Surviving Pz 61 and Pz 68

[Massimo_Foti]

I've got some amazing help from a swiss enthusiast that is tracking Pz 61 and Pz 68 around the world. It came out I am still missing a huge amount of tanks from the registers. Plenty of them are in Switzerland, many in private hands, making it very difficult to track them down. But there are also other in USA and Europe and any help on them would be appreciated. I think it may help those of you that maintain country registers too:

What I have is model, R/N and location, not that much, but it's a start:

Netherlands:

Pz 68/88 M + 7808 Uithuizen

Germany:

Pz 61 M + 77605 Koblenz
Pz 68 M + 77711 Eschbach
Pz 68 M + 77717 Frankfurt
Pz 68/88 M + 78002 Hollnich
Pz 68/88 M + 78075 Eschbach
Pz 68/88 M + 78084 Bitburg

UK

Pz 68 M + 77727 Witney
Pz 68/88 M + 78029 Witney

USA:

Pz 68 M + 77807 Danbury
Pz 68 M + 77825 Littelton

Thanks in advance for any help

Massimo

[Michel_Krauss]

Massimo,

concerning the following:

Netherlands:

Pz 68/88 M + 7808 Uithuizen

The Panzer 68 was at the 40-45 museum there, however the museum has been closed in october 2003

I know that most, maybe all, WW2 vehicle's went to Overloon
A large part of the remaining vehicle's ended up at Army Cars Zwijndrecht

I presumed that the Pz 68 was also moved here, because I did not have an RN from Uithuizen

However the Pz 68 at Army Cars has RN 77716

So the Pz 68 from Uithuizen is M.I.A. at the moment

Michel

[Massimo_Foti]

Thanks Michel

[bsmart]

There is a Pz-61 and a Pz-68 at the Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles in Nokesville VA (I just checked my memory against Neils V3.0 Guide)

[TrevorLarkum]

I have started to organise my Muckleburgh photos, so their Pz 61 & Pz 68 should be online fairly soon.

What is at 'Witney'?

[Massimo_Foti]

There is a Pz-61 and a Pz-68 at the Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles in Nokesville VA

Yes, those are already listed in the register:

www.massimocorner.com/...8_Pz61.pdf
www.massimocorner.com/...g_Pz68.pdf

I have started to organise my Muckleburgh photos, so their Pz 61 & Pz 68 should be online fairly soon

I am already using your pictures in the DFs above. Thanks

What is at 'Witney'?

Good question... It's supposed to be a location. I don't know more than that, sorry.

Massimo

[TrevorLarkum]

There's nothing at Witney AFAIK, it might be worth checking your original source if you have one as it doesn't seem to make sense.

[Massimo_Foti]

There's nothing at Witney AFAIK, it might be worth checking your original source if you have one as it doesn't seem to make sense.

Could it be a private collector? Those are often hard to chase and surplus vehicles from the swiss army are pretty easy to buy.

My original source doesn't speaks english and I don't speak german... So his soon is translating among us
He is a veteran member of the armeemuseum association, he has been tracking Pz 61 and Pz 68 longer than me and his connections are better than mine.

Massimo

[Michel_Krauss]

just for fun some pic's from the Pz 68 at Army Cars Zwijndrecht



an detailed shot of the telephone (?) box at the rear, notice the text in German/French
"auf/ouvert" means open
"zu/ferme" means close
The Italian part of Switzerland is an little neclegted



an close-up of the barrel traveling support
This one is interresting because behind it there appears to be some numbers on the rear plate of the hull
Part of the serial number



Michel

[TrevorLarkum]

- Massimo_Foti

My original source doesn't speaks english and I don't speak german... So his soon is translating among us :lol:
He is a veteran member of the armeemuseum association, he has been tracking Pz 61 and Pz 68 longer than me and his connections are better than mine.

Massimo

Perhaps it will turn out to be a private collection, though I don't know of one anywhere there. My parents-in-law live near Witney, so I am there quite often if something turns up.

[Massimo_Foti]

I can confirm there is Pz 68 in Littleton, Colorado. It's a private cllection, RN is: M-77825

Massimo

[Massimo_Foti]

- Massimo_Foti

I can confirm there is Pz 68 in Littleton, Colorado. It's a private collection, RN is: M-77825

Not exactely a private collection, see here:
www.coldwarremarketing.com/

Unfortunately the tank was damaged in transit to the USA (shipper did not open the hull floor drains and over 1.5 meters of water got into the tank during shipment…). And now they are looking for help, both in terms of skills and spares. If you think you could help you may try and contact them.

Massimo

[TrevorLarkum]

Massimo, I'm currently sorting my Muckleburgh photos and I spotted a number stamped into the nose of their Pz 61 - is that news to you? I'm wondering if it's worth investigating as a possible serial number or other identification.

[Massimo_Foti]

I am not aware of a way to read serial numbers apart from looking at the dataplate. But it's worth to write it down, just in case.

The r/n of course, is well know: M-77642

Thanks

Massimo

[L.Delsing]

This is a picture of the number on the nose of the Best (NLD) Pz 61. The last 3 digits are the same as the last 3 of the registration number (M-77620)



Regards,
Lesley