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 .