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Panzerkanone 68
A preserved Panzerkanone 68
Type	Self-propelled howitzer
Place of origin	Switzerland
Service history
In service	1972–1975
Used by	Switzerland
Production history
Designed	1966
Manufacturer	Eidgenössische Konstruktionswerkstätte Thun
Produced	1972-1975
No. built	4
Specifications
Mass	47.0 tonnes
Length	12.14 m (39.8 ft) 7.00 m (22.97 ft) (hull only)
Width	3.48 m (11.4 ft)
Height	3.20 m (10.5 ft)
Crew	5

Armour	up 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]}
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	14 hp/tonne
Suspension	Torsion bar
Ground clearance	400 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

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

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

External links

Panzerkanone 68 on militaerfahrzeuge.ch (German)

Category:

Abandoned military projects of Switzerland

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