Panzerkanone 68
{{no footnotes|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name = Panzerkanone 68
| image = File:Panzerkanone 68 seite.JPG
| caption = A preserved Panzerkanone 68
| origin = Switzerland
| type = Self-propelled howitzer
| is_vehicle = yes
| is_UK = no
| service = 1972–1975
| used_by = Switzerland
| wars =
| designer =
| design_date = 1966
| manufacturer = Eidgenössische Konstruktionswerkstätte Thun
| unit_cost =
| production_date = 1972-1975
| number = 4
| variants =
| weight = 47.0 tonnes
| length = {{convert|12.14|m|ft|abbr=on}}
{{convert|7.00|m|ft|abbr=on}} (hull only)
| width = {{convert|3.48|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|3.20|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| crew = 5
| armour = up to 120 mm RHA
| primary_armament = 155 mm gun
34 rounds
| secondary_armament = 1× 7.5 mm machine gun
3000 round
6× smoke dischargers
12 Smoke Cartridges 51{{clarify|reason=Various issues: what is "1 Mg", is it a machine gun; does "3000 shot" mean "3,000 rounds of ammunition"; what is "Nbw"; what do the various numbers "51" mean? |date=July 2013}}
| engine = 8 cylinder V90° engine four stroke MTU MB 837 Ba-500 auxiliary motor 4 cylinder engine Mercedes Benz OM 636
| engine_power = 660 hp, 38 hp
| transmission =
| fuel_capacity =
| pw_ratio = 14 hp/tonne
| suspension = Torsion bar
| clearance = 400 mm
| vehicle_range = {{convert|300|km|mi|abbr=on}} (road)
{{convert|180|km|mi|abbr=on}} (off-road)
| speed = {{convert|55.5|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
}}
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{{clarify|reason=is this meant to be "155mm"?|date=July 2013}} howitzer on a Panzer 61 chassis. Subsequently, four vehicles were built on Panzer 68 chassis. These possessed a range of not more than {{convert|30|km|mi|abbr=on}} 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
- [http://www.militaerfahrzeuge.ch/unterkategorie_13_19_58.html Panzerkanone 68 ] on militaerfahrzeuge.ch (German)