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I saw it yesterday for the very first time, and it's already among my all-time favourites





Massimo

Just how a tank is supposed to look!

Some sort of target tank?

I have got to build a model of that and bring it to our annual contest. I bet the judges would have a fit when they see it!

Maximum depression could be better.

Remote driver trainer? I wonder about headlight and markers on a target* tank.

Odd antennae mount.

*Then again, it seems "ziel" means "goal" in German, so maybe target tank is likely. "Zielpanzer".

All I know about it can be read here:



Massimo

Nice, it is something similar to the RAM ETT we have at Amersfoort, The Netherlands

At first I thought the Swiss army had to little to do

For the non-german speaking readers, on the left of the picture:

History of the redrawn from actice service vehile
The Target tank 68, with the RN M+77'876, has been used from 1974 untill 2007 on the shooting range from Les Rochat as an moving target vehicle for the pratice shooting with the anti tank rocket "Dragon"
During the practice shooting the vehicle was driven by personel of the motor vehicle pool Grolley
During these exercises the vehicle drove 11.854km

On the right side
manufacturer:
K+W Thun, an total of 10 vehicle's build (with RN M+77'870 untill M+77'879) and from 1972-1974 all delivered
The target tank 68 is based on the chassis of the Pz 68 and has besides the dummy turret some additional armour and uses the roadwheels and track of the Pz 61

Usage:
Moving target vehicle for the anti tank rocket "Dragon" armed with praticehead "Gipskopf" (tranlated it would be something like plaster head)

Weight: 36 ton

Engine:
- main engine: MTU MB, etc
- additional engine: Mercedes Benz OM 636

Speed: on road: 55km/h - off-road: 30km/h

Fuel consumption: on road 200 l / 100km - off-road: 440 l / 100km

armament: none

Armour: max 80mm

Michel

Massimo,

on which list will you put this vehicle?

On the surviving Pz 68 (chassis) or the surviving Pz 61 (tracks and roadwheels)

Michel

It's already in the Pz 68's PDF. It was pretty common to mix roadwheels. See for example the Pz 68 in Hatten:
the.shadock.free.fr/Ta...age25.html

Massimo

There is another one in Burgdorf:



Massimo

I am just back from Schaffausen, there is another one over there. And it's a runner too.
Six months ago I wasn't even aware of such vehicles's existance, and now I have seen three survivors out of the ten ever build. All three in running condition.

Massimo

- Tanklord

I have got to build a model of that and bring it to our annual contest. I bet the judges would have a fit when they see it!

Sounds like a plan! I better get cracking on one myself.

Does a 1/35 kit of the Pz 68 exists?

Massimo

There is another Zielpanzer 68 in Wildegg. That makes at least four survivors out of ten

Massimo

If there are so many survivors, does it mean that all the testing at the shooting range was an failure

Or that all testing was succesfull



Michel

Most likely they run out of anti tank rockets

Massimo