The Swedish machineguns before 1950.

 Text and pictures by O. Janson

updated 2007-01-23

 

Kulspruta m/36 (KSP m/1936)
Swedish Medium Machine Guns - system Browning

 

Kulspruta m/1936 arranged for air defence.

 

1936 Sweden accepted the Browning machinegun U.S. calibre .30 M1917A1. These machineguns were chambered for either the very powerful Swedish machinegun cartridge in 8x63 mm m/1932 or the rifle cartridge in 6,5x55 mm m/1894.

 

Browning M1917a1

 

After the introduction of the 7,62 NATO cartridge ptr 10, these machineguns were adopted to the new 7,62x51 mm round.

The m/1936 is a water cooled machinegun with spade-type grips instead of the pistol type grip of the US Brownings.

These machineguns where also mounted in twin mounts for anti aircraft especially on vehicles.

 

The mechanism seen from both sides. Here it is locked and closed.

 

The mechanism is open

The mechanism is partially open

 

The mechanism is locked and closed.

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Tripods

Tripod m/1936

Tripod m/36 at its lowest position.
Tripod m/36 at normal position.
Removing the machine gun with the cradle from the tripod m/36.

Note -
the fork grip for the cradle.

 

Cradle m/1936

Single cradle for water-cooled Medium Machine Gun m/36.

Removing the machine gun from the cradle.
(23)
Double cradle for two MMG m/36 from above
(24)
Double cradle for two MMG m/36 viewed from under

 

Twin mounted Kulspruta m/36. Here you can see the double cradle and a bag to collect empty brass.

 

Machinegun m/36 with Schwarzlose tripod m/14.

The Swedish MMG Kulspruta m/36 on the tripod m/14.

Swedish army instruction manual
from 1963

 

Pictures of nostalgia.

1939

Ksp m/1936 on a lorry.

1939

Ksp m/1936 Military training.

 

Technical information MMG Ksp m/1936:

Kulspruta m/36, Ksp m/36
Calibre 6,5×55 or 7,62×51 or 8×63
Accepted 1936
Ammunition 6,5 mm m/94; 7,62 mm ptr 10; or
8 mm m/32
V0 620 m/s (6,5 mm m/94)
750 m/s (8 mm m/32)
Feed Canvas belt, 250 rounds
Rate of fire 600 - 720 shots / minute
Design John Moses Browning
Browning M1917A1
Action Recoil operated
Manufacturer Carl Gustaf GF
LM Ericson
Year of delivery 1937-1944
Quantity  ≈7600 pieces
Barrel 607 mm
Length 1365
Weight w/o water

23 kg
Weight with water 26 kg
Weight tripod 25 kg
Sights 6,5 mm: 200-2000 m
8 mm: 300-3000 m
Notes Ksp m/36 Mark; used as support weapon, spade-grips, water-cooled
Ksp m/36 Strv V; used in tanks, feed from left, pistol-grip, air-cooled
Ksp m/36 Strv H; used in tanks, feed from right, pistol-grip, air-cooled
Ksp m/36 Strv Dbl; twin mount used in tanks, pistol-grip, air-cooled
Ksp m/36 Lv E; used in AA role, spade-grips, water-cooled
Ksp m/36 Lv Dbl; twin mount used in AA role, spade-grips, water-cooled
Status Obsolete in 1995 circa


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Twin mounted Medium water-cooled Machine Gun m/36

"Kulspruta m/36 lv dbl"

Twin mounted Medium water-cooled Machine Gun m/36 - anti aircraft

 

Accessories for Ksp m/36 lv dbl

 

 

 

A ring for the mount on a lorry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Folded tripod m/1936

 

 

 

 

 

Extension for anti aircraft.

Swedish Army manual 1966

Technical information MMG Ksp m/1936 twin mounted:

Kulspruta m/36 lv dbl, Ksp m/36 lv dbl
Calibre 6,5×55 or 7,62×51 or 8×63
Accepted 1936
Ammunition 6,5 mm m/94; 7,62 mm ptr 10; or
8 mm m/32
V0 620 m/s (6,5 mm m/94)
750 m/s (8 mm m/32)
Feed Canvas belt, 250 rounds
Rate of fire 2 x 600 - 720 shots / minute
Design John Moses Browning
Browning M1917A1
Action Recoil operated
Manufacturer Carl Gustaf GF
LM Ericson
Year of delivery 1937-1944
Barrel 607 mm
Length 1365
Sight 300 - 3000 m
Weight with water 60.5 kg
Weight only tripod 17 kg

 

Twin mounted Medium Machine Gun m/36.
To the left on ordinary tripod in high position and to the right on a lorry.
(picture from Swedish army manual 1966)

This twin mounted MMG was used by the mechanised units like artillery.

It was twin mounted to increase the firepower due to the rather slow cyclic rate of fire.

The double machinegun was very nice to shoot with and very easy to hit with. When you had it in this position and shot with it sustained fire without feeling any vibrations and saw the tracers going towards the target - that made your hart feel nice J.

 

 
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MMG -  Kulspruta m/42 (B)

Above: Swedish Medium Machinegun Ksp m/42  - the Ksp m/42B closest to the camera.

 

An air-cooled variation of machine gun m/1936 was accepted and it was modified 1942 and called m/1942.

It fires the same calibres. It is similar to the U.S. Model 1919A4. It has black matte finish and similar tripod as Ksp m/36.

There is also a bipod variation with shoulder stock painted in green anti-IR colour. This variation is similar to U.S. Model 1919A6 in Sweden designated Ksp m/1942B

 

Browning M1919A4

 

Technical information MMG m/1942(B):

Kulspruta m/42(B), Ksp m/42(B)
Calibre 6,5×55 or 7,62×51 or 8×63
Accepted 1942
Ammunition 6,5 mm m/94 or 7,62 mm ptr 10 or 8 mm m/32
Feed Canvas belt, 250 rounds
Rate of fire 600 - 720 shots / minute
Design John Moses Browning
m/42 similar to Browning M1919A4;
m/42B similar to Browning M1919A6
Action Recoil operated
System Air-cooled, spade-grip
Manufacturer Carl Gustaf GF
Quantity  ≈1400 pieces
Barrel 607 mm
Length 1351 mm
Weight 16 kg
Sights 6,5 mm: 100-1800 m
8 mm: 100-2000 m
Notes Ksp m/42; Black matte finish.
Similar tripod as Ksp m/36 Mark
Ksp m/42 B; improved. Green.
With bipod and sholder stock.
Status  Converted to Ksp m/39


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MMG -  Kulspruta KSP m/39C

 

MMG -  Kulspruta KSP m/39C for the vehicles CV 90 and Centurion MBT's

 

1939 Sweden let Carl Gustaf GF make a machine gun based on the Browning M1919 for the tanks.

Later when they were worn out about 1 000 of Ksp m/42B were converted to Ksp m/39 as armament for vehicles.

This machinegun was recently used as secondary armament for the vehicles CV 90 and Centurion MBT's and then they were called 7,62 mm KSP m/39C.

Loading firing, field stripping and functioning of these machineguns are similar to their US counterparts.

 

Kulspruta m/39 Strv, Ksp m/39 Strv
Calibre 6,5×55 or 7,62×51 or 8×63
Accepted 1939
Ammunition 6,5 mm m/94 or 7,62 mm ptr 10 or 8 mm m/32
Feed Canvas belt, 250 rounds
Rate of fire 600-720 shots /minute
Design John Moses Browning
Browning M1919A1
Action Recoil-operated
Manufacturer Carl Gustaf GF
Year of delivery 1939-1944
Quantity  ≈2500 (Ksp m/39 Strv V)
 ≈500 (Ksp m/39 Strv H)
Barrel 607 mm
Length 1160 mm
Weight 14 kg
Sights 6,5 mm: 200-2000 m
8 mm: 300-3000 m
Miscellaneous Ksp m/39 Strv V; Used in tanks, feed from left, spade-grip, aircooled
Ksp m/39 Strv H; Used in tanks, feed from right, spade-grip, aircooled
Status In service


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Ammunition for the Swedish Machine Guns

 

Here are the Swedish machine gun cartridges

From left to right:

  • 6,5x55 m/1894
  • 6,5x55 m/1894 prj m/1941
  • 6,5x55 m/1894 prj m/1941 drill round
  • 8x63 mm m/1932
  • 8x63 mm m/1932 drill round
  • 7,62x51 mm ptr 10
  • 7,62x51 mm ptr 10 drill round.

 

Here is a box with for 8 mm m/1932 cartridges on a canvas belt for MG.

Note the label on the side.

 

 

References:

Smith & Smith: Small arms of the world, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 
Ian Hogg Military small arms of the 20th century.
Alm: Eldhandvapen II Stockholm 1934
Vapenmuseet,  Eskilstuna.
Swedish army manual - Ammunitionsregister 1960 and 1964 F1092-065000
Swedish army manual - KULSPRUTA m/36 lv dbl, 1966
Swedish army manual - KULSPRUTA m/36 mark, 1963

 


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Kulspruta m/1914 or Schwarzlose Machine Gun M1907/12
and m/1914-29.

Swedish Medium Machine Guns - system Browning

General Purpose Machine Guns of Sweden

 

Gothia Arms Historical Society in English
Gothia Arms Historical Society in Swedish

Swedish Military Designations