Swiss jeep variants

Hi all.
Yesterday I replied to a 2006 post about Swiss jeep identification
There seem to be a lot of variation with these models.
Some have mesh over the grills, some have mirrors on the windscreen, some are single screen while others are split screens.
Some look like M606 while others appear more like militarised CJ5's.
I'm assuming that as models changed, requirements of the buyer changed too.
As the Swiss are neutral, would they be really bothered about too much military spec in their jeeps as they would never go to war with anyone.?
Does anyone have more upto date info on how many were sold to the Swiss and between what dates.
Also any more info on model differences.
I know this could be hard to find out as the Swiss and Kaiser may not want to share the information.
Has anyone ever seen a Swiss military operators manual?

 

"As the Swiss are neutral, would they be really bothered about too much military spec in their jeeps as they would never go to war with anyone.?"

A common misperception. Switzerland is one of the most fiercely militarized countries in the world. Check it out.

Minefields, bunkers, gun emplacements, and tank traps are woven through out the landscape. Mountains contain buried air bases like something out of James Bond. Every household has weapons and ammunition, by law. Military service and annual training is compulsory.

It ain't all like the Sound Of Music.

 

All true, except the Sound of Music took place in Austria!
Now back to your regularly scheduled thread...I don't know much about Swiss Jeeps, but I'd volunteer to go to Switzerland to do some research!

 

Firstly I meant no disrespect to the Swiss.
I was meaning the 1960's, 70's when it was the Soviets that were the threat and you needed to defend against possible attack.
I do know how military/defensive they are but the question was would they need full spec military vehicles considering their peaceful status.

 

Hi all,

After WW2 Switzerland bought 500 used US Jeeps MB (Willys & Fords). Quite a few of them had holes where there shoudnt be any ..

In 1947 the Swiss Army bought 400 new CJ2a Jeeps. Until 1972 followed CJ3A, CJ3b and CJ5, but the the actual number seems to be too difficult to state at the moment. One exception, in 1958 were 820 M38A1 Antitank Jeeps bought which were in service till about 1990.

This from Switzerland as a short info for you.

Take care

Ulrico

 

Hi Ulrico and welcome.
Thats a lot of great info you've shared!
Im sure everyone really appreciates it.
Thats a hell of alot of Anti-tank jeeps!
Were they NEKAF or U.S. built?
Is their any government department we could ask for figures of CJ5's bought by the Swiss military?

 

Hi George,
Thanks for welcoming me. I ll try to find an official source for the CJ5 figures. One source I found and was mentioning a number of
1125 CJ5 starting 1964. Some of them were transformed by the Swiss Army in the 24V version.
Re the M38A1. My source says they were imported in pieces from the US and put together in Switzerland. In any case they were not produced by NECAF from Holland.

 

Can anyone add to this?

 

Hi Ulrico.
As a new CJ5 owner, all this jeep info is all new to me and really appreciated.
By the way, have you said "hello" in the introductions section yet?
I assume you are a jeep enthusiast and maybe a jeep owner?
George

 

George,
Yes, you got it, I am owning an M38A1 1958 for the last 25 years and a CJ5 Kaiser 1970 24Volt for a few months. But my CJ5 looks different in comparison to yours, the windshield is not split and the instrument board looks like a M38A1. The ignition cables and spark plugs are radio radiation protected.
Regards
Ulrico

 

Yes, Swiss people are warriors... they keep their army guns in the house and are always ready for action.
so the Swiss Army Jeep is for sure a good car.
Swiss people are also bankers. If you look very well, you find a safebox in your Jeep.
We can share the content ... I arrive!

 

It is always good to read posts from people in other nations. It can be another view on what is going on.

 

Hi Alan28.
This is uncanny but I did find a safe box in mine!
It was empty apart from a compliment slip from a bank.

 

Hi Ulrico.
Ive just wrote a post that's went missing.
I'll repeat my self a bit.
Maybe there was a change over in vehicle specification in 1970.
Maybe private owners changed some parts like the windscreen?
Maybe those Swiss canvas tops with those leather type tags that secure it to the windscreen are too exoensive to buy or they are not available.
My CJ5 has 24 volt suppressed plugs too.
I don't suppose you have a spare military CJ5 operators manual do you?

 

Uncamonkey you're right there.
You can learn so much from others and not just about jeeps.

 

Hi again,

There was obviously a change in specification in 1970 and 1971. Till now I havent seen any operators manual, seems to be a kind of blackbox. So I am using the one for the M38A1 and partly the CJ3b. I keep you posted as soon as I am getting one. I the meantime you could polish your german knowledge …

I wonder who the hell invented these canvas tops with these leather type tags. Knowing the right sources, it is still possible to get new ones but costing up to 1000 USD. Spare parts in Switzerland are generally quite expensive, so we try to buy abroad.

Take care

Ulrico

 

Ulrico.
My German knowledge extends to ein grossen beir bitte, Brockvurst mit pomme frits, directions and Danke, Bitte,

 

My family emigrated from Switzerland ~1900, fortunately the name did not get butchered at Ellis island like most.. Liechti. I have yet to make it to see Switzerland, but I will someday.. Strangely there is a Liechti turbine engineering in Switzerland, and I am a turbine engineer.. lol..
Liechti Engineering AG - Home

 

I would check out if you might be a part owner.

 

Hi Pete,

Since the fall of the Wall in Germany and the end of the cold war, Switzerland has till now decreased the armed forces by two thirds. But given the worldwide uncertainties such as Putin, Erdogan, (Trump?), challenges like migration, globalisation and digitalisation, we have to try hard to improve knowledge, quality and power of the Swiss Army. The polarisation in the political scenary here, as in so many european country, does not really speed up the introduction of new decisions.

Yes, many of us still have the army gun at home and, not officially, have enough ammunition to start with. You might ask why? Simple answer is, one never knows …

In respect to the bunkers, many of them are now open for the public and quite a few are used as safe shelters for electronic equipment a.s.o.

The private shelters we still have and keep them, one never knows ..

Regards

Ulrico