The Swiss Tech Tree chronicles the evolution of Switzerland's armored forces, from imported light tanks used for training to domestically designed medium tanks. Early vehicles emphasize mobility and reconnaissance, while later tanks offer increasingly powerful guns, excellent gun handling, and strong gun depression.

At Tiers VII through IX, gain access to secondary autocannons before culminating in the Tier X Panzer 74, an advanced prototype that embodies the pinnacle of Swiss tank development.

Read on or click on the links to read more about each tank!

• MFT-17 "Moskito"
• Panzerwagen 34/35
• Panzerwagen 39
• Ram Mk. II
• L Pz-51
• KW 30 1952
• KW 30 1957
• Panzer 58
• Panzer 61
• Panzer 74

MFT-17 "Moskito"

• Nation: Switzerland
• Tier: I
• Class: Light
• Research Cost: 0 XP
• Purchase Cost: 0 Silver

Switzerland purchased the basic Renault FT tank from French manufacturer Renault, in 1921. The Swiss Army designated this vehicle the MFT-17 “Moskito” and used these early tanks for crew familiarization, training, and testing prior to the launch of Switzerlands own armored vehicle program. It was their first “instruction” platform for this new class of war-fighting vehicle. The Renault FT was the first tank to have a classic design and a rotating turret – like almost all modern tanks.

Panzerwagen 34/35

• Nation: Switzerland
• Tier: II
• Class: Light
• Research Cost: 310 XP
• Purchase Cost: 3,600 Silver

Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd of Great Britain produced the Panzerwagen 34/35 beginning in 1934 with Switzerland purchasing two vehicles that year, and purchasing four more vehicles in 1935. Like it’s predecessor the Renault FT, the Panzerwagen 34/35 was used as a light machine gun tank for testing, training, and preparation for the formation of armored units but had no actual combat history with the Swiss Army. The Panzerwagen 34/35 served as a transitional step from initial training with tanks to the practical formation of Swiss armored units and it was with these vehicles that the Swiss began to refine not only their operational skills but also their ability to make local modifications to imported armored vehicles.

Panzerwagen 39

• Nation: Switzerland
• Tier: III
• Class: Light
• Research Cost: 1,760 XP
• Purchase Cost: 42,500 Silver

ČKD (Czechoslovakia), in collaboration with K+W Thun (Switzerland), began production of the Panzerwagon 39 in 1939. It was the first Swiss tank with genuine anti-tank capabilities: it was equipped with a 24-mm PzWgK 1938 cannon. There was also a plan to rearm it with a 47-mm cannon, but this was never put into production. During World War II, 24 Panzerwagen 39 vehicles were organized into six tank detachments (Pzw Det), each consisting of four vehicles, attached to the divisions’ reconnaissance units. In December 1940, they were reorganized into three tank companies (Pzw Kp) of 8 vehicles each; they served in this structure until the end of the war and remained in military service even after 1945.

Ram Mk. II

• Nation: Switzerland
• Tier: IV
• Class: Medium
• Research Cost: 6,020 XP
• Purchase Cost: 143,000 Silver

The Ram Mk.II was a Canadian redesign of the M3 Lee created by Montreal Locomotive Works (Canada) and produced from 1941-1943. It retained the American chassis but featured a lower hull and a fully rotating turret armed with a 6-pounder gun, meaning it was much closer in design to a classic medium tank. One Ram Mk.II was purchased in France in 1947 and was used by the Swiss Army for research and training until 1959. After that, it was transferred to a firing range and used for target practice.

L Pz-51

• Tier: V
• Class: Light
• Research Cost: 42,190 XP
• Purchase Cost: 315,000 Silver

In the early 1950s, Switzerland wanted to purchase a medium battle tank from abroad, but due to the international situation, it was unable to obtain the necessary vehicle quickly. Therefore, as a “Notlösung”, a necessary temporary solution, it purchased 200 AMX-13s from France, which were designated the Leichter Panzer 51 in Switzerland. AMX had developed the AMX-13 starting in 1946, but with production accelerating in the early 1950s. These vehicles were in Switzerland’s service from 1954 until 1980. It was this experience that prompted Switzerland to pursue the idea of domestic tank production and launch the KW 30 program, which later gave rise to the Panzer 58 and Panzer 61.

KW 30 1952

• Tier: VI
• Class: Medium
• Research Cost: 36,650 XP
• Purchase Cost: 920,000 Silver

One KW 30 1952 prototype was created by Eidgenössische Konstruktionswerkstätte Thun / K+W Thun in 1952. This was one of the first steps in the development of Switzerland's own medium tank following the 1951 decision to launch a national program to create a 30-ton tank. The KW 30 1952 was never delivered to the armed forces as it was used as a test prototype. It was equipped with a 90-mm gun and had a transmission derived from the German Tiger. Switzerland sought its own solution but relied on available postwar technical designs.

KW 30 1957

• Tier: VII
• Class: Medium
• Research Cost: 87,700 XP
• Purchase Cost: 1,369,000 Silver

Continuing its project to create a native medium tank platform, K+W Thun devloped the KW 30 1957 prototype. The KW 30/57 was a transitional prototype between the KW 30 program and the future Panzer 58. Its most notable feature was the 20-mm Bührle/Oerlikon automatic cannon paired with the main gun. This was an early experiment for the Swiss tank school in replacing a conventional machine gun with more powerful armament to combat lightly armored targets. developed

Panzer 58

• Tier: VIII
• Class: Medium
• Research Cost: 142,700 XP
• Purchase Cost: 2,420,000 Silver

K+W Thun began production in 1957; two prototypes and 10 pre-production vehicles were built. The Panzer 58 was used as an interim model prior to the launch of the production version of the Panzer 61. This vehicle did not enter long-term independent service but was later upgraded to the Panzer 61 standard. The Panzer 58 served as a sort of “tank laboratory” where Switzerland used it to test various armament options. These ranged from a 90-mm gun to the British 20-pounder and the 105-mm L7 with a goal to develop the future standard for its own medium tank.

Panzer 61

• Tier: IX
• Class: Medium
• Research Cost: 256,290 XP
• Purchase Cost: 3,450,000 Silver

Switzerland’s K+W Thun began production on the Panzer 61 in 1961. The Panzer 61 became the first Swiss tank of its own design to enter mass production: following the experimental Panzer 58, Switzerland was no longer merely testing its own design, but had created a fully-fledged production tank. A total of 150 Panzer 61 tanks were ordered under the 1961 program and began arriving in the Swiss Army’s tank units in 1965. The vehicle remained in service until 1994/1995. During its service, it was gradually modernized as part of the Änderungsaktionen program, bringing it closer to the level of the Panzer 68.

Once you have this tank, grab the Butatsch Cun Ilgs Skin, available in customizations, to add a bit of Swiss folklore to your Garage.

Panzer 74

• Tier: X
• Class: Medium
• Research Cost: 345,000 XP
• Purchase Cost: 6,100,000 Silver

The Panzer 74 never entered service; it was a Swiss project for a new main battle tank, launched in 1969 in response to the aging armor of the Panzer 68. The project was not brought to production due to its high cost and the decision to keep the Panzer 68 in service with upgrades. The Panzer 74 was more of a “design platform” than a finished tank. Six turret options were considered for it, including one with an automatic loader, as well as two suspension options, one with a torsion bar or hydro-pneumatic suspension. Two armaments were considered, the 105-mm L7 and the 120-mm L11, reflecting Switzerland’s shift toward heavier main battle tanks in the 1970s.