

 

I spent years trying to wangle a back set ride in one of the trainer versions via friends in the Swedish airforce and army - came very close a few times but never managed to get one though... :cry: :cry:

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The swedes have been making some different, but really intresting vehicles thru the years. The planes as mentioned. The draken, Viggen and Gripen which the last is one of the possible future aircrafts of the norwegian airforce. Also intresting to mention there is the talk about a joint defense program between the two countries.

I know I'm moving a little away from the subject of this thread, but I thought I'd show you another intereting vehicle from sweden. Also from the same museum, will make a museum thread with more photos during x-mas.

 

 

width=640 height=480http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w197/martylee74/IMG_2568.jpg[/img]

width=640 height=480http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w197/martylee74/IMG_2570.jpg[/img]

width=640 height=480http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w197/martylee74/IMG_2567.jpg[/img]

width=640 height=853http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w197/martylee74/IMG_2571.jpg[/img]

 

 

Sorry about hijacking the thread.

Marty

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The swedes have been making some different, but really intresting vehicles thru the years. The planes as mentioned. The draken, Viggen and Gripen which the last is one of the possible future aircrafts of the norwegian airforce. Also intresting to mention there is the talk about a joint defense program between the two countries.

I know I'm moving a little away from the subject of this thread, but I thought I'd show you another intereting vehicle from sweden. Also from the same museum, will make a museum thread with more photos during x-mas.

 

Sorry about hijacking the thread.

Marty

 

 

Oooh - loveley - one of my all-time favourites - the Stridsvagn or S-Tank!!! For one of those I'd even risk the wrath of the wife Mk1...

 

Nice one - thanks Marty, thats cheered me up no end!!!! ;-) ;-)

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