Swedish PBV 302 APCs Added to Ukrainian Ground Forces Arsenal
31 October, 2024 Pansarbandvagn 302. Source: Ground Forces of Ukraine. Swedish tracked armored personnel carriers PBV 302 (Pansarbandvagn 302) have arrived in Ukraine and are now in service with the Land Forces.
A corresponding video was released by the Land Forces' press service. Soldiers noted the vehicle's easy handling, comfortable ride, and practical design. One of the driver-mechanics noted that the vehicle could navigate challenging terrain, including slopes, in 3rd or 4th gear.
Pansarbandvagn 302.
Source: Ground Forces of Ukraine.
Sweden announced the transfer of all available PBV 302 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine in late May 2024. The vehicles are intended to equip newly formed brigades. These armored vehicles were in service with the Swedish army until 2014.
At that time, it was reported that the Swedes would provide spare parts, maintenance equipment and ammunition. Later, in August, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine authorized these armored personnel carriers for use in the army. In early October, Swedish armored personnel carriers were seen moving across Europe, with a train carrying PBV 302s passing through the Usti nad Labem station in the Czech Republic.
An echelon of Swedish Pbv 302 armored personnel carriers in the Czech Republic.
October 2024. Frame from video by Kozeny Jiri (X social network)
Pansarbandvagn 302
The Swedish Pansarbandvagn 302 tracked armored personnel carrier was developed by Haglund & Soner in the 1960s. The army began receiving them in 1966, and a total of 644 vehicles were produced.
By the standards of the 1960s, the Pbv 302 armored personnel carrier received powerful armament in the form of a 20-mm automatic HS804 cannon with 505-round ammunition. It also has a 7.62 mm Ksp 58 machine gun. The hull is welded from steel plates, with the side plates having a two-layer structure.
The frontal plates can withstand a 20-mm shell hit.
Pansarbandvagn 302 armored personnel carrier (Pbv 302). Photo: wikimedia.org
Read more about the armored personnel carrier in the article on Militarnyi: "Pbv 302: second life in the Ukrainian Defense Forces"
The armored personnel carrier, which weighs more than 13 tons, has wide tracks that put less pressure on the ground than a tractor.
This allows the armored vehicle to move on difficult off-road terrain, soft and loose soils, including mud and sand, and to overcome water obstacles.
The Swedish tracked armored personnel carrier has a 280-horsepower diesel engine that accelerates the combat vehicle to a speed of over 60 kilometers per hour.