Forsvarsvogn m/45 No.1 - 3

## Forsvarsvogn m/45 No.3

### The Norwegian Panther

The Forsvarsvogn m/45 was a medium tank developed by Norway after the mass influx of German weaponry and vehicles during World War II. The Norwegian's wanted a new medium tank and saw this as the perfect opportunity to start developing new tanks with new technology. They took the German Panther Series of tanks as inspiration and were able to obtain a somewhat complete example of the vehicle.

### Forsvarsvogn m/45 No.1

Norway's first attempt was to fill in the missing parts and see if that worked. They found that the suspension system was a massive problem due to the slanting of the hull towards the back. The turret was refitted with an experimental 80mm gun that Kongsberg wanted to test. At the end of No.1's life, it was mostly used as a testbed for new armaments and suspension systems. No.1 was lost after a Swedish attack where it was used to defend its factory. The defense was successful but the tank was destroyed in the final wave.

### Forsvarsvogn m/45 No.2

No.2, also known as (Oscar), was built using No.1 as a template. But it had some minor changes, it removed the slanting at the back to make way for a new suspension system and added a new commander's cupola off to the side of the turret, giving more room in the turret. By the time Germany capitulated, Norway created two unique variants of the No.2, one for America and one for France as a token of gratitude for their assistance in the war. The French version was given an ornamental parade version, and America was given a repaired and up-armored version of the No.1 hull with VVSS/NT suspension and a prototype dual rotor engine. This engine type was a way for Norway to show how they had perfected the rotary engines that America had given to them during the "Kampvogn" Project. In the end, the No.2 was never used in any combat situations and was only the stepping stone for the final and production version.

### Forsvarsvogn m/45 No.3 Production

No.3 was the final version of the m/45, combining some of the technologies that the others had. It had the Dual Rotary Engine System, VSS/NT pattern Suspension, and used the Turret With the commander's Cupola to the side (Like Tiger II P). The Gun was a Kongsberg 80mm Panservernskanon. This Gun would become a mainstay gun for future tanks. 5 No.3s were built before Norway started to have issues with the engine system. The m/45 would be the first tank to use the engine system and prove as a massive learning experience and a great platform to develop on. The first batch of 5 No.3s to be built did have a new engine in it, a Whirlwind Duorot engine. It was basically 2 rotary engines working on one reinforced axle. It proved to be a massive improvement. 30 were built before the project ended. Other tanks eventually used the Duorot engine.

### Conclusion

The Forsvarsvogn m/45 No.3 saw extensive use in the war against Nazi Sweden and after the war, some were sold to other countries where they saw other tasks. 2 No.3s were reported to be used in the Korean War. The Norwegian Panther project was a great learning experience and a stepping stone for future tank development in Norway.

### Preservation and Display

The Forsvarsvogn m/45 No.3 is a relatively rare tank, with only 5 known examples remaining today. One of these examples can be found at the Norwegian Armored Heritage museum, where it is on display for the public to see. The museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of Norwegian armored vehicles, and the Forsvarsvogn m/45 No.3 is an important part of that history. Visitors to the museum can learn about the tank's development and role in the war, as well as see the unique features and technologies that set it apart from other tanks of its time. The remaining 4 examples are in private collections and museums around the world, adding to the historical significance of the tank.