Panzerkanone 68

Panzerkanone 68
Panzerkannone 68 side view
A preserved Panzerkanone 68
TypeSelf-propelled howitzer
Place of originSwitzerland
Service history
In service1972–1975
Used bySwitzerland
Production history
Designed1966
ManufacturerEidgenössische Konstruktionswerkstätte Thun
Produced1972-1975
No. built4
Specifications
Mass47.0 tonnes
Length12.14 m (39.8 ft)
7.00 m (22.97 ft) (hull only)
Width3.48 m (11.4 ft)
Height3.20 m (10.5 ft)
Crew5

Armourup to 120 mm RHA
Main
armament
155 mm gun
34 rounds
Secondary
armament
1× 7.5 mm machine gun
3000 round
6× smoke dischargers
12 Smoke Cartridges 51[clarification needed]
Engine8 cylinder V90° engine four stroke MTU MB 837 Ba-500 auxiliary motor 4 cylinder engine Mercedes Benz OM 636
660 hp, 38 hp
Power/weight14 hp/tonne
SuspensionTorsion bar
Ground clearance400 mm
Operational
range
300 km (190 mi) (road)
180 km (110 mi) (off-road)
Maximum speed 55.5 km/h (34.5 mph)

The Panzerkanone 68 ("Armoured gun 68") is a Swiss self-propelled howitzer produced by the Eidgenoessische Konstruktionswerkstaette (Federal Manufacturing Works) to meet a Swiss Army requirement. Only four were manufactured; they served for three years with the Swiss military before being retired.

History and development

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The manufacture of a self-propelled howitzer 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 cm[clarification needed] howitzer on a Panzer 61 chassis. Subsequently, four vehicles were built on Panzer 68 chassis. These possessed 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.

References

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  • Heller, Urs: Die Panzer der Schweizer Armee von 1920 bis 2008
  • Schweizerische Militärmuseum Full
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