Panzerkanone 68

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
Weight 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 grenades
Secondary
armament
 1× 7.5 mm machine gun
3000 round
6× smoke dischargers
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 14 hp/tonne
Suspension torsion bar
Ground clearance 400 mm
Operational
range
 300 km (190 mi) (road)
180 km (110 mi) (off-road)
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 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
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