Panzermuseum Thun

The Panzermuseum Thun was a museum in Thun in the Canton of Bern in Switzerland. Exhibited in the museum were foreign and Swiss tanks as well as examples of Swiss self-propelled artillery and static artillery. After an announcement in November 2023, the museum's outdoor collection was dissolved and closed to the public in 2024.

Description Until the museum's dissolution, a number of vehicles were exhibited in the open air at the Thun weapons range and were able to be viewed during office hours of the Swiss Army Museum Association within the Dufour barracks, entrance on Military Street. Since some of the over forty exhibits had been stored in the open air for a long time, a large number of them were restricted in their ability to drive and function.

Due to the museum's closure, its outdoor inventory was largely transferred to other collections. Non-swiss vehicles were moved to the Swiss Military Museum in Full-Reuenthal, while domestic vehicles were handed over to the collection of the Historic Military Equipment Foundation in Burgdorf, Switzerland. A small selection of vehicles remains in Thun, though this collection is now inaccessible to the general public save for guided tours upon request.

Exhibits The following exhibits were able to be seen on the exhibition grounds: NameType – year of manufacture – procurementCharacteristicsPhotoVickers-Carden-LoydLight combat vehicle (GB), manufactured in 1934, 6 units were purchased for the Swiss Army (2 in 1934, 4 in 1935)2 men, 1 × 7.5 mm machine gun, 3.8 tonsRenault FTLight combat vehicle (F), manufactured from 1917, 5 units were purchased (2 in 1921, 3 in 1939)2 men, 1 × 3.7 cm cannon, 6.7 tonsTiger II "Königstiger"King Tiger B, main battle tank (D), manufactured in 1944, handed over to the Swiss Military Museum in 2007 as a permanent loan.1 × 8.8 cm cannon L71, 3 × 7.92 mm-MG, 5 men, 68 tonsT17E1 StaghoundScout tanks (GB), manufactured in 1943, 64 units were purchased (early 1950s), never introduced, used as target vehicles5 men, 1 × 37 mm cannon, 2 × MG, 12 tonsM3Special tank (USA), year of manufacture 1941/42, conversion from M4 main battle tank6 men, dummy cannon, 27 tonsPanzer 68Panzer 68/88, Swiss main battle tank (CH), manufactured 1988–1993, 195 units4 men, 1 × 10.5 cm cannon, 2 × 7.5 mm MG, 41 tonsCenturion (tank)Centurion main battle tank (GB), procurement 1958–1960, 100 units procured4 men 1 × 10.5 cm cannon, 2 × 7.5 mm MG, 50 tonsEntpannungspanzer 65Prototype special tank on chassis Pz 61 (CH), one example procured4 men, 40 tonsM48 PattonMain battle tank (USA), year of manufacture 1954, exchange item4 men, 1 × 9 cm cannon, 1 × 7.62 mm MG, 1 × 12 mm MG, 45 tonsNahkampfkanone 1Self-propelled gun (CH), year of manufacture 1943, prototype on an extended Pz 39 chassis5 men7.5 cm cannonlater 10.5 cm Howitze 4210 tonsNahkampfkanone 2 GustavAssault gun (CH), year of manufacture 1942–1945, prototype in four versions, no series production5 men, 7.5 cm anti-tank gun, 24 tonsSchützenpanzer Lang HS.30Armored personnel carrier (D), manufactured from 1956, two prototypes without a turret in military testing, exchange item2+8 men, 1 × 20 mm cannon, 14.6 tonsPanzerwagen 39 (Praga)Light combat vehicle (CSR/CH), year of manufacture 1938–1939, 24 purchased3 men, 24 mm cannon 38, 2 × 7.5 mm machine guns, 8 tonsUniversal Carrier T16Transport vehicle for Panzer-Grenadiers (GB), manufactured in 1944, 302 purchased, sold again in 19652+6 men, 4.7 tonsHetzerSelf-propelled gun (CSR/D), year of manufacture 1944–1949, 158 purchased1 × 7.5 cm anti-tank gun 1940, 1 × 7.5 mm MG, 4 men, 16 tonsLeichter Panzer 51Scout tank (F), year of manufacture 1953–1957200 bought7.5 cm tank gun 511 × 7.5 mm machine gun, 3 men14,5 tonsAMX 13 self-propelled howitzerTank artillery (F), manufactured in 1956, 4 purchased for troop trials10.5 cm howitzer L301 × 7.5mm or 7.62mm machine gun, 5 men16,5 tonsPanzer 58Main battle tank (CH), year of manufacture 1958, 2 prototypes, 10 pre-series vehicles1 × 8.4 cm tank gun 58, 1 × 20 mm cannon, 1 × 7.5 mm MG, 4 men, 35 tonsSaurer TartarugaCombat armored personnel carrier (CH), manufactured in 1959 or later, an exhibit purchased for testing1 × 20 mm MK, 3+9 men, 18.2 tons (with turret)Mowag PiratCombat armored personnel carrier (CH), manufactured in 1962, an exhibit purchased for testing1 × 20 mm cannon (turret dismantled), 3+9 men, 18.1 tonsFliegerabwehrpanzer 68Special tank (CH), year of manufacture 1977/78, 2 prototypes2 × 35 mm cannon Oerlikon KDA, 3 men, 46 tons15 cm heavy howitzer 1942L28 howitzer (CH), manufactured in 1942ready to fire 6.8 tons76.2 mm anti-tank gunAnti-tank gun "Ratsch-Bumm“ (USSR), manufactured in 1938Information according to Panzermuseum Thun. but not possible because the weapon was only developed two years later and was only produced from 1941 onwards2 tons4.7 cm Pak on Renault R35Tank destroyer (D), year of manufacture 1941–1944, gift from F, trials in CH1 × 4,7-cm-anti-tank gun (CSR), 3 men, 10 tonsSturmgeschütz IIISturmpanzer (D), year of manufacture 1943–1945, gift from F, trials in CH1 × 7.5 cm cannon L48, 1 × 7.92 mm MG, 4 men, 24 tonsHetzerTank destroyer (CSR/D), year of manufacture 1944–1945, gift from F, trials in CH, predecessor of the G131 × 7.5 cm anti-tank gun 39 L48, 1 × Flab-MG, 4 men, 16 tonsJagdpanzer IV/48Assault gun (D), year of manufacture 1943–1945, gift from F, trials in CH1 × 7.5 cm cannon L48, 1 × 7.92 mm MG, 5 men, 24 tonsPanzer IV Typ HMain battle tank (D), year of manufacture 1937–1945, gift from F, trials in CH1 × 7.5 cm cannon L48, 2 × 7.92 mm MG, 5 men, 22.4 tonsJagdpanzer V JagdpantherTank destroyer (D), year of manufacture 1943–1945, gift from F, trials in CH1 × 8.8 cm cannon L71, 1 × 7.92 mm MG, 5 men, 46 tonsPanther tankMain battle tank (D), year of manufacture 1943–1945, gift from F, trials in CH1 × 7.5 cm cannon L70, 3 × 7.92 mm MG, 5 men, 44.8 tons8,8 cm PaK 43L71 from battle tank VI Tiger II (D), manufactured in 1944Ball screen Tiger II from battle tank VI Tiger II (D), year of manufacture 1944, thickness 150 mmM7 PriestSelf-propelled gun (USA), year of manufacture from 1942, gift from F, trials in CH1 × 10.5 cm howitzer, 1 × 12.7 mm MG, 7 men, 24 tonsSchützenpanzer SPz 11-2 Kurz HotchkissArmored personnel carrier (F), year of manufacture 1951, exchange item, special equipment for radio operators1 × 7.5 mm MG, 2+5 men, 8 tonsM47 PattonMain battle tank (USA), manufactured in 1950, purchased for trials in CH1 × 9 cm cannon L70, 2 × 7.62 mm MG, 1 × 12.7 mm MG, 5 men, 44 tonsM4 ShermanMain battle tank (USA), manufactured in 1942, purchased for tests in Switzerland1 × 7.5 cm cannon, 2 × 7.62 mm MG, 1 × 12.7 mm MG, 5 men, 32 tonsCenturion BridgelayerBridge-laying tank (GB), year of manufacture 1961–1963, 2 exhibits purchased for tests in the CH chassis such as the Pz 57 Centurion3 men, 50.8 tonsCenturion (tank)Main battle tank (GB), year of manufacture 1948–1952, purchased in Canada1 × 8.4 cm cannon, 2 × 7.6 mm MG, 4 men, 50 tonsT-34/85 Kampfpanzer (UdSSR)Year of manufacture 1943–1953, exchange item1 × 85 mm cannon, 2 × 7.62 mm MG, 5 men, 32 tonsAMX-VCIArmored personnel carrier (F) (Infantry Combat Vehicle), manufactured from 1955, purchased for trials in Switzerland1 × 7.62 mm machine gun in turret (removed), 2+10 men, 12.5 tonsT-54Main battle tank (USSR), exchange item1 × 10 cm cannon, 2 × 7.62 mm MG, 4 men, 36 tonsLeopard 2Main battle tank (D) M+77101 was the first of 35 Leopard 2s delivered from Germany in 1987, 345 Leopard 2s were manufactured in Thun until 19934 men, 120 mm smoothbore cannon, 42 rounds, 62 tons

Panzermuseum Thun

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