A steel bloodhound for the Zug Burg

The Cold War also left its mark on the Canton of Zug, and "Bloodhound" guided missiles were stationed on the Gubel. For its exhibition from mid-June, the Museum Burg Zug has hoisted one of these weapons into its courtyard as a symbol that weighs tons.

Well packed, the behemoth stands on the truck in front of the Zug castle (Burg Zug). A monster that has written history. An anti-aircraft guided missile from the Cold War era - a "bloodhound" that was stationed on the Gubel above Menzingen.

The now disarmed weapon is to be one of the highlights of the new exhibition at the Museum Burg Zug about the Cold War. It will actually be the first thing that visitors see, because it will be exhibited in the castle courtyard. "Unfortunately, our doors were too small, and that's why we couldn’t integrate it into the actual exhibition, "explains museum director Marco Sigg. He and his team are now waiting eagerly for the placement of the steel bloodhound. The project came about thanks to a cooperation with the Military Historical Foundation (Militärhistorischen Stiftung) of the Canton of Zug. And Sigg is thrilled that it is now actually happening. Because the museum had to use crowdfunding to raise the money necessary for the transport and the loan. CHF11,000 was needed, but as much as CHF 12,600 was collected in the 45 days. "We want to thank the people who supported us," says Sigg. Many people gave money without expecting anything in return.
 

The "Bloodhound", which is otherwise stored on the Gubel, was driven to Zug on Monday by a transport company. There, it was carefully lifted over the castle wall into the courtyard yard with the help of a pneumatic crane. Photo: Zoe Gwerder (3 June 2019)

In the meantime, the "Bloodhound" has been freed from its packaging and is ready for its very first flight - because not a single one was ever fired in Switzerland during the approximately 30 years in which they were ready for deployment. The rocket was slowly raised by the crane, re-balanced, and then lifted carefully over the castle wall. The whole construction – consisting of the weapon and the launching frame - on which it was stored on the Gubel - weighs a little less than a ton. The "Bloodhound" is now loaded with neither fuel nor explosives. It weighed more than the double during the period of its deployment: almost two and a half tons.
 

There is already a welcoming committee for the monster on the other side of the castle wall. The employees of the transport company pull it into position with their ropes, and then place it on the prepared plates.
 

Museum director Sigg is pleased that the guided missile has now made it to the courtyard: "For us, it’s a powerful symbol of the Cold War. It’s great that everything has worked out."

34 of these weapons were stationed on the Gubel between 1968 and 1999. The fire control units that still existed were placed under a protective order in the summer of 2000. According to the foundation, it is the only surviving weapon system of its kind in the world.

For the video of the positioning: luzernerzeitung.ch/video