(No.1 prototype of Pbv-302 image). In February 1961, the Swedish firm Hägglunds began the development of a new vehicle with improved performance than the previous Pbv-301 APC, that had been delivered the previous month. Among the requirements to be met, the vehicle had to be amphibious, have mobility equivalent to that of the S-tank MBT, the posibility of the carried troops to fight on board, complete protection against light weapons and carry a weapon powerful enough to attack light protected targets. In October 1961 a contract was signed for the construction of 2 prototypes and in just 14 months Hägglunds delivered the first prototype of a new armored personnel carrier designated “Pbv-302” (Pansarbandvagn 302).(Pbv-302A image). The Pbv-302 has a similar appearance to the American M-113 APC, which entered service a little earlier, and which had been tested by the Swedish Army. However, it can be said that the similarities end here, because the Swedish vehicle had steel armor instead of aluminum armor, it was amphibious and the occupants could fire their weapons from inside, among many other differences. Furthermore, the Pbv-302 carried a turret with a 20mm gun as standard main armament, which made it almost an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) rather than a simple APC.(Pbv-302A image). Pbv-302 APC had a crew of 3 members, which were the driver, turret gunner and commander. The driver was sitting in an elevated position in the front of the hull with the turret gunner to the left and the commander to the right, a little further back. The commander had a hatch with five vision periscopes that allowed him to observe from inside the vehicle and the driver had 3 periscopes that offered excellent forward vision. The driver’s central periscope could be exchanged for a passive night periscope for night actions. The turret also had several periscopes that allowed the gunner a good observation around the vehicle.(Pbv-302A image). The internal layout of the Pbv-302 is somewhat particular, since the engine compartment was located under the floor of the vehicle, which allowed the driver’s position to be raised and improve visibility. In addition to the engine, the transmission and gearbox were also placed under the floor. The undercarriage was made up of 5 dual rubber-tired roadwheels, with the drive sprocket in front and the idler wheel in the back, and it did not have return rollers. The suspension was made up of torsion bars, one on each roadwheel. The combat weight was 13,500 kg and the ground pressure was only 0.6 kg/cm2, which made it easy to cross soft terrain and snow. The Pbv-302 used new M-70 tracks of 380mm wide and had a useful life of 10,000 km aproximately.(Pbv-302A image). The vehicle was powered by a 270 hp 9.6 liter water-cooled six-cylider in-line turbo-charged Volvo-Penta THD-100B diesel engine. The Pbv-302 reached a road speed of 66 km/h and the range was 300 km. However, this speed was limited in peacetime and could easily reach 75 km/h in wartime. The Pbv-302 was totally amphibious and was propelled by its tracks at a maximum speed of 8 km/h, enough to cross rivers with low stream and calm lakes. If conditions permitted, it could also navigate by sea by deploying its V-shaped bow-board, an action carried out by the driver in a matter of seconds. In addition, the vehicle had two bilge pumps for amphibious operations.(Pbv-302A image). The Volvo-Penta THD-100B diesel engine was a commercial engine used in buses and not specifically designed for armored vehicles, but it fulfilled the premise of reducing costs as much as possible and facilitate having a large stock of spare parts, as did the gearbox, which was a synchronized manually operated Volvo-Penta R-60 model. This gearbox had 8 forward and 2 reverse speeds and was connected to a steering system made up of clutches and disc brakes, a fairly simple and effective system.(Pbv-302A image). The armor of the Pbv-302 was made of steel and the 23mm thick frontal plates resisted impacts from 20mm armor piercing (AP) rounds while the sides were made up of a double skin hull that favored its buoyancy and improved protection. This double hull created a kind of spaced armor that improved protection against shaped charges from anti-tank rockets. The Pbv-302 carried 9 equipped soldiers, of which initially 8 sat on side benches fixed to the sides and 1 in a seat located in the front, but this arrangement changed later. Troop access was through two manual rear doors that opened to the sides, and on the roof there were two large hydraulically operated hatches that when open allowed the infantrymen to observe and fire their weapons. These hatches were controlled by the commander and had a security system that prevented them from closing in case of encountering equipment or the hands of the infantrymen.(Pbv-302A image). The Pbv-302 was designed from the beginning to carry weapons superior to that of the rest of the APCs of the time, and which consisted of an m/47D 20mm gun. These were modified Hispano-Suiza HS-804 guns, recovered from Saab J-29 Tunnan fighters decommissioned from the Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet). The gun had a rate of fire of 500 rounds per minute, was mounted on a one-man 360º rotary turret and was operated by the gunner, who had an 8x scope for ground shooting. This gun could fire at an elevation angle of between -10º and + 50º and fired high-explosive (HE) and armor-piercing (AP) rounds, of which the vehicle carried 405 and 100 rounds respectively. Initially the ammunition came ready for use in 135 round belts (HE) and 10 round magazines (AP) but later these systems were changed to 30 round magazines since their use was somewhat problematic. Likewise, the amount of ammunition was reduced to ten 30-round magazines. Additionally, on top of the barrel there was a mount to install a 7.62mm machine gun that could serve as a coaxial weapon.(Pbv-302A image). In January 1963 development testing began and in October 1963 the production order was given. The serial Pbv-302 were practically the same as the prototypes used in the tests, something really strange but which demonstrates the good work of Hägglunds during the development phase. On this date the new vehicle was also publicly presented, of which the Swedish Army initially ordered about 700. The first production vehicle was delivered by Hägglunds in February 1966, only two years and four months after receiving the contract, and barely 5 years after the first studies, something remarkable, and even more so if you take into account that the company built a new building for the assembly of this vehicle in Örnsköldsvik.(Brobv-941, Bgbv-82 & Pbv-302 image). From 1966 to 1971 647 Pbv-302 of all variants were built, comprising 518 personnel carriers and 129 specialized variants, becoming the main armored vehicles family of the Swedish Army for the next 25 years. Along with the Pbv-302 APC, different specialized variants with minor modifications were developed such as: -Stripbv-3021 command post for battalion and brigade commanders, –Epbv-3022 artillery forward observer vehicle (FOV), –Bplpbv-3023 battery command control vehicle (attached to 155mm Bandkanon 1 SPH batteries), –Rlpbv-3024 radio communications vehicle, –Pjrekpbv-3025 battery reconnaissance vehicle and the Sjuktppbv-3026 medical evacuation vehicle. In addition, two new vehicles were developed based on the Pbv-302, such as the Bgbv-82 armored recovery vehicle (ARV) and the Brobv-941 bridgelayer vehicle (AVLB).(Epbv-3022 FOV image). The Stripbv-3021 command post vehicle had 4 radio stations in the troop compartment operated by the same number of radio operators. The Epbv-3022 artillery forward observer vehicle had a small turret for the commander equipped with 4x and 10x scopes and a 10x optical rangefinder. It also had an additional radio, a navigation system and two cable communication channels. The turret could be rotated manually and had several periscopes for observation.(Rlpbv-3024 radio communications vehicle image). The Bplpbv-3023 battery command control vehicle operated with the Bandkanon 1 self-propelled howitzers and had seven operators on board. These vehicles carried several radio stations inside and additional equipment on the roof. The Rlpbv-3024 radio communications vehicle carried a large telescopic mast folded on the roof, which was raised vertically during operations. Several of these vehicles were deployed in the Balkans during Swedish peacekeeping missions. In addition to these variants, the Pbv-302 could be used, with minimal modifications, as a cargo vehicle, for a maximum load of 2,000 kg, or as a medical vehicle, installing 4 to 6 stretchers in the troop compartment.(Pbv-302C image). During such a long career, between 1984 and 1997 the Pbv-302 received a series of improvements and modernizations to keep it up to date, although it did not undergo major mechanical changes. Finally three APC variants served in the Swedish army until their replacement. The Pbv-302A, which were the original vehicles delivered in the 1960s and that received minor improvements like GPS, satellite telephone systems or new seats for the driver and the gunner. The Pbv-302B, which received Kevlar spall liner protection on the interior and added external armor, and the Pbv-302C, which was the variant that received the most improvements. Despite the good performance of the Pbv-302 no foreign countries adquired this vehicle.(Pbv-302C image). About 50 Pbv-302C were converted with the improvements added in the B variant plus new headlights, a new turbocharger, an air conditioning system, a reinforced suspension, flare launchers, a non-stick base, a modified exhaust pipe and additional external storage boxes. This variant was primarily used by Swedish forces during their United Nations and NATO peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and Kosovo respectively.(Pbv-302C image). In the mid-80s, the Swedish Army began to study a future replacement for the Pbv-302 and in 1993 the first “Stridsfordon 90” (CV90) tracked armoured combat vehicles began to be delivered. Since then, a gradual withdrawal of the Pbv-302 began and by 2005 the older 160 vehicles had already been withdrawn. Subsequently, almost all of the Pbv-302 family vehicles continued to be retired, leaving only 50 active in 2016. The total withdrawal was completed in 2018 but more than 200 vehicles were stored.(Pbv-302A image). Recently, in May 2024, the Swedish Government agreed to send a military aid package to Ukraine due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. This aid package was number 16th and, among other materials, it took into account the transfer of all the Pbv-302 APCs stored, which reached 239 vehicles. In addition, the shipment would include ammunition, maintenance equipment and spare parts to support operations on the battlefield.
