Panzer 61

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The Panzer 61 is a Swiss tank from the Cold War era that was later considered a first-generation main battle tank. It weighs about 39 tonnes and is powered by a 630-horsepower Mercedes-Benz V-8 diesel engine, giving a top speed of around 55 km/h. Its main gun is a 105 mm Royal Ordnance L7 rifled gun, with two 7.5 mm machine guns as secondary weapons. The tank has a crew of four and a range of about 250 km.

Development began in the 1950s as Switzerland looked for a domestic tank to supplement modern foreign designs. The Panzer 58 prototypes led to the Panzer 61, with 150 units ordered in 1961 and produced from 1965 to 1967 at Thun (now RUAG). The Panzer 61 served from 1965 until 1994, never seeing combat. In the late 1960s it was upgraded with technology from the Panzer 68, and the AA9 variant replaced the original 20 mm autocannon with a 7.5 mm gun.

The Panzer 61 was gradually replaced by the Panzer 68 and later the Panzer 87, though some remained in secondary roles for years. Its chassis also spawned the Panzerkanone 68 self-propelled gun and other Swiss designs, with parts used in several vehicles. Some Panzer 61s survive in museums today.