Oerlikon SSG36

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	Weapon: Oerlikon SSG36 Type: Anti-Tank Weapon Country of Origin: Switzerland Year Adopted: 1936 Overall Length (mm): 1727.0 Overall Length (in): 67.99 Weight (kg): 8.50 Weight (pounds): 18.74

The Oerlikon SSG36 was a Swiss-designed semi-automatic anti-tank rifle developed in the 1930s by Oerlikon. It was chambered for the powerful 20x105mmB round, which allowed it to penetrate light armored vehicles and fortifications of its time. The rifle featured a gas-operated action with a rotating bolt and was fed from a detachable box magazine. Weighing over 40 kg, the SSG36 was cumbersome for infantry use but was intended as a static or vehicle-mounted anti-armor weapon. Its design was influenced by Oerlikon's expertise in automatic cannon production, making it one of the few anti-tank rifles of its era to use a high-velocity, cannon-grade cartridge.

Production of the Oerlikon SSG36 was relatively limited, with only a small number manufactured before World War II. The rifle was not widely adopted due to its heavy weight and the rapid advancements in tank armor, which soon rendered most anti-tank rifles ineffective. Switzerland explored its use for defensive purposes, but ultimately, it did not see widespread service within the Swiss military. Some examples were reportedly exported to other nations looking for effective anti-tank solutions in the late 1930s, though detailed records on foreign use remain scarce.

The Oerlikon SSG36 is notable for its unique place in the evolution of anti-tank rifles and heavy-caliber small arms. While it was quickly outclassed by heavier anti-tank weaponry, its use of a high-velocity 20mm round made it one of the more formidable anti-material rifles of its time. Today, surviving examples are rare, primarily found in military museums and private collections. The SSG36 stands as a testament to early Swiss ingenuity in weapons development, though its limited production and lack of widespread use kept it from achieving significant historical notoriety.