Panservogn m/39

In 1938 the Kampvogn Committee was reevaluating the design of the Panservogn m/35 and was deemed to be too weak to contemerary designs, this prompted a need to upgrade the m/35.

The main reasons for the upgrade was the suspension being to complicated and prone to breakdowns, the complicated design was also an issue.

The transmission also had a complete redesign with less wear. The 37mm gun on the m/35 was complementary but a stronger 45mm gun was favored in the upgrade program. Also more armor was added and an extension to the fuel tanks.

The m/39 would serve as Norway's main light tank even when the superior Panservogn m/42 arrived since there was few made. With the m/42 the m/39 would get new shells that would bring it up to standard with tanks at this time.

Combat History
The Panservogn first saw action at the Battle of Horten, 10 April 1940 where a single company consisting of 1 Medium Tank serving as a command unit and 14 m/39's with an additional 50 combat capable personell. The company named "Horten Kystforsvars Kompani" was outnumbered by the some 100 German soldiers landing from the fleeing German Taskforce 1. Due to the disorganized attack and the surprise of comparatively modern armored vehicles the German forces where encircled and surrendered after about a day of skirmishing outside of Horten city.

Later variants
In late 1941 after many different minor improvements the Kampvogn Committee deemed that the m/39 needed an upgrade in range and a weaponry. This started a new development program that asked some of the longest serving crew members that uses the m/39 to see what issues can be fixed in the new variant.

after a few months, a new model of m/39 was born. The Panservogn m/39 R/(1942), outfitted with a new model of the same engine, and all the previous minor updates that was scattered around on the tanks, a completely new turret design that made the tank's turret alot more spacious and space for a new 67mm cannon with ammunition that brings it up to "modern" standards. In addition to this, new external fuel tanks was added to give the tank a lot more range.