Editing Stridsvagn 103 (section)

== Service ==
[[File:Strv 103 Tank Swimming (GMSF.000645).jpg|thumb|right|The Strv 103 demonstrating its amphibious capabilities with the help of flotation screens.]]

In preparation for the defence plan of 1958 (''Försvarsbeslut 1958 (FB58)'') in [[Riksdagen]] (Swedish parliament), the procurement set ''Alternativ S'' against the two foreign alternatives ''Alternativ A'' and ''Alternativ T''. While the domestic alternative was going to be more expensive, the defence committee report recommended "S" when weighing in the symbolic value of a domestic tank for a neutral country as well as the spin-off effects on Swedish industrial competence.

[[Riksdag]]en made the formal decision regarding FB58 on 4 February 1958, and a follow-on contract called for two production prototypes, which were completed in 1961. By this point, the army was so satisfied with the design that an initial pre-production order for 10 was placed in 1960.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}

With minor changes, the ''Alternativ S'' was adopted as the ''Stridsvagn 103'' ("103" from being the third tank with a 10&nbsp;cm [[Caliber|calibre]] gun accepted into Swedish service). Full production started in 1967 and ended in 1971 with 290 delivered. The changes included a new gyro-stabilised commander's cupola armed with a 7.62&nbsp;mm [[FN MAG|KSP 58]] machine gun, and upgraded frontal armour. A unique [[slat armor]] grid could be mounted at the front to help defeat [[high-explosive anti-tank]] (HEAT) rounds; however, it was kept secret for many years and was to be fitted only in the event of war.

Despite its design, the Strv 103 was intended for offensive operations. The [[List of Swedish Army brigades|armoured brigades]] of the Swedish Army, which operated the Strv 103, were designated ''anfallsbrigader'' (assault brigades) and tasked with launching [[counter-offensive]]s on enemy [[beachhead]]s and [[Airhead|airborne landings]].<ref name=":0">{{cite book |editor-last=Hugemark |editor-first=Bo |title=Den stora armén |series=Forskningsprojektet Försvaret och det kalla kriget (FOKK), 1652-5388; 44 |year=2015 |publisher=Medström i samarbete med forskningsprojektet Försvaret och det kalla kriget (FoKK |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=9789173291231 |id={{SELIBR|17457270}} |pages=27–28, 128–33, 257–60}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Hugemark |editor-first=Bo |last1=Björeman |first1=Carl |author-link1=Carl Björeman |title=Den stora invasionen: svenskt operativt tänkande under det kalla kriget |chapter=Chapter 7, Milo S – fienden skulle hejdas vid kusten |series=Publikation, [1652-5388]; nr 47 |year=2017 |publisher=Medströms bokförlag i samarbete med forskningsprojektet Försvaret och det kalla kriget (FoKK) |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=9789173291385 |id={{SELIBR|19793130}} |pages=131–163}}</ref> The stated Swedish armoured [[Military doctrine|doctrine]] contemporary to the tank describes an aggressive approach to [[armoured warfare]], even in defensive situations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tanks.mod16.org/pdf/Pansarreglemente%20stridsvagnspluton%20%281974%29.pdf|title=Pansarreglemente Stridsvagnspluton|date=1974|language=sv}}</ref> The design of the Strv 103, with its low profile, was based on protection rather than defensive battlefield behaviour.<ref name=":0"/>

In 1980, the Swedish Army requested all tanks in the inventory to be scrapped and replaced with an unspecified Stridsvagn 2000 (tank for usage past year 2000). In 1982, the Riksdag decided for severe reduction of the military budget in [[Defence Act (Sweden)|Defence Act]] of 1982, and instead decided the tank-fleet should go through a renovation and modification (REMO) to at least somewhat bring them up to standard while within the economic limits imposed.<ref>[https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/proposition/om-sakerhets--och-forsvarspolitiken-samt_G503102/html Prop. 1981/82:102 Bilaga 2 Försvarsdepartementet p.14 ''Renovering och modifiering av stridsvagnar'']</ref><ref>[http://www.ointres.se/strv_2000.htm Rickard O. Lindström, Projekt stridsvagn 2000]</ref>