Panzerkanone 68
| Panzerkanone 68 | |
|---|---|
|
A preserved Panzerkanone 68 | |
| Type | Self-propelled artillery |
| Place of origin |
 Switzerland |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1972-1975 |
| Used by | Switzerland |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1966 |
| Manufacturer | Eidgenössische Konstruktionswerkstätte Thun |
| Produced | 1972-1975 |
| Number built | 4 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 47.0 tonnes |
| Length | with gun12.40 m (40.7 ft), without gun 7.00 m (22.97 ft) |
| Width | 3.50 m (11.5 ft) |
| Height | 3.20 m (10.5 ft) |
| Crew | 5 |
|
| |
| Armour | up to 120 mm RHA |
Main armament | 155mm gun, 34 grenades |
Secondary armament | 1 Mg = 7.5 mm 51, 3000 shot, Nbw 6 x 51 8 cm, 12 Smoke Cartridges 51 |
| Engine |
8 cylinder V90° engine four stroke MTU MB 837 Ba-500 auxiliary motor 4 cylinder engine Mercedes Benz OM 636 660 hp, 38 hp |
| Power/weight | 12.3 kW/T |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
| Ground clearance | 400 mm |
Operational range | street 300 km (190 mi), off-road 180 km (110 mi) |
| Speed | 55.5 km/h (34.5 mph) |
The Panzerkanone 68 ("Armoured gun 68") is a Swiss self-propelled gun produced by the Eidgenoessische Konstruktionswerkstaette (Federal Manufacturing Works) to meet a Swiss Army requirement. It was only manufactured in small numbers and saw only limited service with the Swiss military.
History and development
The manufacture of a self-propelled gun was being considered in Switzerland in the mid-1950s. Studies were developed by the Group on Arms Services (GRD) and Eidgenoessische Konstruktionswerkstaette . Real development began in 1966 with the mounting of a 15 mm gun 42 on a Panzer 61 chassis. Subsequently, four vehicles were built on Panzer 68 chassis. These possessed a 155 mm (6.10 in) tank gun, with a range of not more than 30 km (19 mi) and had a rate of fire of 6 rounds per minute with automatic loading.
Due to technical and financial problems, the project was never pursued. The Swiss Army procured the American M109 howitzer instead. The four vehicles were used experimentally from 1972 to 1975. Two vehicles are preserved; one at the Panzermuseum Thun, the other one at the Schweizerische Militärmuseum Full.
External links
- Panzerkanone 68 on militaerfahrzeuge.ch (German)
References
- Heller, Urs: Die Panzer der Schweizer Armee von 1920 bis 2008
- Schweizerische Militärmuseum Full