Combat vehicles / Main battle tanks / Panzer 61
Panzer 61
General Facts
- TYPE
Medium tank - ORIGIN
Switzerland - NICKNAMES
Pz 61 (abbreviation for Panzer 61) - DESIGNED
1950's - DESIGNER
Eidgenössische Konstruktionswerkstätte Thun - PRODUCTION
1965 - 1967 (Pz 61)
1968 - ? (EntpPz 65) - PRODUCERS
Switzerland - Eidgenössische Konstruktionswerkstätte Thun - QUANTITY
A total of 219 Panzer 61 family vehicles have been built:
10 Pz 58 medium tank
150 Pz 61 medium tank
69 EntpPz 65 - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Very powerful armament
Moderate weight
Moderate armour thickness
Limited operational range
Introduction
The Panzer 61 is an early Cold War era medium tank of Swiss origin. It was developed domestically since it proved impossible for Switzerland to acquire relatively modern foreign tanks during the Korean War period. The Pz 61 was built in limited numbers since the improved Pz 68 was developed as its successor. Over time the Pz 61 upgraded until its characteristics closely matched the Pz 68.
Layout
The Pz 61 is medium tank with a conventional design. The driver is seated in the front hull, the turret is located in the middle and the engine and drivetrain are located at the rear. The four man crew consists of a commander, driver, gunner and loader.
Firepower
The Pz 61 is armed with a 105mm L7 cannon, 20mm coaxial autocannon and a 7.5mm MG51 machine gun for anti-aircraft use. The powerful cannon allowed the Pz 61 to engage all contemporary targets. A total of 52 rounds of 105mm and 240 pieces of 20mm ammunition were carried. The 20mm autocannon proved less useful and was replaced over time by a second 7.5mm MG51 machine gun, allowing for 57 rounds of 105mm to be carried.
Protection
The cast steel hull and turret armor is of moderate thickness in order to keep the weight low. Smaller caliber cannon may not penetrate over the frontal arc, but the Pz 61 is vulnerable to the ubiquitous T-55 with its 100mm cannon. A total of 8 smoke grenade launchers are fitted.
Mobility
The tracked chassis and limited weight provided the Pz 61 with reasonably good mobility for its era. The 630hp Mercedes-Benz V8 diesel engine provides propulsion and allows for a maximum road speed of 55 km/h. The operational range is rather limited with 250 to 350 km on road.
Users
The Pz 61 was only adopted by Switzerland and saw no export sales. A total of 150 have been produced and remained in use from 1965 to 1994. The armored recovery version was in use from 1968 to 2008. Nowadays the Pz 61 is no longer in use and all remaining vehicles have been scrapped.
Pz 61
The Panzer 61 is a conventional early Cold War era tank. It is most easily identified by the 20mm coaxial autocannon in a turret that is shaped different from the French AMX-30, but note that the 20mm autocannon was removed during the latest improvements. The Pz 61 most closely resembles the Pz 68, which is an improved model.
Panzer 58: Preproduction model of Pz 61. Fitted with British QF 20-pounder gun. A total of 10 vehicles were produced.
Panzer 61: Production version of the Pz 61. A total of 150 vehicles were produced. They were subsequently upgraded several times during their service life.
- Specifications:
- Pz 61
Type | Medium tank |
---|---|
Crew | 4 (commander, driver, gunner, loader) |
Length | 9.45 m (gun forward) |
Width | 3.06 m |
Height | 2.72 m |
Ground clearance | 0.40 m |
Weight | 39 t combat load |
Ground pressure | ? |
Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 6 roadwheels, idler front, drive sprocket rear |
Turn radius | ? |
Engine | Mercedes-Benz MB 837 Ba 500 V8 diesel, 660 hp |
Power ratio | 16.9 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | 6 forward, 2 reverse |
Speed | 55 km/h on road |
Fuel | ? |
Range | 250 km on road |
Wall | ? |
Trench | ? |
Gradient | ? |
Fording | ? |
Armor | Steel, up to 120mm over the frontal arc |
NBC equipment | ? |
Night vision | ? |
---|---|
Smoke | 2x4 smoke grenade dischargers |
Remarks | - |
Armament | 105mm L7 cannon 20mm coaxial autocannon 7.5mm MG51 roof MG |
Weapon1 | 105mm L7 cannon in turret 52 rounds powered elevation 360° powered traverse non-stabilized |
Weapon2 | 20mm coaxial autocannon traverse and elevation as main armament 240 rounds in total non-stabilized |
Weapon3 | 7.5mm MG51 machine gun 100 rounds ready to fire manual traverse and elevation non-stabilized |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |
EntpPz 65
The Entpannungspanzer 65 is an armored recovery vehicle based on the Pz 61 chassis. The chassis and drivetrain are identital to the Pz 61 but the superstructure is much larger and seats the five men crew. A dozer blade is fitted at the front which doubles as an earth anchor for the heavy winch. An A-frame is fitted at the front and is folded over the superstructure during travel.
Entpannungspanzer 65: Original production version. A total of 69 have been built.
Entpannungspanzer 65/88: Improved version converted from the original production vehicles.
- Specifications:
- EnptPz 65
Type | Armored recovery vehicle |
---|---|
Crew | 5 (commander, driver, 3 mechanics) |
Length | 7.6 m (with dozerblade) |
Width | 3.15 m |
Height | 2.97 m |
Ground clearance | ? |
Weight | 39 t combat load |
Ground pressure | ? |
Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 6 roadwheels, idler front, drive sprocket rear |
Turn radius | ? |
Engine | Mercedes-Benz MB 837 Ba 500 V8 diesel, 660 hp |
Power ratio | 16.9 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | 6 forward, 2 reverse |
Speed | 55 km/h on road |
Fuel | ? |
Range | 350 km on road |
Wall | ? |
Trench | ? |
Gradient | ? |
Fording | ? |
Armor | Steel |
NBC equipment | ? |
Night vision | ? |
---|---|
Smoke | 2x2 smoke grenade dischargers |
Remarks | Dozer blade, 25 t winch, 15 t A-frame crane |
Armament | 7.5mm MG51 roof MG |
Weapon1 | 7.5mm MG51 machine gun 100 rounds ready to fire manual traverse and elevation non-stabilized |
Weapon2 | - |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |