The Pz 61 featured an operating weight of 43 tons and a length of 9.45 meters, width of 3 meters and height of 2.7 meters. Armor protection was through Rolled Homogenous Armor (RHA) measuring some 120mm thickest at critical facings. The main gun was afforded 56 projectiles while some 3,200 rounds of 7.5mm ammunition were stowed aboard for both machine guns.
As the Pz 58 series served primarily as preproduction mounts to the Pz 61, the Swiss government could move quickly in ordering 150 of the latter as the design was a proven commodity at this point. Deliveries of the Pz 61 spanned from 1965 into 1967 and production was handled by Eidgenoessische Konstruktionswerkstaette of Thun, producers of the preceding Pz 51 series. The concern also used the chassis to form the basis of the proposed "Panzerkanone 68" self-propelled gun (SPG) though only four of this type were ever completed due to the Swiss Army decision to purchase American M109s instead.
In practice, the Pz 61 series proved a serviceable vehicle for the Swiss Army though further improvements were quickly envisioned and some of these implemented throughout the tank's active service life. The Pz 61 managed to serve into 1994 which was something of an amazing feat considering the vehicle's 1965 inception. By this time, the improved Panzer 68, the Pz 61's direct successor, was already operating in some number, having been produced from 1971 into 1983 to the tune of 390 units.
From that point on, all indigenous Swiss Army tanks were eventually replaced by the excellent German Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tank (as the Panzer 87/Pz 87). No Pz 61 vehicles were ever exported.
Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.