"RING SÅ KOMMER VI" which is written on the turret of the M8 above the dates of the battles it fought in roughly translates as "Call us and we'll be there".

I didn’t know Sweden bought the M8 Armoured Car. We didn’t, we nicked them.

I liked Stefan’s response ‘not officially’ in combat! Obviously referring to the Swedish volunteers who served in Finland during the Winter War.

The Swedish contingent performed pretty well in Operation Grand Slam. The J-29 fighters provided crucial air support and the infantry battalions captured and disarmed several units of Katangese gendarmes. On the subject of conscription in Sweden, which was touched upon: it was instituted in 1901, though it didn't fully replace the older "alotment" system until the 1950s (iirc). The alotment system dated back to the 1680's and was quite a unique way to raise an army. Two "households" (an economic unit approximating the resources needed to sustain a family of five) would pool their resources to recruit a soldier, pay for his equipment and housing, in return for which they'd be exempt from certain taxes. In poorer areas, three or more households would have to contribute. The soldiers raised this way would serve in their province's regiment (usually either an infantry or a cavalry regiment, but the more populous provinces would have two or more regiments), training at regular intervals through the year and spending the rest of the time as farmers. For the time, this gave Sweden a fairly well-trained army that was maintained constantly at very small cost to the state, and could be mobilised very quickly. By the mid 19th century, though, it was outdated and inefficient compared to the conscription systems of France and Germany, for example. Also, it was conceived when Sweden was almost entirely rural and agricultural. When the country finally began to industrialise and urbanise, the pool of recruits and farmers to support them shrank. Finally, the system became more and more unpopular among those farmers and crofters. By 1900, Sweden hadn't been in an armed conflict worth the name for over 80 years and yet they still had to supply a full-time armed force for the crown.

My grandfather served in Congo, battalion K18 from '62 through '63, around the Katanga airbase including the Battle of Kaminaville. It's good to see this subject getting covered!

If in the area don't miss out on Swedish Army Museum in Stockholm. Some of the best dioramas I have ever seen.

Hi Chief, I'm Irish and Polish and while I was not in the Army, my younger son did 2 tours, 1 in Afghanistan and 1 in Iraq as senior operator of a TAB. Love your videos Chief, God bless...

A tank named "lamb nipples" is worth a subscription all by itself 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

Very well presented. The Swedish gentleman was very knowledgeable and for talking in a second language was very good.

I like the text at the top of the M8 turret, "Ring så kommer vi". It means "Give us a call and we´ll be there".

i luv that, had a few m113s just show up, nobody knows where or from who, or where they went to, just disappeared, lol

This is really very good. So many AFVs, so little time. Thanks again.

I remember reading that the Canadians brought armoured vehicles to one of the Balkan conflicts, but were not supposed to bring any heavy weapons. Because they had to do lots of recon they requested to bring the targeting systems for their anti tank weapons. When this was granted, they “accidentally” sent the Hellfires as well

He seems to be a Swedish Fletcher. Especially at the end

So glad the Chieftain introduced your channel to us! Am now a subscriber!

Would that be a US Army WWII Tanker Jacket you are wearing? I always thought that was a great jacket design!

One of the best friends my dad has ever had, was in Kongo with UN, as a Swedish soldier. He missed all the action, for wish he later was thankfull. The old man is now is an retirement home for those in the last stadges of life.

Very interesting material. Thank you for sharing.

Fantastic!

White - its my absolute favorite painting patern/camo composition. With those big UN letters on both sides... I mean who would even dare to give you a speeding ticket? Are there any people on earth that could just start shout on you on the streets, while you are on your white angel of the final, severe but fair judgment! Angel additionaly armed with shotgun.

The Irish also had a few M8s in Congo painted white with un markings and a .30 browning on turret, god nose where they got them, grandfathers brother drove one . 1961 Congo written on back of photo that I have.

Excellent video. Thanks!

Regarding the KP-Bil (popularly known as "Likkistan", "The Coffin", amongst Swedish soldiers) Jonas Waern (commander of the 12th and 14th Swedish U.N. battalions as well as Brigade commander of the U.N. military district of Southern Katanga, serving in Congo June 1961-May 1962) recounts encountering an M8 Armoured car on the streets of Elisabethville, driven by mercenaries hired by Union Miniére, while in a KP-Bil. The M8 fired and missed and, fortunately, having a single belt of AP for their twin 8mm machine-guns the Swedish gunner fired back and must've done some damage, because as Jonas Waern noted, every time after that when enemy armoured cars saw a KP-bil they would retreat. If you're able to read Swedish I highly recommend reading Jonas Waern's book "Katanga - Svensk FN-trupp i Kongo 1961-62. (ISBN: 91-7486-157-3) If you're English I highly recommend reading the Wikipedia entry for *Överfurir Torsten Stålnacke* ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torsten_St%C3%A5lnacke ) whose heroism when defending the refugee-camp from mercenaries firing cannon into it (and who subsequently defended the hospital where he was being treated for his wounds) ought to be remembered. *EDIT* I just noticed that the Wikipedia entry claims that the mercenaries were firing into a weapons depot. This is contradictory to all other sources I've encountered (including Stålnacke's own retelling), though the proximity of the refugee camp to the Swedish camp makes it plausible, although, in my opinion, not very likely since this was not the first time these mercenaries had attacked refugees.

Just found the channel, subscribed!

@1:58 "It's ugly, what is it" - Well, they where nicknamed Coffin. Not because they where death traps, but because of their shape. I actually remember one of these sitting at Bärebergs Järn & Maskin AB in Västergötland, Sweden. A scrapyard that buys out a lot of old Swedish military surplus. Me and my dad visited in 2010 to get some pallet racks for our business, and i clearly remember walking through the yard catching a glimpse of the thing through the underbrush (it was sitting out in the woods) and thinking: It can't be. But sure enough, it was! The thing was way rusty and delapidated, clearly having been sat outside for quite some time. But it was more or less complete. I wonder if it's still there, or if someone saved it.

Siege of Jadotville is a great movie very interesting considering the Irish flight against ex legionnaires

More of this series please

58 years in service. The Swedes certainly got their moneys worth.

This felt more like a fact check. As if The Chieftain knew all the answers to the questions he gave Stefan and was just testing his responses. Felt awkward to listen to but good to see all the weapon systems.

Good video! 👍

Love it ”lammapatte” bad skånsk humor 😍

I read an excellent article about Sweden in Nordbat 2 in Bosnia just last night. Very interesting.

Might I suggest doing a report on the Dutch YP-408 as used in Lebanon UNIFIL peacekeeping missions.

At P7 armoured regiment in southern Sweden all the strv 122´s is named after Marvel characters , Rocket racoon, Black widow etc. :)

No mention of the Daimler Ferret MK 2/3 in the opening? Like to see Chieftain do an episode on them. I used to own a 1965 MK 2/3. Greatest toy I ever had.

The Rest of World Tank names The Dragon, The Killer. Swedish Tank name Lam tits. Makes me proud to be Swedish.

The Irish got their M113s in the Congo from the Independent Indian Brigade in February 1963, maybe the Swedes got their M113s from this brigade too

Great 👍🏻

Please do the VBL! My favorite vehicle ever.

The lower armor on that KP-bil seems like it might have actually been useful against mines.

A good movie tip: Jadotville. Story about the irish UN troops in Africa.

I laughed so hard at the tank name! Wow, that's weird!

In the Battle of Marawi against ISIS in Philippines The Filipinos Named one APC : FREE WiFi That was very iconic it makes the soldiers laughed when it passed them.

Wtf xD. Sorry i cant help it cause Sir Moran is sooooo tall. Thanks for the video

Looks like an APC version of a Greyhound -- an up-armored truck. Ha. Didn't know they were going to show a Greyhound next.

Funny how many times the lesson needs to be learned that the cupola needs armour protection, this thing, the M113 in Vietnam the Humvee in the middle east, probably endless more examples.

The Irish unit in the siege of Jadotvillle could DEFINITELY have used some Swedish armor support!

Acually in the beginning Sweden had not gotten the g3 (ak4 in Sweden) but some troops had the ag42 automatic rifle (and of course kpist 45). I have red that some swedes took fn fals from enemy troops and mecenarys. I can not confirm how many but i have seen pictures of swedish troops holding it.

The KP have the same streeing wheel as BM tractors.

Wow, they went out of Swedish service in 2000! Apparently, the Irish and Swedish Armed Forces are not that dissimilar, both will have to use outdated/antiquated or vintage equipment in the field. I suppose it makes combat more interesting.

What about Canada. I was in Cyprus in 68 .and the canadines were in a battle aginst the Croats in Bosnia

The Bradley has been in Service for over 40 years. It will also have been around for around 50 before its entirely gone.. the M113 has been around since 1960.. thats 60 years

So the UN used the van from Dumb and Dumber?

the KP-bil looks a bit like the Dutch East Indies [KNIL] Overvalwagen. Which wasn't much use. The only footage I could find was from after being captured by the Japanese kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ntmWbLlz2pudoIk.html

This used the m40 tank chassis, I believe

16:28 Countries that have vehicles with no known paper-trail are incentivised to get rid of them discretely. Countries that need new vehicles often like to aquire them discretely. I wonder if the M113s Stefan and Nicholas mention are the same ones? 🤔

how many kills on enemy armor have UN vehicles had ?

Why did they put camo paint under the M8? Is it upside down a lot? :D

This is important, because know your enemy.

There’s nothing quite like being on UN mission in an armored white Land Rover everyone thinks says “shoot me.”

In all honestly, it should be Chieftain the one speaking the most in the video and explaining the vehicles

We do name our tanks.. It's just that sometimes not so glorious names, like Pippi och bamse.

👍

What is that thing on the side of the KP-bil, that looks like a bunker ventilation valve or place for spare wheel?

Sheep Nipples sounds like a comedy rock band.

Ya... I don't think brand new American armored vehicles showing up in use in the Congo, multiple times, with enough support to keep them all running, ammunition, etc... ya, they were gifted/borrowed.

it is a story that says that then UN asked if the swedish could go to congo the same day two groups of tunnan figthers flew rhigt from there airbases to the aribase in kongo and went in at the UN office there and said that they where ready for combat and had taken about thre hours from sweden down to congo

Wow...talk about operating on a shoestring.

Wasn't the Korean War was UN's very first war? Because nations that fought the N.Korea were under the UN flag.

Amazing service life. The Canadian army has a habbit of pushing their equipment to the limit. Had we purchased the swedish APVs our soldiers would still be running around in them.

Ah... The M113 fairy strikes again.

The M113 entered US service in 1961ish (they were fielded in USAREUR units in 1961-2) so any in the Congo would have gotten there on rocket sleds to be there 1960-4. Could someone have confused a ex-Belgian M75 with an M113?

11:30 That year - 1813 (ish) - is when neutrality become Swedish policy.

I know of a Strv122 named Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Neutrality became Swedish policy after the Finnish war of 1808 when half of Sweden was lost to Russia. Worked out fine for Sweden in the end, the lost eastern part eventually gained independence and now Finland stands as a buffer between Sweden and Russia, Sweden helps just enough that the Finns barely survive but not so much that it would cause Sweden economical difficulties.

Is this axval

"The Lamb's Nipples" sounds like a very odd tank name.

I wonder why they couldn’t have asked the US or one of the Allies who used M8s during world war 2 if they could spare some rounds to a vehicle most of them would likely have consider obsolete by then. Surly they wouldn’t have been stingy about part with rounds to a gun that they would consider about useless by then, they probably where throwing the rounds out anyway.

"Lamma-patte" Jag tror jag dör!

Nah mechanics knows both Volvo and Scania it is not that different.

2:24... waiting for a super techie name and then... this! LOL

I have to be honest, I hate how many questions there were early on for which Stefan simply had no answer. "How did they get there?" - no idea. "When did neutrality become policy?" - no idea. When he mentioned that great film, he couldn't even name it so that whole part was a liiiittle pointless until the subtitles were added. Nicholas was prepared, but Stefan did not seem to be. This wasn't a second language issue, it was just not being as knowledgeable or prepared.

Volvo's where what now?

Oh my gush the ugly vehicle is on fire! And now where stuck in Congo, @#$!

I'm just not down with the white paint. It makes you the most obvious thing in the county.

Jättebra video! Men snälla, träna upp din engelska Stefan eller låt någon annan ta över din roll i dessa engelskspråkiga videos från Arsenalen. Detta är jättejobbigt att höra på och det är en lättnad varje gång ordet ligger hos Nicholas och då är jag ändå inte så vass själv på engelska.

"anything but pink" someone tell the SAS

Trying Humour with a swede is a bad idea.

Nothing personal, but ask the people of Darfur and Rwanda what they think of the “effectiveness” of the United Nations.

It should've been a bad reputation because they crushed a free republic just because the un didn't like it Katanga was a happy viable state but not recognised by the UN so it had to go Jatoville was Katanga trying to get rid of the UN

Next time use a translator.

Look at all the vehicles painted a nice "I'm a target, kill me!"... Yeah, I know, they are decent vehicles, and you need to identify yourself as U.N.... but for satan's sake that paintjob makes me want to grab a crate of spray cans and get the white off...

Blowhard.

Lame conversation.

You lost me at UN

jesus christ its like pulling teeth , Stefan needs to UP his game , that was painful to watch

Both (Sweden and Ireland) are “neutral countries” ? What? When you’re in “actual” combat?

I hope this guy goes and learns more about what he is suppose to be representing. He sounds like a bureaucrat that has no idea of what he is there for. Painful to watch.

I find your conversations painful.