{{Infobox weapon | name = Volvo BM Bandvagn 202 (Bv 202) | image = File:AMA.0008961.jpg | image_size = 300 | alt = | caption = Bandvagn 202 from [[Västernorrlands regemente]] (I 21), carrying [[ski]]s on the rear roof | type = Tracked frame-steered vehicle | origin = [[Sweden]] <!-- Type selection --> | is_vehicle = yes <!-- Service history --> | service = | used_by = See [[#Operators|operators]] | wars = <!-- Production history --> | designer = | design_date = 1957-1961<ref name="BM-Volvo Bandvagn 202"/> | manufacturer = [[Bolinder-Munktell]] | unit_cost = | production_date = 1964–1981 | number = 1 700 <ref name="BM-Volvo Bandvagn 202"/> | variants = mk I, mkII, see [[#Variants|variants]] <!-- General specifications --> | spec_label = | mass = {{cvt|2900|kg|lb}}<ref name="BM-Volvo Bandvagn 202"/> | length = {{cvt|6.175|m|ftin}}<ref name="BM-Volvo Bandvagn 202"/> | part_length = | width = {{cvt|1.8|m|ftin}}<ref name="BM-Volvo Bandvagn 202"/> | height = {{cvt|2.2|m|ftin}}<ref name="BM-Volvo Bandvagn 202"/> | diameter = | crew = Driver + 1 passenger (front car) | passengers = 8 passengers (rear car) <!-- Vehicle/missile specifications --> | armour = | primary_armament = | secondary_armament = [[Ksp58]] machine gun on pintle mount | engine = Volvo [[Volvo B18 engine|B18B]] in mkI, mkII [[Volvo B20 engine|B20B]] | engine_power = 82.5 hp/97 hp | pw_ratio = | payload_capacity = 800 kg (in terrain).<ref name="BM-Volvo Bandvagn 202"/> | drive = tracked, with 0.1 kg/cm<sup>2</sup> [[ground pressure]] | transmission = mkI VOLVO M 42 , mkII ZF<ref name="SMHS"/> | suspension = | clearance = | fuel_capacity = 78 litres<ref name="SMHS">[http://smhs.com.dinstudio.se/gallery_47.html Bv 202 SMHS]</ref> | vehicle_range = 200 km | speed = {{cvt|39|kph}} (roads)<br />{{cvt|5|kph}} (water) | guidance = | steering = Articulated frame-steering, mkI mechanical hydraulic, mkII orbitrol hydraulic <!-- For all --> | ref = }}

'''Bandvagn 202''' ('''Bv 202''') is an amphibious oversnow [[Tracked articulated vehicle|tracked articulated, all-terrain vehicle]] developed by [[Bolinder-Munktell]], a subsidiary of [[Volvo]], for the [[Swedish Army]] in the early 1960s.

==Description== [[File:MILIF.002281.jpg|thumb|Bv 202 in amphibious use]] The vehicle is formed by two rubber [[Kegresse track]] units with a multi-directional pivot in between. The front unit contains the engine and gearbox through which power is delivered to the front and, via a [[propshaft]] in the pivot mechanism, the rear tracks. A hydraulic ram on the pivot "bends" the vehicle in the middle to steer it—there is no braking of track units for steering as on conventional tracklaying vehicles. The controls are a conventional steering wheel on the left-hand front of the vehicle. It can reach a speed of 35&nbsp;km/h on land and {{convert|7|km/h|kn|abbr=on}} on water.

The Bv 202 carries a driver and a commander in the front unit and up to eight troops or 800&nbsp;kg in the trailer unit. It can be adapted for other applications.

Production started in [[Arvika]] in 1964 and ended in 1981. The Bv 202 has since been succeeded by the [[Bandvagn 206]], originally designed and built by Swedish engineering company [[Hägglund & Söner]] and now produced by [[BAE Systems AB]].

The Mk1 Bv 202 is powered by an {{convert|82.5|bhp|abbr=on}} [[Volvo B18 engine|Volvo B18]], the MK2 by the {{convert|97|bhp|abbr=on}} B20. It has less [[ground pressure]] than a skier and is fully [[Amphibious vehicle|amphibious]].

== Operational history == The Bv 202 was used by NATO forces, and replaced the older Swedish [[Snow Trac]] ST4 Over-snow Vehicle, which was employed by the British Royal Marines under NATO. The [[Royal Marines]] operated around 76 Bv 202 units during the [[Falklands War]], with some of the being present during the capture of [[Port Stanley]] and some being transported by the [[SS Atlantic Conveyor]] when it sank. One of the surviving Bv 202s is located at the [[Ontario Regiment Museum]], in [[Oshawa]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2021-07-07 |title=Bandvagn 202 - The Canadian Tank Museum |url=https://tankmuseum.ca/blog-post/bandvagn-202/ |access-date=2025-12-19 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-16 |title=The Bandvagen Goes to War |url=https://www.keymilitary.com/article/bandvagen-goes-war |access-date=2025-12-19 |website=www.keymilitary.com |language=en}}</ref>

The Bv 202 was designed to transport troops and equipment through snow or [[bog]]lands in northern Sweden. The [[Norrland Dragoon Regiment]] was last Swedish unit to use this vehicle, finding that the manual gearbox Bv 202 was much quieter than the automatic transmission Bv 206.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-01-03 |title=Rare Sweden-made tracked carriers spotted in Ukraine |url=https://defence-blog.com/rare-sweden-made-tracked-carriers-spotted-in-ukraine/ |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=defence-blog.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[Norwegian Army]] used both Bv 202 and Bv 206 concurrently, with the Bv 202 being the one used in situations of deep snow due to better performance in such condition.

Some Bv 202 units were donate to the [[Armed Forces of Ukraine]] during the [[Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present)|Russo-Ukrainian war]], being used by units such as the [[115th Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine)]] and [[118th Territorial Defense Brigade (Ukraine)]]. Those were donated by the Norwegian government and by private [[Nonprofit organization]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Latvian organization donated Bandvagn tracked all-terrain vehicles to Ukraine |url=https://militarnyi.com/en/news/latvian-organization-donated-bandvagn-tracked-all-terrain-vehicles-to-ukraine/ |access-date=2025-12-19 |website=Militarnyi |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Variants == A radiocommunications variant called Bandvagn 203 was used by Sweden, with one of them being in the Kalix Line museum in [[Kalix]], in the county of Norbotten.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BV 203B |url=https://kalixlinjen.se/en/bv-203b/ |access-date=2025-12-19 |website=Kalixlinjens museum |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Operators== *{{flag|Canada}} <ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgtdpfVKZQs |title=Museum Vehicle Collection: BV 202 Part 1 |date=2020-11-14 |last=Canadian Tank Museum |access-date=2025-12-19 |via=YouTube}}</ref> *{{flag|Norway}} - replaced the [[M29 Weasel]] and subsequently replaced by [[Bv 206]] *{{flag|Sweden}} - replaced by [[Bv 206]]. Used by several units, including cavalry and paratroper units, including use by the [[Swedish Parachute Ranger School]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Citation |title=Karlsborg |date=1925-12-31 |work=Tafeln zur Funkortung |pages=11–20 |doi=10.1515/9783486750591-004 |publisher=Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag}}</ref> *{{flag|United Kingdom}} - replaced "ST4 Snow Trac Over-snow Vehicle" and subsequently replaced by [[Bv 206]] *{{flag|Ukraine}} - donated by Sweden an unnamed number of vehicles.

===Civilian operators=== *{{flag|Russia}} At least 27 ex-Norwegian vehicles sold to Russian company for tourist use in the Murmansk area.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.dagbladet.no/2015/11/05/nyheter/eksportkontroll/beltevogner/eritrea-lastebilene/sudan-beltevognene/41724436/| title = Forsvaret solgte beltevogner til russere}}</ref>

==See also== [[File:Radiobandvagn 203 Artillerimuseet 2017.jpg|alt=The image shows the Radiobandvagn 203, a communications variant of the Bv 202. |thumb|Radiobandvagn 203, in the [[Artillerimuseet]] in [[Kristianstad]].]] *[[Snow Trac]]

Similar vehicles to the Bv 202 ATV include:

* [[Sisu Auto]] [[Sisu Nasu]] {{FIN}} * [[ST Kinetics]] [[Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier]] {{SIN}} * [[Hägglund & Söner]] [[Bv206]] {{SWE}} * [[BAE Systems AB]] [[BvS 10]] {{SWE}} * (Ishimbai Transport Machine-Building Plant) [[Vityaz (ATV)]] {{USSR}}

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="BM-Volvo Bandvagn 202">{{cite web|access-date=2020-01-05|archive-date=2004-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040710212913/http://munktellmuseet.volvo.com/kollektionen/BM-Volvo%20Bandvagn%20202/202.html|title=BM-Volvo Bandvagn 202|url=http://munktellmuseet.volvo.com/kollektionen/BM-Volvo%20Bandvagn%20202/202.html}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> </references> }}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20071009184122/http://www.offroadmachine.com/snowcat/Bv202.htm Pictures] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20071009200725/http://www.foreningenp5.com/en/fordon/bv_202/bv_202.htm The P5 museum] *[http://munktellmuseet.volvo.com/kollektionen/BM-Volvo%20Bandvagn%20202/202.html The Munktell museum (Swedish)] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070822165132/http://www.volvo.com/constructionequipment/global/en-gb/AboutUs/history/products/Tracked+Vehicles/introduction.htm Volvo Construction Equipment historical page about BV202] *[http://www.aecmilitant.co.uk/bv202/home.html UK site on the BV202] * [www.YouTube.com/watch?v=LWf9mnzmXGA Presentation video of Bv 202 (in Swedish)]

[[Category:Military vehicles of Sweden]] [[Category:Tracked vehicles]] [[Category:Snowmobiles]] [[Category:Two-section tracked all-terrain vehicles]] [[Category:Military vehicles introduced in the 1960s]]