Target tank 68
| Target tank 68 | |
|---|---|
Target tank 68 |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 1 |
| length | |
| width | |
| height | |
| Dimensions | 36 t |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | up to 80 mm |
| Main armament | none (dummy cannon) |
| Secondary armament | no |
| agility | |
| drive | 8-cylinder V90 ° four-stroke MTU MB837 auxiliary engine 4-cylinder in-line engine Mercedes-Benz OM 636 660 hp, 38 hp |
| suspension | Disc spring packages in the swing arm |
| Top speed | 55 km / h on the road, 30 km / h off-road |
| Power / weight | PS / t |
| Range | km |
The target tank 68 of the Swiss Army was a retired battle tank of the type Panzer 68 , which had been converted into a target display vehicle. A total of ten of these vehicles were in use.
Retrofitting
In order to have a certain number of target display vehicles (hard target) available on the armored shooting range, the Swiss Army ordered ten of these vehicles from K + W Thun , which were manufactured between 1972 and 1974. The battle tower was removed and replaced with a dummy made of steel plates. The surface was provided with a welded steel thickening, the driver's hatch reinforced and equipped with 360 ° viewing slits. All tactical equipment was removed, an aluminum platform was installed under the tower. The tower has a hatch of the same type as the driver's hatch. The tank was usually only used with one crew member, the driver, but there is space in the turret for an observer. The turret and driver's position are continuously accessible inside the tank. The wheels and chains came from Panzer 61 . Replaceable steel aprons were attached to the side as additional protection.
Mission concept
The Zielpanzer 68 were used as a movable target for fire with the anti-tank guided weapon "Dragon" (use with practice ammunition with plaster filling). The target tanks were driven by the employees of the army motor vehicle parks . The vehicles bore the identification numbers (M numbers) "M + 77870" to "M + 77879" and were in service with the Swiss Army from 1974 to 2007. The tank with the number "M + 77876" was stationed on the Les Rochat firing range and is now in the Swiss Military Museum Full .