Entpannungspanzer 65

The Entpannungspanzer 65 was a Swiss Armoured recovery vehicle developed by the 'Eidgenoessische Konstruktionswerkstaette Thun' in the late 1960s.

The prototype of the Entspannungspanzer 65 was build up on a Panzer 61 substructur. After successful testing the government got the go-ahead for the Production of 69 Entspanungspanzer based on the Panzer 68 substructure.

The Swiss Entpannungspanzer 65 (EntpPz 65) is an armored recovery vehicles and based on the chassis of the Panzer 61 It serves as a traveling workshop and the task Relaxes the armored vehicles of the armored formations and tow. From 1968 69 65 Entpannungspanzer were built, later called than 65 /88.The Swiss Army scrapped and replaced them with the new, based on the Leopard 2, Buffalo armored recovery vehicle.

In 1961, the Federal Construction Workshop began in Thun with the development of a recovery vehicle on the chassis of the Panzer 61 1967, the prototype was completed and approved after extensive testing with the chassis of the successor, (the only slightly modified) Panzer 68 In this form, the vehicle went into series production in 1970. The structure was reinforced with box-shaped cabin. Numerous storage compartments on the sides were assembled to complete tooling, cutting torches, etc. to accommodate. Motor and Gear Unit were in the rear, above the motor cover was by the side storage boxes have been created by a kind of open-back trough in this way a complete spare engine could be carried. The driver sat in the front right; him were three angle mirrors available. Behind the driver there were a rotating dome with multiple-angle mirrors, hatch and before four Nebelwerfers. Was left behind the driver, a further rotary coupling with a plurality of angle mirrors, and a hatch mounted on a pivot mounted MG51. The entry and exit hatch was on the left side of the battle space above the height of the chain guide roller and the first roller. At the front of the vehicle is a hydraulically operated dozer blade was attached to the supporting both served with crane and winch operation, as well as to remove obstacles, for preparing positions and the filling of trenches. At the rear of the tank, a tow rope was attached on top of the sidepods tow bars (A-frame drawbar) attached. The vehicle had an NBC protection system. The maximum tensile load of the main winch was 25 tons, which could be increased with double deflection in the triple train to 75 tons. The cable length was 120 m and 60 m. The auxiliary winch possessed 240 feet of rope length. The crane consisting of a A-shaped frame, which has been mounted on the front of the vehicle and stored when not in use to the rear of the structure. The corresponding winch was located behind the crew compartment. The crane had a lifting capacity of 15 tons at three meter radius. The lift height was 4.8 m. Thus the Entpannungspanzer 68 was able to replace a complete drive unit 68 of the tank with his crane. The crew consisted of commander, driver, observer and two tank mechanics. It entered service in 1972 in 69 vehicles for the Swiss Army. Between 1993 and 1995, all vehicles were updated on the status Entpannungspanzer 65/88 and remained with the M numbers M78631-M78699 to 2008 in the service of the Swiss Army.

The prototype with the M number M0870  is in the Thun Tank Museum, a serial version is in the military museum Full / Fort Reuenthal.

Technical
The Entpannungspanzer 65 has a semi-automatic powershift transmission with six forward and reverse gears. The steering wheel is via steps and from wear by hydrostatic superimposed steering system including local steering. A 4-cylinder auxiliary motor (38 HP) is used to drive the hydraulic pump and of the main generator. If necessary it can be used to drive the drive transmission to the auxiliary or starting of the main motor. For communication board is a communication system and a wireless device of the type SE 412 In the crew cabin a NBC protection system and a water tank with 18 liter capacity is installed.

Equipment

 * 1 Main winch max. 25 tons of pulling force directly, 75 tons with two pulleys, 120 m rope diameter 30 mm
 * 1 auxiliary winch max. Tensile strength 400 kg 240 m rope diameter 6 mm
 * 1 crane max lifting capacity 15 tons
 * Tow bars for the formation of an A-drawbar
 * dozer
 * various tools