Nahkampfkanone 1

The Nahkampfkanone 1 was an experimental Swiss tank destroyer that saw service between 1944 and 1947. Only one was ever built.

Nahkampfkanone 1
Nahkampfkanone I at Panzermuseum Thun
Type	Light tank destroyer
Place of origin	Switzerland
Service history
In service	1944–1947
Used by	Switzerland
Production history
Designed	1943
Manufacturer	Berna at Olten & Saurer
No. built	1
Specifications
Mass	12.5 tonnes
Length	6.45 m (21 ft 2 in)
Width	2.60 m (8 ft 6 in)
Height	2.50 m (8 ft 2 in)
Crew	5
Armour	50 mm
Main armament	75 mm cannon later 10.5 cm howitzer
Engine	6-cylinder gasoline engine four-stroke Saurer CT1D 123 hp (92 kW)
Power/weight	9.8 hp/tonne
Suspension	leaf spring
Operational range	200 km (120 mi) 120 km off-road
Maximum speed	45 km/h (28 mph) off-road:25 km/h (16 mph)

History and development

The designed heralded from early experiments made between 1943 and 1944 in Switzerland in the design and construction of an armoured vehicle. The Nahkampf cannon 1 was built onto the chassis of the armoured car Panzerwagen 39, Panzer 38(t) type LTL-H CSSR armoured fighting vehicle. The chassis was extended by a roller produced by the company Berna in Olten. Since only a few parts were available, it was partially constructed using parts of armoured cars, mainly the chassis and transmissions. The armour consisted of only thin sheet metal and, in initial experiments, only a 75-millimeter cannon was installed, before future designs sported a 10.5-cm howitzer. The prototype was used by the Swiss Army with the car plate (M + number 7236).

See also

• Nahkampfkanone 2

References

• Book Urs Heller: Die Panzer der Schweizer Armee von 1920 bis 2008 [1]
• Military Museum Thun AG Switzerland
• NZZ newspaper, video clip (German) about Swiss tanks, Nahkampfkanone 1, Nahkampfkanone 2