Last phase of the relocation of the Axvall collection
With support of the Armed Forces and a number of volunteers, The Arsenal
and SFHM carry out the relocation of the Tank Museum during September 2009.
First to arrive were the three Shermans, used for trials in Sweden
after WW II. Among other things they were used in the development of the
S-tank.
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The visit from the Platoon commander of 1948, Sten Korch, got quite some media attention.
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Bgbv 120 in action.
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A hectic but successful first week
The first week of the relocation of the collection from Axvall to Strangnas
is completed. A hectic week, putting everything from stamina to ingenuity
to the test, both in Axvall and in Strangnas.
The result was 64 relocated vehicles, slightly ahead of plan.
The Armed Forces supported with transport vehicles and drivers. Four
tank transporters from P4 and the heavy transport platoon from the Lifeguard
regiment drove without hesitation, night as well as day, and waited patiently
when loading or offloading took time.
In addition, they let us use two wheel loaders L120 and two armoured recovery
vehicles bgbv 120 Büffel, one of each in Axvall and Strangnas respectively,
and they were completely indispensable.
As good as all the armoured history passes during this relocation and it
feels like a fantastic privilege to have had the chance to take the annual
vacation in September 2009!
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The StuG III was hoisted off the trailer.
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Those like the Leo 1 prototype coming on tank transporters were towed off and the lorry winches secured.
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During offloading from the 25-tonne trailers, the wheel loader secured.
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Strv m/21 being offloaded the same way
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Some vehicles, here a Universal Carrier, were simply offloaded by the wheel loader.
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Tow bars from the Bgbv 120 being connected between the strv 74 and the wheel loader.
Not only the vehicles but also the equipment is heavy.
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To ease the maneuvering, we added some pressure to the wheels of the armoured car fm/29.
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The Marder being maneuvered with a single tow bar and its own steering.
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Ikv 73 being steered in place by Bgbv 120.
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T-34 pulled in by wheel loader.
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Wheel loader pushing a self propelled gun with a triangle tow bar.
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Bgbv 90 pulled in the right direction by the wheel loader.
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Centurion ARV bgbv 81 and its replacement bgbv 120, on a Leopard II chassi.
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Small margins demand great caution. As does sensitive items - here strv fm/31
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A special thank you must go to personnel and conscripts of the Armed Forces
who worked so hard this week. Without you this had not been possible!
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The following weeks were somewhat less hectic...
Landsverk L-180 in Irish livery.
(Armoured car m/41)
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After the first week there were basically only heavy transports -
approximately 30 of them.
By using the lorry winches to secure, the off-loading went smoothly
and safely with even the heaviest tanks. The actual off-loading
was done in no time at all, and when the trailers had started their
return journey, we "only" had to get the tanks into their garages.
Now all the work put in this spring to make some of these vehicles start
paid off. When some of the tanks in a shipment kan move under their own
steam it takes less time to get everything into place - otherwise the
Bgbv 120 is needed everywhere...
Afterwards, we can also - with relief - note that our calculations
on how to place the vehicles (with regard to their lengths and widths)
were correct - everything fitted according to plan.
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Offloading strv m/38.
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Drivers compartment, L-180. Strv m/21-29 loaded.
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Strv fm/31 HB. An experiment combining wheels and tracks.
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The trailer with strv m/21-29 being reversed in between the garages...
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...to offload in the most gentle way possible...
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...straight into the garage.
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AKV - the prototype for the Bofors SPG "Bandkanon", about to be loaded in Axvall.
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Chieftain Mk 10 being prepared for start and loading in Axvall.
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The Swiss Panzer 68 ready to be driven into its garage in Strängnäs.
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Chieftain being driven into the garage in Strängnäs.
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KRV, a Swedish experimental vehicle, being ushered into place by the Bgbv 120.
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The M501 missile loading tractor on the other hand can - just - be pushed
into place by hand...
Admittedly, it came not from Axvall but from Halmstad, but gets a place on this
page anyway!
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Bgbv 120 getting some TLC before its home journey
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Once again - thank you very much for the Armed Forces personnel and conscripts!
The association volunteers who worked for free also deserve a mention.
What many regarded as impossible has now - thanks to you all - been successfully accomplished!
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