Panzer 68

The Panzer 68 was a Swiss main battle tank developed by the Eidgenoessische Konstruktionswerkstaette in Thun in the late 1960s.

Variants

 * Pz68: 170 built 1971-1974, all upgraded to Pz68 AA 2 in 1975-1977
 * Pz68 AA2: 50 built 1974-1977; one equipped with a new turret and updated as the Pz68/88
 * Pz68GT: (Grosser Turm ("Big Turret")); 110 built 1978-1979, all upgraded to Pz68/88 in 199A
 * Pz68/75: 60 built 1983-1984, all upgraded to Pz68/88 in 1993
 * Pz68/88: one temporary prototype, upgraded Pz68 AA 2 with additional armour protection
 * Pz68-2000: project, fitted with 120mm Smoothbore gun, modern thermal sights and electronics, more powerful engine, new angular turret with highly improved NBC Protection, additional protection. Rejected in favor of the Panzer 87 Leo due to high developing costs.

Derivative Vehicles

 * Entpannungspanzer 65: Armoured Recovery Vehicle
 * Panzerartilleriekanone 68: Self propelled howitzer
 * Brückenpanzer 68: bridge-laying variant, with single-piece span instead of more common scissors bridge, capable of spanning a 59 foot 9 inch (18.21 meter) gap; 30 produced between 1974 and 1977 and used until 2011.
 * Fliegerabwehrpanzer 68: variant fitted with Flakpanzer Gepard turret, mounting two Oerlikon 35mm anti-aircraft guns, on Panzer 68 hull widened by 7 inches (177.8 mm); two tanks modified and tested in 1979-1980, not placed into production.
 * Zielfahrzeug 68: mobile target for training troops in the use of the M47 Dragon American-made anti-tank missile; modifications included the removal of the turret and its replacement with a dummy turret and gun, extra easily replaceable steel skirt plates protecting the tracks, and running gear changed to the tracks and wheels of the Panzer 61.

Users

 * Switzerland
 * Swiss Army