The AH-IV was an export tankette design of Czech origins that appeared in 1936. Agile and fast, the machine gun-armed combat system was built in limited numbers and all ended up with export parties that included Ethiopia (as the AH-IV-Hb), Iran, Romania (as the AH-IV-R) and Sweden (as the Strv m/37). The diminutive design went on to see combat actions in World War 2, the Eritrean War of Independence (1961-1991), the Ethiopian Civil War (1974-1991), the Ogaden War (1977-1978) and the Ethiopian-Somali Border War (1982). Amazingly, the last AH-IV tankette was retired from operational service in the mid-1980s.
While similar in scope to the Tancik vz. 33 Tankette before it (appearing in 1934), the AH-IV was designed with a 360-traversing turret for the gunner as opposed to a forward-facing machine gun in a flexible mount. This provided for a more viable tactical machine. Like the Tancik wz. 33, the AH-IV was crewed by two personnel made up of the driver and the commander/gunner. The driver was fitted in the front-left hull while the gunner was set to the left hand side in the offset turret fitted at the middle of the design. The commander also doubled as the gunner and ammunition handler in the turret. The turret sat atop a boxy hull superstructure with angled facings that allowed for the required room within the driving, fighting and engine compartments. Construction was primarily of riveted plates. Primary armament was a pair of 7.92mm heavy machine guns, one installed at the driver's position (ZB vz. 26 or ZB vz. 30 model) and the other installed in the turret (ZB vz. 35 or ZB vz. 37 model). Armor protection was 6mm to 12mm at various facings and overall weight of the tankette was 4.3 tons. As designed, the tankette featured a running length of 10 feet with a width of 5.7 feet and an overall height of 5.5 feet. Power was supplied by a single Praga RHP 6-cylinder, water-cooled engine of 55 horsepower fitted to a rear compartment in the hull. The running gear consisted of four road wheels to a track side with a single track return roller, the drive sprocket at the front and the track idler at the rear. Suspension was by leaf spring. The engine was mated to a Praga-Wilson 5-speed transmission system consisting of five forward and a single reverse gear. Top road speed was listed at 28 miles per hour with an operational range of 110 miles.
Design work on the AH-IV began in 1935 by Ceskomoravska Kolben-Danek (CKD) of Czechoslovakia and continued into 1937 to which four pilot vehicles were ultimately introduced. Production began in 1936 and ended in 1938 only to begin again in 1949 due to demand. This second outing lasted until 1950. Beyond the four prototypes, approximately 153 total AH-IV Tankettes were produced in whole, all by the Czech concern of CKD. All were shipped to foreign operators.
Iran received their initial (and first production batches of AH-IVs) tankettes in 1936. Their history appears to have been rather limited but the Iranians (political, military and even civilians) respected the type for what it was and what it offered their burgeoning army inventory. 50 AH-IV Tankettes stocked the inventories of the 1st and 2nd Infantry Divisions and saw operational service during World War 2. The Iranian government envisioned purchased of 100, 200 or 300 more tankettes but the requirements of war in Europe dispelled such hopes.
The Romanians took first deliveries of the AH-IV in 1937 though revised specifications delayed their initial entry into service. The Romanians even purchased license production rights to the tank type but delays (once again) ensured that the AH-IV would only ever be produced by CKD in its history. Romanian versions - designated as AH-IV-R - eventually saw combat action with the Axis powers along the Eastern Front - from the German invasion of the Soviet Union through Operation Barbarossa to the failed Vienna Offensive of 1945. AH-IVs also operated at Stalingrad.
Sweden undertook delivery of the AH-IV and designated them as Stridsvagn m/37 (Strv m/37). These variants were modified to an extent, given more powerful engines and improved armor protection to comply with the Swedish style of armored warfare of the time. Unlike original Czech AH-IV production models, however, the Swedish version did away with the driver's machine gun fitting and, instead, concentrated machine armament in the turret through 2 x 8mm Ksp m/36 Strv series machine guns. Swedish use of the tankette ended in 1953.
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INFANTRY SUPPORT
Support allied ground forces through weapons, inherent capabilities, and / or onboard systems.
TANK-VS-TANK
Engage armored vehicles of similar form and function.
RECONNAISSANCE
Can conduct reconnaissance / scout missions to assess threat levels, enemy strength, et al - typically through lightweight design.
10.5 ft (3.2 meters) Length
5.9 ft (1.79 meters) Width
5.5 ft (1.67 meters) Height
7,716 lb (3,500 kg) Weight
3.9 tons (Light-class) Tonnage
1 x Praha RHP 6-cylinder water-cooled gasoline engine developing 50 horsepower. Drive System
28 mph (45 kph) Road Speed
99 miles (160 km) Road Range
1 x 7.92mm ZB vz. 35 heavy machine gun OR 1 x 7.92mm ZB vz. 37 heavy machine gun.
1 x 7.92mm ZB vz. 30 heavy machine gun OR 1 x 7.92mm ZB vz. 26 heavy machine gun.
AMMUNITION
3,700 x 7.92mm ammunition
AH-IV - Base Series Designation
AH-IV-R - Romanian Model Designation
R-1 - Romanian Army Designation
Stridsvagn m/37 (Strv m/37) - Swedish Army Designation.
AH-IV-Hb - Ethiopian Model Designation
Images
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Front left side view of the AH-IV Tankette on the move; note machine gun armament
2 / 3
Left side profile view of the AH-IV Tankette showing off an impressive trench-crossing capability
3 / 3
Front left side view of the Swedish m/37 Tankette based on the AH-IV; note twin machine gun armament in turret
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