L43 "Renouncer"
| L43 "Renouncer" | |
|---|---|
 The tank near Leoborg in 1949 | |
| Place of origin | Salisford |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1948-1980 |
| Used by | Reykanes |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1942 |
| Produced | 1943 |
| No. built | 1 |
| Specifications | |
| Crew | 5 |
Main armament | 1× 77 mm rifled gun |
Secondary armament | 2× 7.62 mm machine guns (1 coaxial, 1 turrettop anti-aircraft) |
| Suspension | Torsion bar |
Renouncer (Reykani: Afneitun) is a Salisfordian tank of the Army of Reykanes, which was transported to Reykanes in 1948.
Background
During the late 1940s the fear of a communist uprising was looming. As apart of the "Modernization period" of the Army of Reykanes, one single tank was shipped next to the already existing tank forces to have a leading tank. The L43 tank was shipped to Reykanes on 6 October 1948 and the supplies that came with it.
Battle service
Communist Revolution
During the communist revolution, which started in Leoborg, the Army of Reykanes sent the tanks and army to defeat the uprising. Several marches were conducted to keep order. Soon shoots were fired from both sides and the fighting commenced. Some tanks and the L43 were ambushed by communist rebel soldiers with molotovs and one tank burned out. The crew got out in time, and made a run for it. It didn’t get too far however. It turned to the Þingholtsstræti street, where it was first hit by hand grenades , that damaged the turret, making the tank swerve violently off the street, crashing into a nearby wooden house and getting stuck. The crew was then taken prisoner. The remaining force retreated after encountering the overwhelming communist rebels. After the city was captured, the tank was repaired and reused in the revolution. After a couple of days on monday at 11:07, the L43 encountered 3 Skriðdreki I tanks. 2 of the enemy tanks shot at the L43 but all bounced off,
