At present, the armies of the leading military powers of the world are armed with tanks of the third post-war generation. These include the American M1 Abrams, the Chinese Type 88 and Type 99, and the Russian T-80 and T-90. Germany is no exception: the main combat vehicle of the Bundeswehr today is the third-generation Leopard-2 tank.

The Germans have always been famous for their good technique, and their tank building school is excellent, so the Leopard 2 tank is rightfully considered one of the best main tanks in the world. Its development began during the Cold War, since then numerous modifications to the machine have been created. The merits of the Leopard are evidenced by the fact that this tank has been put into service in two dozen countries of the world.

The Germans themselves claim that the Leopard 2 is the best main battle tank at the present time. Of course, in each country, products of their own military-industrial complex are praised, but in this case, such a statement is not far from the truth. A lot of experts really consider the Leopard-2 to be the strongest tank of our time.

It is the Leopard-2 that can be called the main tank of NATO, and not like the American Abrams. By the way, the German tank is not inferior to the Abrams in terms of its characteristics (at least).

Until 2019, more than 3,000 Leopard units rolled off the assembly line, and it is produced under license in several other countries.

History of creation

In the mid-50s of the last century, the development of a new tank began in Europe, which later received the name "Leopard-1". The goal of this project was to create a tank that would not be inferior to the Soviet combat vehicles of that time.

The production of Leopard-1 began in Germany in 1965, and almost immediately it was adopted by several European countries at once, where it was produced under license. In the future, "Leopard-1" was repeatedly modernized, it was in service with ten countries of the world.

However, already in 1967, German designers began developing a new tank, which would later become the Leopard-2. Initially, the Americans participated in this project (MW-70), but very soon disagreements between the partners led to the fact that each country began to develop its own tank.

The German national program was named "Gilded Leopard" (then "Boar"). In 1969, two prototypes of the new machine were created and their testing began. In Germany, two vehicles with cannon weapons (Leopard-2K) and missile weapons (Leopard-2FK) were initially developed. At the same time, research was going on in different directions: in the use of smooth-bore guns of various calibers on the machine, hydropneumatic suspension, chassis elements and a fire control system. Soon, work on a tank with missile weapons was discontinued.

The main contractor was Krauss-Maffei AG, Porsche was responsible for design and running gear, Wegmann developed the turret, and AEG Telefunken developed the fire control system. From 1972 to 1974, several variants of the design of the hull and turret of the machine were made.

In 1973, the car received its current name, a little later, several "Leopards" were tested in the United States along with an American promising tank, and showed comparable characteristics.

After all the tests and design improvements in 1977, the modification of the Leopard 2AV with multilayer armor and a new fire control system (FCS) was adopted by the Bundeswehr, and two years later the serial production of this machine began.

Tank overview

The German tank "Leopard-2" is made according to the classical scheme, with a control compartment in front of the vehicle and an engine located at the stern. The fighting compartment with a turret is located in the center of the vehicle; a smooth-bore 120-mm gun is installed in the turret.

The armor protection of the frontal projection of the tank is multi-layered. Frontal armor plates have a vertical arrangement. The side armor is reinforced with anti-cumulative screens.

In front of the machine on the right is the driver's seat, there is also part of the ammunition and machine control devices. There is also a filtering unit in the front compartment.

The turret houses the positions of the tank commander, gunner and loader, and a Rheinmetall Rh-120/L44 smoothbore gun along with a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. The barrel of the gun is covered with a heat-shielding casing and has an ejector. The tower has a stern niche in which the ammunition is located, the niche is equipped with knockout panels. "Leopard-2" does not have an automatic loader.

The inside of the fighting compartment is lined with a special aramid fiber lining, the main task of which is to reduce the number of armor fragments.

Also on the turret of the tank are mortars for placing a smoke screen.

From the very beginning of the development of the Leopard-2, there was a question of increasing its firepower. The designers had a choice between a 105 mm rifled gun and a 120 mm smoothbore gun. As a result, "Leopard-2" was the first in the Western world to receive a 120-mm cannon. Thanks to its successful design, the Leopard-2 tank gun is considered one of the best in the world.

In the stern of the tank is the power compartment, it houses the engine and transmission. V-shaped diesel engine MB 873 with twelve cylinders is located along the body of the machine. The engine is liquid cooled and turbocharged. Its power is 1500 hp. With. The engine compartment is separated from the combat compartment by a fireproof partition.

The engine is equipped with two turbochargers and two air coolers. Two air intakes are located aft under the aft niche of the tower.

The transmission of the tank is hydromechanical, with a 4-speed planetary gearbox.

The undercarriage consists of seven road wheels and four support rollers on each side. Suspension - torsion bar with friction dampers. Overhaul cars are produced after a run of 10 thousand km.

To overcome water obstacles, a pipe is installed above the commander's hatch, sights and the tower support is sealed, valves are installed on the exhaust pipes. "Leopard-2" cannot fight immediately after forcing a water barrier.

The composition of the LMS "Leopard-2" includes:

  • armament stabilizer in two planes with electro-hydraulic drive WHA-H22;
  • analog electronic ballistic computer;
  • laser sight-rangefinder EMES-15;
  • panoramic periscope sight-surveillance device PERI-R17;
  • auxiliary telescopic sight FERO-Z 18,
  • system for monitoring the functioning of the SLA.

The system allows both the gunner and the tank commander to fire, while the commander's actions are a priority. To hit a target, simply point the sight marker at it. Thanks to the excellent stabilization of the gun and the perfect FCS, the Leopard-2 can effectively fire on the move. Surveillance facilities provide excellent visibility to all crew members.

On the latest modifications of the machine, the review of all crew members has been brought to 360 degrees through the use of improved thermal imaging cameras.

"Leopard-2" is equipped with an automatic fire extinguishing system, there is also a system that creates excess pressure inside the tank - this is a means against weapons of mass destruction. On the latest modifications, an additional air conditioning system is installed in the car.

Tank modifications

For a long time of operation, the Leopard-2 tank has been repeatedly improved and therefore there are many modifications of this machine.

The basic modification was produced from 1979 to 1982.

In 1982, a modification of the Leopard 2A1 appeared, which had improved armor protection and thermal imagers were installed on the car, which significantly improved the visibility for the crew. In addition, they changed the placement of the ammunition rack and, taking into account operating experience, increased the reliability of some tank components.

In 1984, the production of a new modification of the machine, the Leopard 2A2, began. This tank received a new design of fuel tanks, as well as a more advanced system of protection against weapons of mass destruction.

Leopard 2AZ received a new radio station and a new parking brake, he removed the hatch for loading ammunition.

The Leopard 2A4 received a new turret with reinforced titanium-based armor, as well as a more advanced fire extinguishing system. This modification of the tank was produced from 1985 to 1990.

The release of the Leopard 2A5 began in 1995 and continued until 1998. This modification received mounted dynamic protection modules. A new driver's hatch was also installed, the visibility for it was improved, the body at the location of the driver's seat was strengthened. The tank turret underwent modernization: the gun mantlet was changed, the frontal and side armor was reinforced with spaced armor modules. The gun received a more fireproof electric stabilization system instead of an electro-hydraulic one. The commander received a new next-generation independent thermal imager, which was built into a panoramic observation device. The tank has a GPS navigation system. As a result of these changes, the weight of the tan increased to 59.5-62 tons.

Modification Leopard 2A6 appeared in 2001. In fact, this is the Leopard-2A5 tank, which was equipped with a new gun with a length of 55 calibers. Depleted uranium shells were added to the ammunition load. An increase in the length of the gun dramatically increased the initial velocity of the projectiles, which significantly increased armor penetration. Improvements have also been made to the weapon control system. Despite all the changes, the weight of the car remained at the level of 62 tons.

In 2010, the latest modification of the car was released - Leopard 2A7 +. This tank received a new combat module located on the roof of the turret, consisting of a 12.7 mm machine gun and a 76 mm grenade launcher. Its remote control.

The car body received additional passive protection, special attention was paid to protecting the sides of the car. The armor of the bottom was also strengthened. Everyone and crew members got the opportunity of a circular view due to thermal imaging cameras.

The undercarriage of the tank was also improved. To power the onboard equipment, an additional power plant was installed at the stern. At the request of the customer, the tank can be equipped with a blade.

Here is a list of improvements that have been made to the Leopard 2A7+ compared to the 2A6:

  • significantly improved protection against mines and land mines;
  • hinged elements are designed to protect against ammunition that poses the greatest danger to modern tanks: BOPS, cumulative grenades (RPG type), ATGMs that affect
  • elements of cluster munitions;
  • the concept of "digital tower" was implemented on the tank;
  • improved SLA;
  • the latest sub-caliber shells with a detachable pallet (BOPS) DM-53, as well as programmable high-explosive rounds DM-12, were introduced into the ammunition load;
  • the modification of the Leopard 2A7 + provides a communication system with infantry units that operate together with the tank;
  • The Leopard 2А7+ has equipment that allows it to be included in the overall supply system, which greatly simplifies the supply of tank units with ammunition, fuel and spare parts.

It can be said that the Leopard 2А7+ can operate more successfully than the old modifications not only under normal conditions, but also take part in combat operations in the city.

The weight of the latest modification of the Leopard was 67 tons.

The Bundeswehr has already announced its intention to upgrade some of the Leopard 2A6 and Leopard 2A5 tanks to the 2A7+ level. Information about the modernization of 150 machines was voiced. At present, the main armored force german army remain modifications 2A5 and 2A6.

Other countries that operate Leopard-2 are also showing interest in the novelty. Until 2019, twenty new Leopard 2A7+ machines were manufactured. Many experts believe that this modification is the last, it is impossible to further improve the tank, since its modernization potential has been exhausted.

Project evaluation

The Leopard 2 tank is one of the best main battle tanks in the world. He regularly gets into various tank ratings, habitually taking the highest prizes.

The latest modifications of the Leopard-2 really look perfect: reinforced armor protection of the front projection and side parts make it possible to talk about the high security of the vehicle, a powerful weapon is able to cope with any enemy, and excellent aiming devices and observation devices are guaranteed to be the first to be detected.

All of the above makes the Leopard-2 (latest modifications) a formidable opponent for any modern tank.

The latest modifications of the tank use the most modern sub-caliber ammunition with a detachable pallet with a tungsten alloy core. This allows you to hit any type of modern armored vehicles.

There were complaints about insufficient bottom mine protection, but this problem was eliminated on modifications of the A5, A6 and A7 +.

The undoubted disadvantage of this machine is its high cost.

Specifications

TTX tank Leopard 2А6

Crew, man 4
Combat weight, t 59,9
Main dimensions, m:
length with cannon forward 11,29
body length 7,72
side screen width 3,74
tower roof height 2,64
Clearance, m 0,5
Track width, m 0,635
Ammunition:
guns, shots 42
machine guns, ammunition 5 500
Maximum travel speed, km/h:
by highway 72
in reverse 31
Engine power, l. With 1 500
Engine weight, kg 2 590
Mass of the power unit, kg 4 840
Overcome obstacles:
ditch width, m 3
vertical wall height, m 1,1
steepness rise, hail 30
roll steepness, hail 15
water barrier (ford) depth, m:
without preparation 1
after preparation 2,35
water barrier depth (with OPVT*), m 4
Range on the highway, km 550
Fuel tank capacity, l 1 200

Tank video

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Leopard 2 (Leopard 2) was created by Krauss-Maffei in the early 1970s and is the main battle tank in service with the Bundeswehr since 1979. In the German army, the tank replaced the obsolete Leopard 1. In addition to Germany, the Leopard 2 is in the service of 12 others European countries, as well as several countries outside the European Union. A total of 3480 tanks were produced. Leopard 2 took part in the fighting in Kosovo as part of the German army and in Afghanistan as part of the Danish and Canadian contingent international forces promoting security.

There are two main branches of the tank's development, the original Leopard 2A4 model, which has a vertically oriented turret armor, and an "improved" model, called the Leopard 2A5 and other newer versions with angled turret armor, modular armor and a number of additional protective measures. All versions are equipped with a digital fire control system with a laser rangefinder, a fully stabilized cannon with a coaxial machine gun, and the latest night vision device (the first vehicles used a low-light television camera or LLLTV; thermal imagers came later). The tank is capable of firing at a moving target while moving over uneven terrain.

Development
When the Leopard 1 tank entered service in 1965, the new 120 mm Rheinmetall L44 gun was seen as equal to the latest Soviet tank guns. However, its introduction was canceled with the start of the MBT-70 "super tank" project, which was being developed together with the United States. The MBT-70 had a revolutionary design. According to the project, the tank had a mass of 50 tons, a welded turret with an elongated stern and curved side armor, a six-wheel chassis with adjustable hydropneumatic suspension. The MBT-70 was armed with a 152 mm low-ballistics cannon, which, using an advanced fire control system, was supposed to fire laser-guided Shilaila anti-tank missiles, as well as armor-piercing and cumulative projectiles. However, the MBT-70 was never completed and the joint project was canceled in 1969. The official reason was the excessive cost of developing the tank.




The national project of the Krauss-Maffei engineering company started in 1970. A year later, the project of the 60s was taken as the basis - the Experimentalentwicklung tank (later called Keiller), which, in turn, was created from the "gilded Leopard" (vergoldeter Leopard) and , in fact, was a modification of the MBT-70 or Eber. The name of the Leopard 2 project was fixed in 1971, which spoke of its feedback from the Leopard 1 tank. During this year, Krauss-Maffei designed 17 prototypes, of which 16 were built. All tanks had a mass of 50 tons.

On December 11, 1974, for the possibility of joint production of MBTs with the United States, a memorandum of understanding on defense supplies was signed, at the same time the Americans acquired and began testing 7 prototypes. Taking into account the experience of the War doomsday one of the primary tasks was to ensure the high security of the tank, for which heavy inclined armor with shielding began to be used. This determined the increase in the mass of the tank to 60 tons. To test the new type of armor, the prototype turret number 14 was modified. The use of vertical perforated armor plates and ammunition storage in the stern significantly enlarged the Leopard 2 turret compared to its predecessor. It is worth noting that initially perforated armor was used on the new tank, and not Chobham, as some believe. Prototype 14 carried a 120 mm Rheinmetall gun (which was eventually used on the Abrams). Prototypes with 2 new hulls and 3 turrets were introduced next. The first (PT-20) sample was equipped with the original 105-mm L7A3 gun and the Hughes fire control system, the second (PT-19) had a tighter fire control system, but it had the opportunity to change the gun to the 120-mm Rheinmetall, and, finally, the third the tank (PT-21) was equipped with the Hughes-Krupp Atlas Electronic EMES 13 fire control system and had a 120-mm gun.

In mid-1976, Prototype 19 was assembled and sent to the United States, along with a PT-20 hull and a set of special targets for testing. The prototype was named Leopard 2AV (simple version) because it had a simplified FCS. In August 1976, the tank arrived in America, and from September 1 to December 1976, comparative tests of the Leopard 2 and XM1 (prototype M1 Abrams) took place at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. The US Army reported that the Leopard 2 and XM1 are equal in firepower and mobility, but the XM1 is superior to the German tank in terms of protection. Today we can say that this is true against cumulative threats, while against kinetic threats, the Leopard 2 is twice as superior to the M1 Abrams of the first versions (650 versus 350 mm, respectively). Its traditional multi-fuel diesel engine is more reliable and delivers similar performance with comparable fuel consumption. Although it produces more noise, the IR signature of a diesel engine is less than that of a gas turbine. The hull of the prototype 20 instead of the turret had a certain mass element that weighed the same as the turret without armor modules, excluding all performance data. After testing the hull of the Leopard 2 tank, they returned to Germany for further evaluation, and the turret 19 remained in the USA, was installed on the hull of the prototype 7, while the gun was replaced with a 120-mm Rheinmetall. During testing until March 1977, the Abrams-mounted 105 mm L7 gun, which was chosen as a result of discussions among NATO designers, saw an undeniable advantage.

Before testing began, the US selected the Chrysler XM1 prototype for full development. However, the military was still considering adapting the Leopard 2. In January 1977, Germany planned a small series with three hulls and two new turrets, which were received in 1978. These vehicles had increased frontal hull armor. In September 1977, 1800 Leopard 2 tanks were ordered, which were produced in 5 batches. The first was received on October 25, 1979. By this point, the Danish army had already abandoned the M1 tanks, because they had a high operational cost and were provided with American fuel, and ordered 445 Leopard 2 tanks on March 2, 1979. Switzerland acquired 35 tanks on August 24, 1983, and in December 1987 additionally began production under license 345 tanks. Thus, almost due to its export potential in the 1980s (the last generation tank was not presented), the Leopard 2 became very popular in the 1990s, when, due to the reduction of the German army, surplus armored vehicles were sold at a reduced price. In Europe, the popularity of the Leopard 2 is such that it is sometimes referred to as the Euro Leopard (with the exception of France, England and Italy, which produced their own MBTs). However, this tank is also popular outside of Europe.

Protection

Hull and tower German tank welded. The Leopard 2 is equipped with Chobham combined armor with high-strength brittle materials. Versions 2A5 and A6 additionally use armor modules for the frontal projection of the turret, hull and side fairings. The estimated protection of an armored vehicle against kinetic threats is for the Leopard 2A4 tank in the range of 590-690 mm of homogeneous armor steel when it hits the front surface of the turret, 600 mm of the turret slope and the lower frontal part of the hull, and for the Leopard 2A6 - 920-940 mm of the frontal surface turrets, 620 mm turret ramp and lower hull front. On the Leopard 2A4M and 2A6M tanks, an additional armor plate is installed on the bottom to protect against mines and IEDs.



All Leopards after version 2A6 include reinforced rubber side screens to protect against cumulative threats. The 2A6M tank can also be improved protection against RPG grenades by installing additional blocks of reactive armor on the hull, the detonation of which leads to defocusing of the cumulative jet or shock core.

Leopard 2A6. The lower right photo shows a modular armor element mounted on the forehead of the tower (clickable)

On most tanks, with the exception of Danish vehicles (equipped with national 6-barreled mortars), on each side of the turret there are installations with four 76-mm Wegmann smoke grenades, which can fire both single shots and a volley. Swedish tanks use French GALIX smoke systems, similar to the systems of the Leclerc tank.

The crew is protected from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. In addition, the Leopard 2 has a compression system that increases the pressure in the car to over 4 mbar (0.004 kp/cm²). The fire suppression system includes four 9 kg "Halon" fire extinguishers mounted on the right behind the driver's seat. The fire extinguishers are integrated into the system and are activated automatically by the fire extinguishing equipment when the temperature exceeds 82.22 °C, or by the driver's control panel. An additional 2.5 kg "Halon" fire extinguisher is installed on the floor under the main gun.

Armament
The main gun of the Leopard 2 tank is a 120 mm Rheinmetall smoothbore gun, either the L44 variant (found on all tanks up to the A5 version) or the L55 (on 2A6 and later models). The gun sample L55 is distinguished by an increased barrel length by 11 calibers (1320 mm). This innovation led to an increase in the initial speed and energy of the projectile. 27 shells are located in a special niche in the front section of the hull, to the left of the driver's seat, another 15 are located on the left side of the turret, and are separated from the fighting compartment by a special electric door. In the event of an ammunition fire, the panels on top are separated, and the pressure descends away from the crew. The gun is stabilized in two planes and is capable of firing various types of projectiles, including German DM-33 BOPS with a tracer that penetrate 560 mm of steel armor at a distance of 2000 m, German DM12 multi-purpose projectiles. For the L55 gun, new BOPS were introduced - DM-53, penetrating 810 mm of homogeneous steel at a distance of 2 km. The ejection device and the thermosleeve that regulates the temperature in the barrel are covered with fiberglass, and the barrel itself is chrome-plated to extend the service life. The vertical declination of the gun is +20° to -9°.


The Rheinmetall company has upgraded the Leopard 2, providing the ability to use the LAHAT ATGM with a semi-active laser head, which operate at a distance of 6000 m.

Additional armament includes two machine guns, one of which is paired with the main gun, and the second is anti-aircraft. German tank models are armed with two 7.62 mm MG-3 machine guns; the Danish version includes two 7.62 mm FN MAG machine guns, and finally the Swiss version includes 7.5 mm MG 87 machine guns. On board the Leopard 2 is 4750 machine gun rounds.

fire control system
The standard German FCS is EMES 15 with independent stabilization in two planes. The main gunner's sight is integrated with a solid-state ND-YAG (Neodymium-Yttrium-Aluminum-Germanium) laser rangefinder and a 120-element CdHgTe (cadmium-mercury-tellurium) Zeiss thermal imager, which is associated with the FCS. The eightfold FERO-Z18 auxiliary telescope is mounted coaxially for the gunner. The commander has an independent periscope, Rheinmetall/Zeiss PERI-R 17 A2. The PERI-R 17 A2 is a stabilized panoramic periscope sight that provides a 360° field of view and is designed for day/night surveillance and target acquisition. The thermal picture from the commander's periscope is fed to the monitor in the tank. Initially, the production of thermal imagers was not established and, as a temporary measure, low-light television cameras (LLLTV) were installed.

The LMS equipment provides 3 values ​​of the range to the target in 4 seconds. The data is transmitted to the computer of the fire control system and used to make decisions. Since the gunner's sight is integrated with a laser rangefinder, he can directly see the results of the calculations in digital form. The maximum range of the rangefinder is 10,000 meters with an error of 20 meters per 10 km. The LMS allows the Leopard 2 to destroy a moving target while on the move over rough terrain.

Equipment and components of the Leopard 2 tank up to version 2A4.

1. The main sight EMES with a thermal imaging channel

2. Fire control system control unit (including thermal imaging sight settings)

3. System Check Components

4. Navigation module (Includes GPS system and standard inertial system)

5. Control switches for setting the fire control system (data entry in manual mode)

6. Commander control manipulator

7. Ballistic computer / gyroscopes

8. Wind sensor

9. Reserve gunner's sight FERO

10. Electronic laser module

11. Panel for selecting the type of ammunition loader

12. Turret swivel mechanism

13. Hydraulic lift cylinder

14. Power supply for hydraulics

15. Manipulator control


EMES 15. On the 2A5 model, the protection of the sight has been increased with the introduction of two wings. The window on the left belongs to the thermal imaging channel, the narrow window on the right is the day vision channel and the laser rangefinder.

Commander's PERI R17A1 periscope sight on a Leopard 2A4 tank. It is a device for day and night vision (thermal imaging). head part The device is protected by a shield (armored cap) from splinters and equipped with a glass cleaner for cleaning the contaminated protective glass of the head.

Tank Leopard 2 PSO for urban combat conditions (modification 2A 5).

1. EMES 15 is the Leopard's main optical sight. Its function is to calculate the range to the target and point the gun.

2. Panoramic periscope sight commander PERI-R17A2 day / night vision. Combined with a thermal imaging channel.

3. Optical sight FERO-Z18 gunner mounted coaxially

4. Loader hatch

5. Commander's hatch with an observation device

6. Optical driver observation device

7. Two optical surveillance devices on the driver's hatch.

8. Coaxial machine gun 7.62 mm MG3

9. Surveillance devices of the remote weapon station FLW 200 with a machine gun of 12.7 mm caliber

Engine
The power plant is a MTU MB 873 diesel engine with a power of 1100 kW. This is a four-stroke, 12-cylinder, turbocharged, liquid-cooled engine with a displacement of 47.6 liters. The design provides for multiplicity of the installation with a flow rate of 300 liters per 100 km of highway and 500 liters when driving over rough terrain. Engine replacement can be done in the field in 15 minutes.

The Renk HSWL354 hydromechanical transmission is used, which has 4 forward and 2 reverse gears matched with a torque converter. The gearbox is fully automatic and consists of three planetary gears with disc brakes that allow you to use 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears, as well as block the clutch when you turn on 4. When driving forward at a speed of no more than 8 km / h, it is possible to immediately switch to reverse with friction elements. The use of hydrostatic transmission of the turning mechanism significantly reduces the load on the chassis and transmission and provides kinematic adjustment of the turning radius, similar to civil engineering.

The Leopard 2 tank carries 3 fuel tanks with a total capacity of 1160 liters (500 l tank in the MTO, and 700 l - 2 tanks - on the fenders). The machine is capable of a speed of 68 km / h on the highway (limited to 50 km / h in Peaceful time) and 31 km/h in reverse. The power plant and transmission are separated from the fighting compartment by a fireproof bulkhead. Recently, a new EuroPowerPack MTU MT883 engine with a power of 1210 kW was tested on the tank. The EuroPowerPack is a combination of the MTU MT883 diesel engine with the Renk HSWL 295TM five-speed automatic transmission.


Engine-transmission department. You can see two torsion bars in the center and the left side of the fuel system (two green containers). The auxiliary power unit is located in the upper right corner in the aft part of the hull (not visible in the photo).

Leopard 2 has a torsion bar suspension and a modern friction damper. The designers of the Porsche company chose a seven-support scheme for the chassis with rear drive wheels for the German tank. In addition to the torsion bar, a variant with a hydropneumatic suspension was worked out, however, due to the cost of development, the latter was abandoned. Strong monotorisons 2.1 meters long and 6.2 cm in diameter are installed across the entire width of the hull. The suspension of the Leopard road wheels (two rear and three front) are connected to double-acting friction shock absorbers, they are also equipped with hydraulic limiters of the rollers. This damping pattern is sensitive to wear and air temperature. Dual tank road wheels include steel hubs, aluminum rims and rubber tires. Their width is 700 mm, which is 40 mm more than that of the Leopard 1. With a full track roller stroke of 526 mm, its dynamic stroke is 320 mm. The drive wheels are equipped with toothed steel rims.
The guide wheels are similar to the track rollers, but they have a smaller width (600 mm). On both sides in a checkerboard pattern, rubberized, single-sided support rollers are mounted.

The tank uses tracks "Dil" 570F with rubber-metal hinges and a pitch of 184 mm. The width of the tracks has increased to 635 mm; either steel X-shaped hooks (a dozen per track) can be mounted in their grooves for driving on ice, or a pair of asphalt pads to reduce wear on the road surface. Reducing the pressure on the ground can also be provided by widening each 8-9 track. In addition, the tides of the tracks include holes for attaching spurs, which further increase the cross-country ability of the machine.

The tank can cross a ford 4 meters deep using a 1.2 m long snorkel and vertical obstacles up to a meter high without any additional preparations.

Production
In September 1977, the German Ministry of Defense decided to continue the planned production of 1,800 Leopard 2 units in five batches. Krauss-Maffei was again selected as the main manufacturer, but at this time Maschinenbau Kiel ("MaK") from Kiel was the main (45%) subcontractor. Deliveries began in 1979, and by 1982 the production of the first 380 tanks was completed: 209 from Krauss-Maffei (Chassis Nr. 10001 to 10210) and 171 from MaK (Chassis Nr. 20001 to 20172). Early models were equipped with image intensifiers, and the last 80 were equipped with new thermal imagers, which later also migrated to the first samples.

The first exporter was the Netherlands, which bought 445 tanks from July 1981 to July 1986. Later, 114 tanks (and one turret) were resold to Austria. In 2007, 80 Leopard 2s were acquired by Canada, 52 tanks by Norway and, finally, 37 units by Portugal. Sweden also bought 280 tanks, 160 of which were 2A4s of the German series, called Stridsvagn 121, as well as the latest Leopard 2A5s, called Stridsvagn 122. Spain initially bought 108 2A4s, and then licensed another 219 2A6s (Leopardo 2E), which intended to replace the first batch. From 1987 to 1993, Switzerland purchased 380 cars. A number of other countries also have Leopard 2 tanks in service, these include Poland, Denmark, Finland, Greece (licensed production of Leopard 2Hel), Turkey and Chile. Germany itself has 2125 tanks various modifications. In the 1980s, the UK was interested in Leopard 2, which, however, preferred the national development - Challenger 1. In 2003, the Australian Army considered replacing outdated Leopard 1 machines with Leopard 2, but chose the American M1A1 Abrams for this.

Combat experience

NATO-led international forces
The German contingent of troops in Kosovo has a number of Leopard 2A4 and 2A5 tanks.
International Security Assistance Force / Operation Enduring Freedom
In October 2003, Canada planned to replace its Leopard C2 and Stryker fire support fighting vehicles. However, the experience in Afghanistan and, in particular, in the operation "Medusa" forced to change the point of view of the military and keep the tanks in the state of the troops. Leopard C2 were in Kandahar in 2006, but they were almost 30 years old and had exhausted their operational life. The government decided to borrow 20 2A6 tanks and 3 reconnaissance vehicles from Germany to replenish the contingent in Afghanistan. At the end of August 2007, the tanks were delivered by air and made available to Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) troops.





During the offensive on November 2, 2007, the 2A6M tank was blown up by an improvised explosive device, but remained intact: “and became the first to test the Leopard 2A6M modification,” a Canadian officer wrote to the German media. The Chief of the General Staff of the Canadian Forces, General Rick Hillier, reported that the tank, blown up by an IED, was decommissioned, but returned to the ranks after repairs.

In October 2007, Denmark also introduced the Leopard 2A5 DK to southern Afghanistan. The tank was taken from the Jydske Dragonregiment (Jutland Dragoons Regiment) battalion, which had 3 tanks, one M113 infantry fighting vehicle, a reconnaissance vehicle and other tanks in reserve. The Danish version of the Leopard 2A5 is equipped with the Swedish Barracuda camouflage, which limits the absorption of solar radiation, which reduces the vehicle's IR signature. In addition, the tank has a traditional floor driver's seat, while the Canadian 2A6M uses the "Dynamic Safety Seat" as a protection against mines, thanks to which the driver is fixed with similar parachute belts. 6 wide straps keep it hanging in the right position. In this case, the contact of the driver with the tank hull is excluded, which reduces the impact on him of the consequences of the explosion.

In January 2008, Danish tanks stopped a Taliban flanking maneuver near the Helmand River and provided high ground fire support for Danish and British infantry. On February 26, 2008, the Danish Leopard 2 hit a landmine and damaged one track. The car under its own power returned to the camp for repairs. The first crew fatality occurred on July 25, 2008. A Danish Leopard 2A5 hit an IED in Helmand province. The car drove another 200 meters after the explosion. Three crew members, being wounded, left the tank, the driver could not be saved. In the same incident, the second tank hit a landmine, but none of the crew members were injured. Since December 7, 2008, Leopard 2 has been part of Operation Red Dagger. The vehicles received 31 ammunition to support the coalition forces during the capture of the city of Nad Ali in the western part of Helmand province. The British Ministry of Defense noted that tanks, with their accurate fire and mobility, were a decisive factor in successfully completing the combat mission.

Modifications
The mainline Leopard 2, sometimes referred to as "A0" to distinguish it from later versions, is the first variant produced. The machines were created from October 1979 to March 1982, a total of 380 units. 209 of them were built by Krauss-Maffei and 171 by MaK. The basic equipment consisted of an electro-hydraulic two-plane weapon stabilizer WNA-H22, an FCS with an RPP 1-8 diagnostic system, a laser rangefinder, a wind sensor, an EMES-15 gunner's rangefinder sight, a PERI R17 panoramic periscope sight, and an additional FERO-Z18 articulated day sight. 200 vehicles had low light cameras (PZB 200). As training models were cars with two chassis.

Leopard 2A1
Underwent minimal modification with the installation of a thermal imager on the second batch of 450 Leopard 2s, named A1; 248 from Krauss-Maffei (Chassis Nr. 10211 to 10458) and 202 from MaK (Chassis Nr. 20173 to 20347). Deliveries of the 2A1 began in March 1982 and ended in November 1983. Two of the most significant changes are the improvement of the ammunition rack, which became similar to the Abrams ammunition rack, and the redesign of the fuel filters to reduce refueling times.

The third batch consisted of 300 Leopards 2; 165 from Krauss-Maffei (Chassis Nr. 10459 to 10623) and 135 from MaK (Chassis Nr. 20375 to 20509.). Tanks 2A1 of the third batch were created from November 1983 to November 1984.

Leopard 2A2
The designation is given to machines of the first batch, improved to the standard of the second and third series. The upgrade includes replacing the PZB 200 camera with an EMES 15 thermal imager. In addition, the front fuel tanks received fillers and caps for independent refueling, a deflecting reflector was added to the periscope sight, and a large cover plate was installed to protect the existing system of protection against weapons of mass destruction (NBC). plate. Finally, the tank received a 5-meter towline with various positions. The modernization program began in 1984 and ended in 1987; tanks of the third, fourth and fifth batch during this period were produced with similar characteristics. Improved samples of the first series can be recognized by a round plate covering the hole from which the wind sensor for the FCS was removed.

Leopard 2A3
Fourth batch of 300 cars; 165 from Krauss-Maffei (Chassis Nr. 10624 to 10788) and 135 from MaK (Chassis Nr. 20510 to 20644) were delivered from December 1984 to December 1985. The main changes are the introduction of an additional SEM80/90 digital radio receiver (also installed on the Leopard 1 at the same time), and the old turret ammunition loading hatch was welded on, which was perceived as a weak point in the roof armor.

Leopard 2A4
The most common variant of the German tank at the moment is the Leopard 2A4. Among the improvements are an automatic fire extinguishing system, a fully digital fire control system, the use of new projectiles, the introduction of a new turret with flat titanium / tungsten armor.
Production of the Leopard 2 line continued from 1985 to 1992. All old modifications have been upgraded to the 2A4 standard. Until 1994, Germany had 2125 2A4 tanks (695 new, the rest were modernized), while the Netherlands had 445 vehicles in service. Model 2A4 was produced under license by Switzerland, which denoted tanks - Panzer 87 "Leopard" or Pz 87. This modification included a Swiss machine gun Mg 87 caliber 7.5 mm, communications equipment and an improved system of protection against weapons of mass destruction (NBC). Switzerland has 380 Pz 87 tanks.

At the end of the Cold War, Germany and the Netherlands found a surplus of tanks, which they sold to NATO countries or friendly armies around the world. The buyers were Austria (114), Canada (107), Chile (140), Denmark (51), Finland (124), Greece (183), Norway (52), Poland (128), Portugal (37), Singapore (96). ), Spain (108), Sweden (160) and Turkey (339).

The Swiss Leopard tank model is called Pz 87WE(Wert Erhaltung). This vehicle received increased mine protection against the Leo 2A6M tank, thicker armor on the lower frontal plate, and a turret equipped with national armor based on titanium alloy. Improved turret roof armor and upgraded smoke grenade launchers. Further innovations related to improved survivability and combat effectiveness, and included a Leo 2A5-like electric turret drive, a driver's rear-view camera, an independent gun station for the loader, and improved control systems. A new FCS "Carl Zeiss Optronix" GmbH PERI-R17A2 was installed on the tank. The remote gun station has a 12.7 mm machine gun M2 (MG64) stabilized in two planes.

Pz 87-140 is an experimental version of the Pz 87, with a 140 mm cannon and additional armor.


Leopard 2A4CHL is the Chilean version of the Leopard 2A4, which entered service with the army of this country in 2007. Improvements were made to electronics, sighting systems and information systems, which brought its networking capability to the level of the 2A6 tank. In addition, a new suspension appeared on the tank and an L55 smoothbore gun was installed. The remote gun station, located above the hatches of the driver and commander, is equipped with a 7.62-mm MG3 machine gun and an HK GMG automatic grenade launcher (caliber 40x53 mm). Leopard 2A4CHL has improved armor on the roof and sides of the turret and can be integrated into a single information network.

Leopards 2A4M CAN are in service with the Canadian Army and are a modification of the 2A4, which were sold by the Netherlands. Based on the experience of the Leopard 2 operators, the Canadian tank was specially created for the war in Afghanistan. The first 20 vehicles were sent to Afghanistan in October 2010. It was decided to replace the original L55 gun, which was intended to fight enemy tanks, with a smaller aspect ratio gun, the L44. In addition, the Afghan version of the tank received only some additional armor compared to the fully equipped Leopard 2A4M CAN tank. In the future, the protection of the vehicle increased due to the installation of modular armor similar to the Leo 2A7 +, however, the modification of the tower remained the same as in the 2A4 variant. Of the former Danish Leopards, Canada upgraded 42 tanks for training purposes (it is not known if they were upgraded to the 2A4M CAN modification) and 18 units were converted into obstacle engineering vehicles. Canada purchased 15 2A4 tanks from Germany to be converted into supply vehicles (for spare parts), and in February 2011 bought another 12 2A4/Pz 87 units from Switzerland to build armored recovery vehicles.
Leopard 2NG (NG - the next generation) in the amount of 298 units are in service with the Turkish army. They are a modernization of the Leopard 2A4 tanks with the introduction of modular composite armor (AMAP), improved optics and a new FCS developed in 1995 and delivered since the end of 2011. According to Turkish media, Finland is interested in acquiring a Turkish upgrade kit for their Leo 2A4s.

Leopard 2A5
In the mid-80s, the Krauss-Maffei company began work on the modernization of Leopard 2 tanks. The impetus was the competition for MBT for the British armed forces. Considerable attention was paid to ensuring security, a secondary role was given to firepower and mobility of armored vehicles.
In 1990, field tests of the German tank prototypes, the TVM-1 and TVM-2, began. The second copy had the most impressive changes, had better security than the TVM-1 prototype, and since 1993 became the basis for the Leopard 2A5.

On tanks 2A5, wedge-shaped armor modules are installed in the frontal projection and the front sections of the sides of the tower. Additional spaced armor is designed to detonate contact fuses of weapons, which reduces the penetrating effect when the warhead is triggered. In addition, the frontal modules serve as screens against cumulative threats.

The introduction of new protection required the placement of a gunner's sight on the roof of the turret in an armored capsule. The commander's panoramic periscope sight was installed behind the left of the commander's hatch and received an independent thermal imaging channel.

A lining appeared inside the tank to reduce the formation of fragments during armor penetration. The installation of the L55 gun required the introduction of a new brake system, which made it possible to fire more powerful ammunition, such as the DM-53 BOPS. The A5 entered service with Germany in mid-1998.

Leopard 2(S)- the Swedish version of the German 2A5, designated Strv 122. Improvements concerned the increase in the armor of the turret roof and forehead of the hull, as well as the introduction of the FCS and control systems. Externally, the Swedish tank differs from the German model in the presence of French GALIX launchers, excellent storage containers and thinner crew hatches. The Strv 122B tank is equipped with AMAP modular composite armor from IBD Deisenroth, which provides protection against RPGs and IEDs at 360 0. The width of the vehicle was 4 meters, while the weight increased by only 350 kg.

Leopard 2A5 DK- variant 2A5, but for some small changes similar to the 2A6 model. Used by the Danish army.

Leopard 2A6
It carries a 120 mm Rheinmetall smoothbore gun as its main gun. All German tank battalions of the "intervention troops", as well as the Danish ones, are equipped with the 2A6 model. Canada also purchased 20 tanks from the Netherlands in 2007.

The German modification 2A6M has increased mine protection, an electric turret drive and a number of internal changes to increase crew survivability. In the late summer of 2007, Canada borrowed 20 Leo 2A6M tanks from Germany to send them to Afghanistan.

Leopard 2A6M CAN - Canadian version of 2A6M. Behind the turret in the stern there are 2 separate black boxes, protective screens are mounted on the sides and in the stern of the turret and hull. A new air conditioning system was originally expected, but the Canadian Army announced the introduction of a communications system (connected to new antenna towers). It is expected that, as part of the unification of weapons, Canadian tanks borrowed will receive back German MG3 machine guns, while the former Danish vehicles will be left with FN MAG. Due to the fact that 20 tanks were borrowed from Germany, Canada initially did not intend to install an air conditioning system, and limited itself to only minor changes (in fact, the crew wears cooling vests, and the electric turret drive produces less heat than the hydraulic drive of the old Canadian C2 Leopards) . Borrowed German tanks are currently in service with Canada and may be further upgraded, while ex-Danish tanks are being upgraded to the German Leopard 2A6M version and will be used once the borrowed vehicles are returned. Today, Canadian tanks are in Afghanistan, have air-conditioning, and wear Saab's Barracuda camouflage, which reduces solar absorption by 50%.

Leopard 2 Hel- a derivative of the 2A6 model, which has been in service with the Greek army since 2003. "Hel" means - "Hellenic" ("Greek"). 170 vehicles were delivered to the troops from 2006 to 2009. A total of 140 tanks, delivered at the end of 2006, were built in Greece by ELBO.

Leopard 2E also a derivative of the 2A6 with increased armor protection, which is being introduced under the joint production program of the defense enterprises of Spain and Germany. The program was created in 1995 as part of the cooperation between the military ministries of both countries, and included the transfer of 108 German Leo 2A4s to the Spanish army. The use of tanks was extended until 2016, and then the tanks were sold to Spain for 15,124,014 Euros in installments over 10 years. In 1998, the Spanish government signed another contract for the purchase of 219 Leopard 2E tanks, another 16 Leopard 2ER (Bufalo) tanks to replace the lost ones, and 4 training vehicles. Santa Bárbara Sistemas was chosen as the main contractor. The program, estimated at 1939.4 million Euros, also includes comprehensive logistics, training courses for crew instructors, operation engineers, chassis, turret, guidance systems, as well as the provision of simulators for training firing. Delivery of the first batch began in 2004 and was to be completed in 2008.

Leopard 2 PSO

New model Leopard 2 PSO (To support peacekeeping operations) was created specifically for the conditions of urban combat, which are increasingly encountered in local conflicts. The tank is equipped with a remote weapon station with a 12.7 mm machine gun, has all-round armor, a bulldozer blade, a shortened barrel (L44), non-lethal weapons, close-range cameras, a searchlight and other innovations. This modification is not without similarities with the M1A2 Abrams, also equipped with a set for urban combat ("Tank Urban Survival Kit").

Leopard 2A7+
It was first shown to the public at the exhibition "Eurosatory 2010" under the label "Developed by KMW - tested and intended for the German Defense Ministry." Leopard 2A7 + was tested by the Bundeswehr under the designation UrbOb ("urban operations"). In 2012, it is planned to start work on upgrading 50 Leopard 2 tanks to the 2A7+ model.
The Leopard 2A7+ is designed for low and high intensity local conflicts. Tank protection has been increased through the use of modular armor, frontal protection of the turret and hull has been strengthened. At 360 0, protection against RPG grenades is provided, mine protection of the bottom is installed. The tank can fire programmable HEAT rounds, the MG3 turret machine gun has been replaced by the FLW 200 remote weapon station.

Leopard 2-140
In the early 1990s, the Rheinmetall company began work on the creation of a 140-mm smoothbore gun for the tank of the future. The impetus for the development was the projects of the Soviet bloc, which considered the possibility of installing 135-152 mm caliber guns on the MBT. The 140 mm gun program was the third stage of the KWS Leopard 2 modernization program. KWS 1 stage consisted in replacing the 120 mm L44 gun with a 55 caliber gun, the result of KWS 2 was the tank model 2A5 and, finally, the KWS 3 stage included the development of a 140 mm gun, automatic loader, which would lead to a reduction in crew members to 3 people. The last project provided for the lateral placement of the AZ, while the gun itself moved to the left. The autoloader was supposed to hold 32 rounds, which were located in the ammo rack in the rear of the turret. The removal of ammunition from the fighting compartment was supposed to significantly reduce the explosiveness of the tank in the event of penetration. The planned level of protection was equivalent to Leopard 2A5 or better. The command and control of the tank would be greatly improved with the introduction of the intelligent ISIS system. The KWS 3 project remained on paper, but the development of 140 mm guns continues by Rheinmetall, together with Royal Ordnance from the UK and GIAT from France. To test the capabilities of the gun, it was installed on the Leopard 2 tank. However, the vehicle was not equipped with an automatic loader, and the turret had an electro-hydraulic swivel mechanism. To balance the tank, a counterweight was placed in the rear of the turret. The tests were partly successful because the gun showed excellent penetrating action, but there were difficulties with its guidance.

Engineering and training vehicles

Bergepanzer BPz3 Buffel (Gr. Buffalo)
BPz3 - tow truck, includes a bulldozer and a crane with an integral winch. The machine is equipped with a machine gun, launchers for smoke grenades, a system of protection against weapons of mass destruction. By analogy with the tank, a 1479 hp diesel engine is installed. (1103 kW). It is in service with Germany (where the vehicle is also referred to as "Büffel or Bergepanzer 3 to save 3 tanks"), the Netherlands (is a co-developer and is called Buffel), Austria, Canada, Greece, Singapore, Spain (designated Leopard 2ER Bufalo), Sweden ( modification Bgbv 120) and Switzerland.

Panzerschnellbrucke 2
The machine, created by MAN Mobile Bridges GmbH, is a tank bridge layer based on the Leopard 2 chassis. It is used for laying a mobile bridge. Once installed, the bridge is strong enough even for a tank to move over it. The bridgelayer is in the service of Germany and the Netherlands (designated Bruglegger MLC 70).

Pionierpanzer 3 Kodiak
Combat engineering vehicle - a derivative of the Leo 2. Used by the Swiss army, and also ordered by the Danish and Swedish armies. Kodiak is equipped with a bulldozer, an excavator, a double capstan winch, and a remote weapon station. Based on the Leo 2 chassis with a superstructure at the front. The machine is designed for clearing the area (in particular, demining). The Danish version additionally has mine protection for the fighting compartment. Spain, which is currently testing one vehicle, can convert 24 Leo 2A4 tanks into Pionierpanzer 3s for its army.

Training machine (Fahrschulpanzer)
Training tank Leo 2. A soldier drives a 60-ton armored vehicle, the turret is replaced by a fixed observation cabin with front and side windows and a gun dummy. The instructor is located in the cockpit and monitors the state of the systems, two more students can also be there.

Leopard 2R
Armored demining vehicle based on Leo 2A4, developed by Patria for the Finnish army. A total of 10 cars were built. The Leopard 2R is equipped with a bulldozer blade, a mine plow and an automatic marking system.

Leopard 2L
Tank bridge layer based on the Leopard 2A4 chassis, developed by KMW and Patria for the Finnish army. In total, 10 tanks were converted into Finnish LEGUAN bridge layers.
Characteristics

Description Leopard 2A4 Leopard 2A5 Leopard 2A6/A6M
Crew:4
Engine:MTU 12-cylinder diesel engine MB 873-Ka 501, with two exhaust-driven turbochargers.
Volume:47.600 cm³, Torque (Rpm): 2.600/min
Power:1.479 hp, 1.103 kW
Transmission:Hydromechanical control, reversing and steering mechanism HSWL 354 is combined with a hydrodynamic-mechanical main brake. 4 forward, 2 reverse gears.
Suspension:The torsion shaft is connected to the track rollers and rotates together with hydraulic dampers
Length with cannon forward:9.670 mm10.970 mm
Width:3.750 mm
Height:2.990 mm3.030 mm
Clearance:540 mm
Crossed ford without preparation:1,200 mm
Crossable ford with snorkel:4,000 mm
Crossable ditch:3,000 mm
Breakable wall:1,100 mm
emptyweight:52 t57.3 t57.6 t

A6M 60.2 t
Combat weight:55.15 t59.5 tA6 59.9 t (maximum weight; 61.7 t),

A6M 62.5 t
Highway speed:68 km/h; reverse 31 km/h
Fuel tank capacity:1,160 liters (peacetime limit to 900 liters)
Fuel consumption and range:Highway: 340 l/100 km, at 340 km

Rough terrain: 530 l/100 km, at 220 km

Average: 410 l/100 km, 280 km

Static test: 12.5 l/h, 72–93 hours (with 900–1.160 liters)
Turn time (360°):10 Seconds
Armament:Rheinmetall 120 mm L44 smoothbore gun and 2 machine gunsRheinmetall 120 mm L55 smoothbore gun and 2 machine guns
Tower weight:16 t21 t
Turret rotation time (360°): 9 seconds (electric drive)

illustrations —

www.inetres.com/gp/military/cv/tank/Leopard2.html

www.primeportal.net/tanks/vojta_micek/german_leopard2a6/

www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?139218-Tank-leopard-2/page22

paralay.iboards.ru/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=964

www.panzer-modell.de/referenz/in_detail/leo2a5/leo2a5.htm

www.kotsch88.de/f_leopard2.htm

Leopard 2A6 Tower Walk Around http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/ulrich_wrede/leopard_2a6_tower

The creation of new tanks has become one of the areas of the arms race, in which the West has constantly been in an unusual for him the role of catching up. With every decade, Soviet designers created more and more advanced machines, and this could not but frighten the NATO leadership. Taking into account the proximity of Germany to the countries of the Warsaw Pact, the development of Leopard 2K was of paramount importance for its leadership, and the progress of work was personally controlled by the Minister of Defense

After the end of World War II, the world almost immediately plunged into new war- "cold". It did not differ in large casualties and destruction, manifesting itself in the huge expenditures on weapons that the parties had to bear, as well as local military conflicts. The creation of new tanks has become one of the areas of the arms race, in which the West has constantly been in an unusual for him the role of catching up. During the war years, the Soviet Union created several tank design schools and the most powerful tank production in the world, hardened in the difficult conditions of a permanent lack of resources, people and funds. The constantly changing situation at the front required the creation of ever new types of tanks with improved characteristics, and, having won the war, by the beginning of the 50s the USSR turned out to be the owner of the most numerous and most advanced tank forces in the world. With every decade, Soviet designers created more and more advanced machines, and this could not but frighten the NATO leadership.

With and without Americans

By the beginning of the 60s, some intelligence allowed the Americans to assume that the Soviet Union was actively working on the creation of a new promising tank FST (Future Soviet Tank - English “future Soviet tank”). In general, the Americans were not mistaken - in the Kharkov Design Bureau of A. A. Morozov, they were really close to completing work on the T-64. In order to design their own machine capable of withstanding the FST in a short time, the Americans proposed to the German government to combine the design and financial resources of the two states.

However, the project of the NATO main battle tank MBT-70 (Main Battle Tank 70) failed - the partners had too different approaches. The Americans wanted to install a 152-mm smoothbore gun, which also made it possible to launch Shileila anti-tank guided missiles. The Germans were of the opinion that it was enough to equip it with a 120 mm smoothbore gun firing feathered ammunition. The Americans were inclined towards a gas turbine power plant, while the Germans remained ardent supporters of tank diesel engines. In addition, due to the specifics of the European theater of operations, the German military put forward strict restrictions on the mass of future tanks. As a result, the parties spent five times more money than they intended, built one model of the tank, after which the project was frozen in 1970.

MBT-70 on display at the Tank Museum at the Aberdeen Proving Ground
Source - wikimedia.org

Apparently, the Germans initially understood that cooperation with the United States was in danger of ending in nothing, and therefore, in parallel with the MBT-70, they considered the possibility of modernizing their Leopard tanks. In addition, in 1967 they launched work on the national main tank Kampfpanzer-2, which was otherwise called the Gilded Leopard, and then the Vepr (Keiler) (after World War II, German tank builders retained the tradition of naming their vehicles after animals). Design research was based on the developments obtained in the design of the MVT-70.

By 1969, the Germans created the first two prototypes, the design and chassis of which were developed by Porshe engineers, the good old Wegmann & Co designed the towers, and Telefunken (a subsidiary of AEG Corporation) finalized the gun stabilization system of the MBT-70 tank, created by the American company Cadillac. Since 1970, the Krauss-Maffei AG Corporation, which is still the general contractor for the production of tanks, took up the assembly of prototypes.

Initially, two versions of the Vepr's armament were developed (traditional cannon and cannon-rocket), but in 1971 the second was abandoned - perhaps that is why the tank was renamed Leopard 2K in 1973. By 1974, the German industry had produced 16 hulls and 17 turrets of the new combat vehicle.


Prototype Leopard 2K - hull #15 with turret #02 and 105mm gun
Source - de.wikipedia.org

Taking into account the proximity of Germany to the countries of the Warsaw Pact, the development of Leopard 2K was of paramount importance for its leadership (the progress of work was personally controlled by Defense Minister Helmut Schmidt). For reliability, they decided to test the prototypes not only in Europe, but also overseas, so at the beginning of 1974, four tanks were sent to Canada (to the Shilo training ground) and to the USA (to the Yuma training ground). The military wanted to test the vehicles in extreme cold and extreme heat, and see how they perform in deep snow and heavy dust. Since a final decision had not yet been made on which guns to install in the turrets, two tanks were armed with 120 mm smoothbore Rh-120 L44s from Rheinmetall Berlin AG, and two more with British 105 mm rifled Royal Ordnance L7. The crews of the new tanks were manned by the military personnel of the Bundeswehr Training Center in Münster.

The tests were carried out in conjunction with the American development of the MVT-70 project, which at that time had the XM-1 index (in the future it was to become the well-known M1 Abrams tank). European and American experts compared test results and shared their impressions that were not in favor of the XM-1. The Leopard 2K performed just as well as its American competitor, with less weight, longer range and better maintainability.

Leopard II takes shape

The layout of the new tank, like that of the first "leopard", was classic - the control compartment was located in front, followed by the fighting compartment, followed by the engine-transmission compartment (hereinafter - MTO), closed with a refractory metal bulkhead.


The layout of the tank Leopard II
Source - alternathistory.org.ua

The maximum weight of the first "leopards" was originally supposed to not exceed 50 tons. To achieve this, the designers went to the weakening of the side and rear armor, hull roof and turret. The frontal armor was made multi-layer combined, giving it a large angle of inclination of 81 °, and the turret was made wedge-shaped. For additional screening of the reserved space in front of the hull, fuel tanks were placed on the fenders, and rubber screens reinforced with armor plates were installed on the sides of the hull. In addition, in order to increase mine resistance, the bottom was reinforced.

The undercarriage of the tank consisted of seven road wheels on board with an individual torsion bar suspension. For testing, two prototypes were equipped with a hydropneumatic suspension, which subsequently did not go into series due to its complexity and high cost. Friction shock absorbers of double-acting action were installed on the suspensions of three front and two rear road wheels of each side, and hydraulic stops were installed on the limiters of the rollers of these suspensions. The dynamic stroke of the tank track roller was 320 mm, and the full stroke was 526 mm.


Booking parameters of the Leopard II tank
Source - fotos.subefotos.com

The track rollers were made gable with rubber tires and removable aluminum alloy discs, the hubs were made of steel. Compared to the Leopard I tank, the diameter of the rollers has increased from 660 to 700 mm. The supporting rollers were designed as single-sided, rubber-coated and were installed in a checkerboard pattern, four per side. The guide wheels were similar in design to the track rollers, while their diameter turned out to be less than 600 mm. The drive wheels were equipped with steel removable gear rims.

The caterpillars had rubber-metal hinges and a rubberized treadmill (the track pitch was 184 mm). For driving on asphalt in the grooves of the track, rubber pads were attached using special spring latches (in the case of driving on ice, they were replaced with X-shaped steel lugs). In the tides, along the edges of the tracks, two conical holes were designed, into which pointed spur rods could be hammered to overcome short sections of heavy soils. In addition, to reduce the average specific pressure on the soil when driving on loose soil, it was envisaged to install expanders on every eighth or ninth track.

In the control compartment of the tank there was a driver's seat, shifted closer to the starboard side, a steering wheel with a hydraulic booster and other devices and devices, the main part of the ammunition and a filter-ventilation unit. The driver's seat was adjustable in height and could be installed in two positions: in combat (with the hatch closed) and in the stowed position (with the hatch open). To monitor the road, the driver was provided with three prismatic periscope viewing devices.


View of the department of management
Source: whq-forum.de

Three of the four crew members were located in the fighting compartment: tank commander, gunner (to the right of the gun) and loader (to the left). Special attention was given to armament (out of the first seventeen machines, 105-mm rifled L7s were installed in ten, and 120-mm smoothbore Rh-120s were installed in seven). The latter had a number of advantages - firstly, they were shorter, since in smooth-bore systems the projectile accelerates faster than in rifled ones. Secondly, due to the larger inner and outer diameters, the barrel of the 120-mm gun is more rigid, bending less when fired, which leads to less dispersion of projectiles when fired. In addition, in rifled guns, the barrel wears out faster and needs to be replaced more often.

The rifled L7 passed the test of long-term operation (in particular, its fighting qualities were well known thanks to the Arab-Israeli wars), and the German industry produced a large range of ammunition for it. The smooth-bore Rh-120 L44 was poorly studied by the military so far, and there were only two types of shells for it: the armor-piercing piercing feathered projectile DM23 (weight - 18.6 kg, tungsten alloy core) and the cumulative fragmentation feathered DM12 (weight - 23.2 kg). In addition, the projectile stabilizers took up to 20% of the weight, which had to be reduced by the combat charge.


Guns that were installed on the Leopard II of various modifications
Source - army-news.ru

To simplify the replacement of the barrel, its articulation with the breech was made quick-release. This made it possible to mount / dismantle the gun directly through the embrasure, without removing the turret. The ammunition load of the gun was 42 unitary charges, of which 15 were located in the turret ammunition racks, and 27 in the control compartment.

In addition to the gun, the tank was equipped with a coaxial MG3 machine gun of 7.62 mm caliber and blocks of mortars designed to set up a smoke screen. The second (anti-aircraft) machine gun could be mounted on turrets on the roof of the tower. The gunner was provided with a Zeiss periscope sight with an EMES-12 thermal imager (the first two hundred vehicles were equipped with PZB-200 thermal imagers). Two rangefinders were integrated into the sight at once, working on different principles - a laser with an accuracy of ± 5 m and a binocular stereoscopic one. The TZF-1A monocular periscope sight, similar to that mounted on the Leopard I tank, served as an auxiliary.

The designers made it possible to fire from a gun and a coaxial machine gun from the tank commander's seat - for this, a synchronization mechanism was used for the optical axis of the sight and the axis of the gun barrel. Guidance was carried out using a panoramic periscope sight PERI-R-12 with a stabilized line of sight. In addition, the engine and transmission control system was put in place of the commander, which allowed him, if necessary, to take control of the tank from the driver.

For combat at night, the tank was provided with a stationary infrared (hereinafter referred to as IR) searchlight, which was hidden behind the turret armor, as well as active IR surveillance devices. But since the IR radiation strongly unmasks the tank, tankers were recommended to use observation devices with electro-optical amplifiers, which the Leopard 2K was also equipped with. In order to conduct field tests on prototypes, fire control systems (hereinafter referred to as FCS) of two manufacturers, Carl Zeiss and AEG-Telefunken, were installed. Both systems used a Telefunken FLER-H computer.

A single quick-change unit was installed in the MTO, consisting of an engine and transmission. To advertise the tank, military observers from Germany, the USA, France and Great Britain were invited to its demonstration tests. Especially for them, the tankers demonstrated the process of replacing the power plant in field conditions(The operation took only 19 minutes).

As a power plant, the tank used a multi-fuel V-shaped twelve-cylinder four-stroke diesel engine MB 873 with an HP 1500 power. With. at 2600 rpm. It was developed by MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH (formerly Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH), which powered most Panzerwaffe vehicles during World War II.


Engine MB 873
Source - upcscavenger.com

It is curious that the designers provided for the cooling of the power plant with outboard water when the tank overcame water barriers. At the same time, the fans were turned off, the built-in valve system blocked the air intakes, and outboard water entered the radiators.

The Leopard 2K tank used RENK AG's HSWL-354/3 hydromechanical transmission with a lockable complex torque converter, a four-speed planetary gearbox and a differential double-flow steering mechanism with hydrostatic transmission. The torque converter was switched off using a lock-up clutch. The mechanical-electro-hydraulic transmission control system provided automatic gear shifting. The reverse made it possible to quickly switch from forward to reverse while the tank was still moving forward (at a speed of no more than 8 km/h).


MTO tank Leopard 2A5. Two transverse torsion bars are visible in the cutout in the bottom
Source - wikimedia.org

In addition, there were fuel tanks with a total capacity of 500 liters in the MTO, and two more tanks with a capacity of 700 liters were placed on the fenders. Electrical equipment consisted of a contactless synchronous alternator and six batteries. The generator power was 20 kW, weight - 24.6 kg. The total battery capacity was 300 Ah. The engine was started by an electric starter. To facilitate starting in winter, glow plugs installed in the engine prechambers were used, and at temperatures below -20 ° C, the engine was preheated from the heater.

MBT - second attempt

On December 11, 1974, a memorandum was signed between the United States and Germany on the creation of a new MBT (after the Americans acquired and examined the body of the prototype No. 7 in 1973). After analyzing the hostilities of the Yom Kippur War, it was decided that the tank needed to be additionally protected with spaced armor. The design weight of the vehicle was increased to 60 tons, in addition, the experimental tower No. 14 underwent changes - for its production, cellular steel armor with voids for combined armor tabs was used. A 120 mm smoothbore gun was installed in the new turret. After that, two new prototypes (No. 19 and No. 20) were ordered from German manufacturers, which received the designation Leopard 2AV, as well as three towers to them.


Leopard 2AV
Source - vnmilitaryhistory.net

In addition to the combined armor of the towers, the experimental tanks had other differences. A 105 mm L-7 rifled gun was installed on prototype No. 19, which could be easily replaced with a 120 mm gun, as well as the FCS of the American company Hughes Tool Company. In the turret of prototype #20, the FCS and the 120 mm artillery system remained German, another prototype (#21) was equipped with the EMES 13 FCS (jointly developed by Hughes and Krupp Atlas Elektronik) and the same 120 mm Rh-120 gun.

In the middle of 1976, prototype #19 was sent to the USA along with hull #20 (a cylindrical weight model was installed on it instead of a turret) and a special prototype designed for shelling. At that time, the Americans did not yet believe in the success of the 120 mm smoothbore tank gun and did not want to test it. In August, the “cargo” was delivered to the American test site, and on September 26, a cycle of comparative tests of the Leopard 2AV and XM1 began, which ended only in December.

The tests once again demonstrated to the Germans the inability of the Americans to negotiate. It all started with the fact that only an observer was allowed to be present from the German side, and all tank crews and maintenance personnel were local. Then the German representatives were outraged that the Yankees refused to install a barrel alignment (debugging) system, which was responsible for increasing the accuracy of the gun battle. The Germans knew that the L7 guns heat up quickly during firing, which increases the dispersion of projectiles, so for the Leopard 2AV they introduced a minute stoppage of firing after every tenth shot, during which adjustment was carried out (with the gunner's optical sight and a collimator mounted on the muzzle). The Americans used exactly the same guns on their tanks (which they also produced under license), but they were able to level this problem, and minute pauses did not suit them. True, the Germans, too, should not be considered unfortunate simpletons. In the process of testing, it turned out that the mock turret of the prototype No. 20 is equal to the weight of a real turret ... in which weapons are not installed. Thus, the purity of the experiment was violated.

After testing, the US military reported that the Leopard 2AV and XM1 were comparable in mobility, although the Leopards accelerated faster, developed higher speeds and had a longer power reserve. They also broke down less often than their American competitors (only supporting videos, which needed to be strengthened, caused complaints).

The firing of the prototype No. 19, as expected, turned out to be somewhat worse than that of American tanks. German experts said that they were not warned that tests on a foreign field would be carried out according to foreign rules, but no one wanted to listen to their arguments. Nevertheless, the tank's OMS (remember, American) has proven itself perfectly. American tankers were impressed by the ability to fire from the tank commander's seat, which increased the crew's responsiveness to sudden threats.

In addition, the Americans felt that the Leopard 2AV was booked worse than the XM1. When shelled with cumulative ammunition, the frontal armor of a German tank was estimated at 400 ~ 450 mm of homogeneous armor, and an American one - 450 ~ 470 mm. When shelling with armor-piercing shells, this gap increased significantly.


The integrity of the armor protection and the location of the weak zones of the tank Leopard 2A0-4 for 0-30 degrees from the longitudinal axis
Source - topwar.ru

It is curious that after the tests, the Americans returned to the Germans only the chassis of the prototypes, and the turret of tank No. 19 remained in the USA. It was installed on the hull of the prototype No. 7, which the Americans had purchased earlier, the L7 cannon in it was replaced with a 120-mm gun and firing was carried out, as a result of which it was necessary to admit that the smooth-bore artillery system significantly exceeds the rifled one in its characteristics.

Another cycle of tests aimed at creating a single NATO tank was carried out in Germany in 1977. On one of the "leopards" they installed the AGT1500 gas turbine engine of the XM-1 tank, but this power plant turned out to be too "gluttonous" and expensive, and the German side refused to install it on their car. Thus, the new MBT never came into being - each side again went its own way, and even work on the minimum unification of both machines was practically stopped.

Leopard II goes into series

In January 1977, the German military ordered another small batch of combat vehicles from industrialists. It consisted of three hulls of a promising tank with reinforced frontal armored parts and two turrets. The order was completed already in 1978, but before that time (in September 1977), the Bundeswehr finally adopted the tank under the Leopard 2A index and ordered 1800 vehicles from the general contractor (Krauss-Maffei), which were subsequently produced in eight series.

The first tanks were received by the customer on October 25, 1979, and soon the Dutch army abandoned the idea of ​​​​acquiring a new American M1 Abrams tank due to the high cost and the refusal of the Americans to rearm it with a 120-mm gun. Instead, on March 2, 1979, the Dutch signed an agreement for the supply of 445 new Leopards. In order to fulfill this order without jeopardizing the armament plan of the Bundeswehr tank forces, German industrialists had to connect another manufacturer to the assembly of Leopards 2A - Krupp Mack Maschinenbau GmbH, which was based in Kiel. Like Krauss-Maffei, its main "civilian" products were railway locomotives.

By the end of 1981, the monthly production of Leopard 2 reached twenty units, and the maximum that the Germans managed to reach was 25 tanks per month. At the same time, in the USSR, only one Nizhny Tagil "Uralvagonzavod" assembled 40-50 cars per month. By the middle of 1987, the Leopard 2 production program was fully completed (990 vehicles were assembled in Munich, 810 in Kiel), and in 1988–90 another 325 tanks were produced for the needs of the Bundeswehr, some of which were intended to replace the Leopard 1 tanks removed from service and sold to Turkey.

First base model Leopard 2A, which is sometimes referred to as "A0", in general, repeated the design of the prototype No. 20 Leopard 2AV. These tanks were produced from October 1979 to March 1982 in the first series. A total of 380 machines were produced, of which 209 were produced by Krauss Maffei and 171 by Krupp.


Leopard 2A0
Source: panzerbaer.de

per model Leopard 2А1 they installed an IR gunner's observation device, changed the design of the ammunition racks - they were unified with the American "Abrams", and the fuel filter was also redesigned to reduce the time required to refuel the tank. This model was produced in two series: the second (450 machines. 248 - Krauss-Maffei; 202 - Krupp), produced from March 1982 to November 1983; and the third (300 cars. 165 - Krauss-Maffei; 135 - Krupp), produced from November 1983 to November 1984.


Leopard 2A1
Source: panzerbaer.de

Designation Leopard 2A2 assigned to tanks of the first series, which were upgraded to the level of vehicles of the second and third series (mainly it concerned the replacement of the sight with a PZB 200 thermal imager with more modern EMES 15). In addition, the necks of the front fuel tanks have undergone changes: now they can be refueled separately. The design of periscopes, the armor of the anti-nuclear defense system, and towing cables have changed slightly. The upgraded first series can be distinguished from other tanks by a round armored plate that covers the socket of the remote headwind sensor.


Leopard 2A2
Source - umb.in.ua

The fourth series of three hundred cars (165 - Krauss-Maffei; 135 - Krupp) was produced from December 1984 to December 1985. The main change was the installation of new SEM80 / 90 digital radio stations (at the same time, the radio equipment of the Leopard 1 tanks was also replaced), improved parking brake and ammo rack. Even with such minimal differences, tanks received a separate index - Leopard 2A3.

The most numerous in the family of "leopards 2" was the model Leopard 2A4. Engineers made much more significant changes to the design of the tank than in all previous upgrades. The armor of the turret was strengthened, in which tungsten and titanium inserts appeared between the steel outer and inner layers of armor, as a result of which the mass of the vehicle increased to 55 tons. In addition, the shape of the tower changed and became more rectangular, and an improved ballistic computer was included in the tank's control system.

From 1985 to 1992, German enterprises produced three series of the new model, and the tanks of the previous series were upgraded to the 2A4 level. By 1994, Germany had 2125 Leopard 2A4 tanks at its disposal (695 vehicles of the latest model, the rest modified), another 445 vehicles were in service with the Dutch Armed Forces, 35 were bought, and then another 345 units were produced under license by Switzerland (they received the designation Panzer 87 "Leopard "Or Pz.87 for short). In this version, the German machine gun was replaced by a Swiss-made 7.5 mm MG87, in addition, an improved anti-nuclear defense system was installed on the tank.


Replacing the power plant and transmission in the Leopard 2A4 of the Austrian army
Source - upcscavenger.com

The Leopard 2A became very popular among European armies, and in the 80s it was readily acquired due to its attractive price-performance ratio. Even more willingly, various countries began to replenish their tank units with these vehicles in the 2000s, when the Bundeswehr began to sell off their extra Leopards 2, as a result of which this vehicle actually became a single European tank. After 1994, Leopard 2A4 was acquired by Canada (27), Chile (140), Denmark (51), Finland (39), Greece (183 – Leopard 2Hel), Poland (128), Singapore (96), Spain (108), Sweden (160 - leased and returned) and Turkey (354). The first "used" tanks got hold of in 1994, Sweden, and the next was Spain. In 2007, the Netherlands became the first European state to abandon tanks, having sold all its "leopards 2": 114 tanks and one tower were acquired by Austria, 80 by Canada, 52 by Norway, 37 by Portugal, 100 by Finland. The last major deal for the sale of the Leopard 2A4 was concluded by the German government in 2012 - 100 tanks of this modification were purchased by Indonesia.

Abrams vs Leopard

Historically, although the Leopard 2A was prepared to "answer" the Soviet T-64 and T-72, it had more to compete with the American M-1 Abrams. From the moment of the "collapse" of the MVT-70 project to the present day, these vehicles are constantly competing in the global armored vehicles market, as well as in military competitions.

In 1979, the Dutch government considered purchasing Abrams, but settled on Leopards. German tanks replaced the obsolete British Centurion and French AMX-13s. In 1981, when Switzerland was also choosing between German and American tanks, comparative tests were carried out at the training ground near the town of Thun, in which two tanks from each side took part. "Abrams" showed that when driving downhill they have problems with the brakes, which the "leopards" did not have. Moreover, one of the overseas tanks lost control and crashed. The Swiss did not like the low reliability of the power plant of the M1 tank, its undercarriage, as well as the too high fuel consumption of the vehicle. As a result, they settled on the German version, and in 1983 the Leopard 2 tanks began to replace the obsolete Pz.68 of the Swiss army.


Swiss version of the tank Leopard 2 Pz.87 Leo WE
Source - vtg.admin.ch

In the 80s, the UK and Saudi Arabia considered the possibility of acquiring the Leopard 2, and in both cases the same M1 Abrams was its main competitor. The export of arms to the Saudis was banned by the German government, the Americans accepted this decision with great gratitude and immediately put their tanks. The British themselves refused to purchase foreign combat vehicles, supporting the domestic manufacturer, which supplied the Royal Tank Corps with Challenger 2 tanks.

The Australian Army, although considering in 2003 the possibility of acquiring Swiss Leopard 2s to replace the Leopard 1s being withdrawn from service, bought a batch of M1A1 Abrams.

Often, “leopards” and “abrams” had to clash with each other at very popular competitions in the armed forces of NATO countries for the Canadian Army Cup (CAT - Canadian Army Trophy). These competitions were held from 1963 to 1991 and actually served as a prototype for Russian tank biathlon competitions. The winners were awarded a very prestigious challenge main prize of the competition - a silver model of the Centurion tank.

Competitions, with rare exceptions, were held once every two years at one of the German tank training grounds. In accordance with the conditions, tank crews in platoons fired from cannons at 32 targets and from a machine gun at 80 targets at ranges from 800 to 2400 m. see long range shooting. Targets appeared for 40 seconds. The competitions were held in five stages of varying complexity, for each of which a certain number of points were awarded, taking into account the speed of fire and the accuracy of hitting targets.

Usually the competition was held between two international tank teams of the Northern and Central Army Groups. The northern group was represented by the crews of the I Corps of the British Army on the Rhine, the American II Panzer Division, the German I Corps, the Dutch I Corps and the Belgian I Corps. The central group was represented by tankers from the German II and III Corps, the American V and VII Corps, and the Canadian IV Brigade.

The results of the platoons of individual national units were also recorded, and here the struggle was both for the honor of the troops of their country and for the prestige of the domestic tank industry. A big scandal in the British press occurred after the 1987 competition, when three teams of Her Majesty's Royal Tank Corps took the last places. The June 21, 1987 issue of the London Sunday Telegraph came out with the screaming headline "NATO allies shoot down new British main tanks." It was a direct blow to the prestige of the tank forces and the British tank industry in the face of Vickers. At the same competitions, for the first time, the first place was taken by the American team, which performed on the Abrams. But the Dutch and Germans took the first prizes on the Leopards 2A in 1985, 1989 and 1991, and before that (from 1965 to 1983) the prizes were exclusively from the crews competing on the Leopards 1.

Only Abrams armed with 105-mm cannons participated in CAT'87, but in 1989, American tanks equipped with 120-mm smoothbore guns, the same as the vehicles of the Dutch and German teams, arrived at the training ground for the first time.

21 platoons of the armed forces of the United States, Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany participated in CAT'89 on the basis of the Bergen-Hohe training center near Hannover. For the only time in the history of the competition, night shooting competitions were held. As a result, all the first places were taken by the crews of the "leopards", and the main prize was received by the 2nd platoon of the 41st tank battalion of the armed forces of the Netherlands. Crews from the USA were the first only in night firing. After such a failure, the Americans refused to participate in CAT'91, and there was no point in holding further competitions.


Leopard 2A4 and M1 Abrams on CAT'89
Source - mihalko-family.com

Five, six, seven

In the mid-80s, work began on the modernization of the "leopards 2" - the impetus for this was given by the unsuccessful tests of the tank in the UK, as well as the appearance of the latest T-80B tanks in the USSR. In 1988, Krauss-Maffei specialists produced a full-size all-wood mock-up, and already in 1990, testing of two prototypes of the new leopard model, TVM-1 and TVM-2, began. The latter was distinguished by enhanced armor protection, more radical modernization, and was chosen for further development. After correcting the shape of the overhead side armor, which was called the "Mannheim configuration", in 1993 the TVM-2 passed the final stage of testing and was put into service under the index Leopard 2A5.


Leopard 2А5
Source - upcscavenger.com

Modernization to the A5 level was carried out by tanks of 5-8 series, and by that time Germany had already begun to sell out cars of earlier releases. The new tank model received an innovative, easily recognizable wedge-shaped turret with add-on armor modules with built-in dynamic protection in its frontal and frontal parts. The designers provided for the possibility of replacing these modules in the field, which significantly increased the maintainability of the tank.

The design of the gun mantlet has been completely changed. In addition, engineers redesigned the driver's sliding hatch, making it heavier and more durable. The electro-hydraulic gun stabilization system was replaced with a more reliable and fireproof electric one. The recoil devices were strengthened so that in the future the gun could fire more powerful warheads (in fact, the “soil” was prepared for the installation of a 120-mm gun with a barrel length of 55 calibers). As a result of these changes, the mass of the tank increased to 59.5–62 tons, depending on the armor set.

Significant changes have undergone observation devices and electronic equipment of the tank. The commander's periscope was moved behind the hatch (he received an independent 2nd generation thermal imager), and the gunner's observation device was moved to the roof. In addition, the tank received a GPS navigation system.

Sweden has 120 Leopard 2(S) vehicles, the equipment of which is very similar to the Leopard 2A5 (in the Swedish army, these tanks received the local designation Strv. 122 (Stridsvagn 122). 29 tanks were converted from Leopard 2 Improved vehicles purchased from Germany, another 91 tanks manufactured under a leasing agreement by the Swedish company Hägglunds Vehicle.Their frontal armor, turret roof, and crew escape hatches are significantly reinforced compared to the Leopard 2A5, in addition, they received a more advanced control system.Outwardly, they can be distinguished from the Leopard 2A5 by the smoke mortars produced by the French GALIX, crew baskets and thicker hatches.


Stridsvagn 122 in SAAB BARRACUDA NETS camouflage
Source - militaryphotos.net

The Danish army uses a modification of the Leopard 2A5 DK, which in its configuration is close to the Leopard 2A6.

The main change received Leopard 2A6, was the installation of a new 120-mm Rheinmetall smoothbore tank gun with a length of 55 caliber. Today, all German "rapid reaction" tank battalions are armed with tanks of this particular modification. Of the Leopards sold by Holland, 20 tanks sold to Canada, 37 to Portugal and 100 to Finland were previously upgraded to the 2A6 level.

The upgraded version of the 2A6 - Leopard 2A6M - is a variant with improved mine protection. In the summer of 2007, Canada leased 20 tanks of this modification from Germany for combat operations in Afghanistan in order to save on logistics.

Another derivative of the 2A6 modification is the Leopard 2 Hel model (from Hellenic - Greece). The Greeks ordered these machines from Germany in 2003, when they purchased 183 Leopard 2 decommissioned by the Bundeswehr from her. Another 140 Leopard 2 Hel units were produced under license by the Greek company ELVO S.A.


Leopard 2A6 Hel
Source - upcscavenger.com

The Canadian Army uses the Leopard 2A6M CAN model, outwardly easily distinguishable by the large black boxes that are mounted on the back of the tower and anti-cumulative lattice screens - in this way the Canadians converted tanks taken from the Germans on lease. A big inconvenience for them was the impossibility of quickly installing air conditioners in the tanks, and the crews had to wear special cooling vests that pass sweat through the fabric, allowing it to quickly evaporate. Later, the Canadians nevertheless supplied their Afghan Leopards 2 with air conditioning and Saab camouflage mats, which reflect up to 50% of the sun's heat.

A derivative of the 2A6, the Leopard 2E was the result of a collaboration between Spanish and German armored vehicle manufacturers. The program started in 1995 under a cooperation agreement signed by the defense ministers of both countries. In accordance with it, Spain was the first to receive use for five years, and later acquired 108 used Leopards of the 2A4 model. On January 24, 2006, information was declassified that this purchase cost the Spanish budget 15.1 million euros, paid in ten-year installments. In 1998, the Spanish government agreed to purchase another 219 Leopard 2E line tanks, 16 Leopard 2ER (Buffalo) repair tanks and 4 training tanks.


Spanish Leopard 2E on the streets of Zaragoza
Source - upcscavenger.com

Another new variant, the Leopard 2 PSO (Peace Support Operations - support for pacification operations), is designed for fighting exclusively in urban areas. In this regard, the tank received enhanced armor around its entire perimeter, auxiliary weapons, improved surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, a dozer blade, a shortened gun barrel, non-lethal weapons, outdoor surveillance cameras, a searchlight and other devices. The equipment of this tank is very similar to the "set of additional equipment and armor that enhances combat capabilities in urban environments" that are provided by the American M1A2 Abrams.


Leopard 2 PSO
Source - w-dog.net

In February 2015, the Bundeswehr received from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (hereinafter referred to as KMW, the company changed its name after the merger with Wegmann & Co in 1999) the first main battle tank Leopard 2A7(in fact, it is a modernized version of the former Dutch Leopard 2A6NL). The history of these tanks is quite curious.

In 2013, when the withdrawal of the Western coalition troops from Afghanistan began, it was time for the Canadians to return twenty Leopard 2A6M tanks they had leased from Germany. One car was lost during the hostilities, and the rest practically exhausted their resource, and it was quite expensive to restore them to their previous state. Overseas economists in uniform decided that it would be cheaper for them to purchase 20 tanks from Holland in return, and they were returned to the Germans, having paid the due amount.

Changes to the design of the tank were made taking into account the experience of the Afghan battles. Improvements are modular in nature, that is, they may or may not be made to the design of the tank, depending on the specific requirements of the customer. The designers drastically increased the reliability of the vehicle's mine protection, and it became possible to install additional overhead elements of passive protection against hits on the tank's hull and turret. Engineers made significant improvements to the SLA, increasing the likelihood of hitting a target on the move with the first projectile. The introduction of modern display tools, network solutions and components into the FCS allows you to track the movements of friendly troops and enemy forces in real time, and round-the-clock surveillance and aiming equipment provides the crew with virtually all-round visibility from under the armor.

The introduction of the "commander's" brake into the design of the tank gave the commander the opportunity to stop the movement of the vehicle at any time. A KMW FLW 200 remote-controlled auxiliary armament module with a 12.7 mm machine gun and a 76 mm grenade launcher was installed on the tank turret.

The power plant of the tank was replaced with a new Steyr M12 TCA turbocharged diesel engine with an HP 1500 power. With. Also, the car received an additional power plant to provide electricity to electronic systems that significantly increased the power consumption, which allows you to turn off the main engine in parking lots without stopping the operation of the equipment. The fullness of the tanks of the tank and its ammunition can be controlled by the headquarters of the unit remotely in automatic mode, which simplifies the timely provision of fuel and ammunition to the crew. New means of communication allow the crew to establish contact with nearby allied infantry.


Leopard 2A7
Source - goodfon.ru

The weight of the new tank has increased to 67-70 tons (depending on configuration). After the modernization of the Canadian-Dutch batch of twenty tanks, the Germans plan to upgrade to the Leopard 2A7 level all their vehicles of the 2A6 model.

For battles in the city, KMW designers created a tank that is radically different from other models Leopard 2A7+. Like the 2A7, it uses a modular upgrade scheme, and armor, according to the designers, protects the vehicle from RPG grenades by 360°. German designers called it MBT Revolution, which translates into Russian as "Revolution Main Battle Tank". Obviously, this tank is very expensive, especially considering that it was first shown to the public back in 2010 at the Eurosatory exhibition in Paris, and after that it never entered service with either the Bundeswehr or the army of any other country in the world. In 2014, Saudi Arabia intended to buy 600-800 Leopard 2A7+ tanks from Germany and was willing to pay 18 billion euros ($25 billion) for them. In order for the German government to be more willing to make a deal with the regime, which in Germany is considered an accomplice of terrorists, the Arabs were ready to purchase equipment not directly, but from Spain. At the Spanish plant Santa Barbara, owned by the American corporation General Dynamics, the "leopards" would be assembled from kits supplied from Germany. But in April 2014, it became known that the German government once again refused to sign the contract.


Leopard 2A7+
Source - media.moddb.com

In 1990, Rheinmetall Corporation began the development of a 140 mm smoothbore gun. The reason for this was the information that in the USSR at the Leningrad Kirov Plant they created a new modification of the T-80 - an experimental tank "Object 292", equipped with a turret with a 152-mm rifled gun. In response, it was decided to install a 140-mm NPzK-140 cannon on the Leopard 2 (the project was assigned the index Leopard 2-140). This change was considered as the third modernization of the Leopard 2 (the first was the replacement of the 120-mm L44 gun with a 55-caliber gun, the second was the armor upgrade, which led to the creation of the Leopard 2A6 model). The designers developed a turret in which a new 140-mm gun and an automatic loading mechanism were installed, thanks to which the crew was reduced to three people. The final design involved moving the gun to the left side of the turret and a side loading mechanism for 32 charges, which were completely placed in its rear part. The removal of ammunition from the living half of the fighting compartment increased the likelihood of tankers surviving in the event of its detonation. The reservation of the car was planned at the level of Leopard 2A5 or even better.

To test the capabilities of the new gun, it was installed on an existing tank with a conventional turret without a loading mechanism and an electric drive. To compensate for the weight of the heavy gun, counterweights were attached to the rear of the turret. The tests were successful, the gun had amazing destructive power. The tank did not go into production, but nowadays the Swiss are leading experimental work for installing a 140-mm gun on your Pz.87.


Pz.87-140
Source - warinform.ru

Leopard II in combat

Leopards 2 first appeared in the war zone in 1999, when peacekeepers from various European countries were introduced into Kosovo. The German contingent was armed with Leopard 2A4 and 2A5 tanks, the same tanks were used by the Dutch units stationed in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since exclusively European and American aviation "worked" directly for such targets as Yugoslav military units, factories, bridges and residential buildings, it was not possible to test "leopards 2" this time.


German Leopard 2A5 in Kosovo
Source: rommelkiste.de

However, they nevertheless took part in the hostilities - so far only in Afghanistan. At the beginning of the operation, the Canadian contingent planned to get by with wheeled armored vehicles, but subsequent hostilities showed the need for tank units in Afghanistan that would effectively support infantry operations. In September 2006, during Operation Medusa in the Kandahar region, the Royal Canadian Regiment Combat Team alone lost 12 casualties, while the total casualties of the International Security Assistance Force were 28.

In December 2006, Canadian Leopard C2 tanks (the Canadian version of the modernization of the German Leopard 1 tank) were delivered to Kandahar, but by that time their age had exceeded 30 years, and the decommissioning time was approaching. The Canadian government has decided to borrow twenty Leopard 2A6M tanks from Germany to expedite their entry into Afghanistan. Already at the end of August 2007, the first tanks were airlifted to equip the Canadian tank regiment - Lord Stretcon's Cavalry.

On November 2, 2007, during the assault on the positions of the Taliban, one Leopard 2A6M was blown up by an improvised explosive device (hereinafter referred to as IED), while its crew was not injured. tank commander in email, sent to the German military functionaries, wrote: “My crew stumbled on an IED and became the first in history to test mine protection (Leopard 2 A6M). It works the way it should."


Canadian Leopard 2A6M in Afghanistan
Source - armyrecognition.com

Many sources claim that it was this tank that the Canadian contingent lost in the fighting, but the head of the Canadian Defense Forces, General Rick Hillier, categorically denies this, insisting that the vehicle was repaired and continued to be used: "Taliban clashed with some new tanksLeopard II in several ambushes and ... received some cruel lessons, as a result of which he left the battlefield ... very quickly and very battered. True, given that the Canadians left all their tanks in Afghanistan as a result, this is hardly of fundamental importance.

In October 2007, Denmark also delivered its Leopard 2A5 DK tanks to Afghanistan. The material part of the 1st battalion of the Jutland Dragoons consisted of three tanks, one American-made M113 armored personnel carrier, one armored recovery vehicle and other equipment. The Danish version of the Leopard 2A5 tank was equipped with Swedish-made Barracuda HTR camouflage mats, which shield the vehicle from heat, thereby reducing its visibility to thermal imagers and preventing the crew from overheating in desert conditions. They also mounted a more conservative version of the driver's seat, which was attached to the floor of the control compartment. In contrast, Canadian 2A6Ms were equipped with "dynamic safety seats" that were strapped to the roof of the compartment, somewhat reminiscent of a parachute. The driver was fastened to the seat with belts that covered his hips. Thus, the tanker did not come into contact with the hull of the tank, except for touching the pedals with his feet, so the probability of his defeat in the event of a mine or IED was significantly reduced.

In January 2008, Danish tanks stopped a Taliban flanking advance near the Helmand River, supporting Danish and British infantry with gunfire from their high ground position. On February 26, 2008, one of the Danish "leopards" was blown up by an IED, losing one track. None of the crew was injured, and the tank reached the base on its own.

Danish tankers suffered their first losses on July 25, 2008, when a Leopard 2A5 DK was blown up by an IED in the province of Helmand. Three crew members, despite their injuries, survived, field doctors could not save the driver. The tank was towed first to the Attal military base, then to the Armadillo base to study the damage. During the same clash, another Leopard 2A5 DK was blown up, but neither he nor his crew were injured.


Danish Leopard 2A5 DK in Afghanistan
Source - militaryarmament.tumblr.com

Since December 7, 2008, the Danish "leopards" took part in the operation "Red Dagger" and fired 31 shells, supporting the Coalition forces, which took control of the Nad-Ali region. In this case, the fire of tank guns turned out to be the decisive factor in the successful completion of the offensive.

Open sources claim that the Danish forces lost a total of three tanks in Afghanistan, but the author does not have information about where and under what circumstances the other two "leopards" were lost. In general, it can be concluded that Leopards 2 did not participate in combat clashes with enemy tanks. On the Web you can find a lot of laudatory reviews about this car, but what they are based on, in principle, is not clear. Today, the Leopard 2A is used primarily as a deterrent, constantly being upgraded. At the same time, the total number of Leopard 2s in the world is constantly decreasing, as new versions are created on the basis of repaired and reworked earlier models.

The history of the creation of the tank "Leopard-2" A5

The first Leopard 2 battle tank was handed over to the Bundeswehr on October 24, 1979. Until March 1992, 2125 vehicles were delivered to the German ground forces in four different versions. "Leopard-2" is valued by the troops for its reliability and ease of maintenance and belongs to the group of highly efficient systems.

In total, about 3,000 Leopard-2 tanks are in service with the armies of four European countries (Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden). Spain will soon be their successor. Despite the fact that some technical improvements were made during serial production, the Leopard-2 tank, in its standard configuration of most components and their design, represents the level of technology of the late 70s.

Since the mid-1980s, the analysis of the threat to the Leopard-2 tank has shown that, thanks to the upcoming developments in new ammunition technology, there is a shortage in the areas of protection and firepower of the vehicle. Additionally, known problems in the field of controllability of tank units and individual armored vehicles must be solved by installing additional and improved means of control, surveillance and communication.

The concept, focused on improving the Leopard-2 tank, provided some scope for improving the efficiency of the system. Moreover, the geometry of the main structures and the power reserve contribute to the necessary increase in combat weight and increase in external dimensions without reducing mobility.

After large-scale studies in 1988 in all areas that determine the combat effectiveness and the possibility of using a tank, the development of measures to increase its combat effectiveness was completed.

The envisaged "enhancement of combat effectiveness" (KWS) of the Leopard 2 battle tank includes phases I and II. The originally envisaged Phase III was abandoned in connection with the New Armored Platform (NGP) project.

At the same time, the measures of the second stage, which provide for an increase in firepower, are carried out in the first place. The activities of the first stage will begin to be introduced only from the year 2000.

An increase in the combat effectiveness of the Leopard-2 tank is planned by three countries: Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

At the end of the research phase in 1989, an experimental component carrier (KVT) was created on the basis of the Leopard-2 production vehicle, which showed a number of opportunities to increase combat effectiveness. With the help of it (KVT), with the participation of the school of tank troops and the group for further improvement (the former special headquarters of the ATV), extensive tests were carried out by the federal arms supply administration. The results of these tests led to the creation of samples for military testing TVM-1 and TVM-2, which externally differed slightly from each other, but their components are from different manufacturers. Both samples in 1991/1992 were subjected to tactical and rear military tests. These samples were presented in comparative trials in Sweden.

On an experimental component carrier ( KVT ) on the basis of the Leopard-2 serial vehicle in 1989, a number of possibilities for increasing combat effectiveness were shown

On both samples for military trials (TVM) in 1991/1992, tactical and rear military tests were carried out. In the foreground is TVM1 (min.) (minimum lift-off), and in the background is TVM1 (max.) (maximum lift-off). The main difference between both vehicles was that the TVM1 (max.) was equipped with an electric weapon stabilizer and a thermal imaging device for the commander, while the TVM1 (min.) had an increased efficiency hydraulic STV, and a commander's binocular sight.

The next tank "Leopard-2" was converted into a model for military testing TVM2 mod. Additional tests of this machine were carried out from August to November 1993 and from June to September 1994.

The first 225 Leopard-2A5 tanks with increased combat effectiveness (KWS) of the 1st batch and 125 vehicles of the 2nd batch were handed over to the German ground forces on September 30, 1995.

On May 15, 1996, the Dutch ground forces first received the first 180 Leopard-2A5 tanks of increased combat effectiveness, then the next 150 vehicles. Switzerland has been planning an additional conversion of 345 Leopard 2 battle tanks (tank 87) to the A5 version since around 2003.

Sweden, which has so far leased 160 Leopard 2 tanks for its mechanized brigades in standard configuration, will first acquire 120 Leopard 2 battle tanks (Stridsvagn 122) followed by another 90 vehicles. These vehicles have stronger armor and are additionally equipped with a tank information and control system.

Spain has leased 108 conventional German Leopard 2 battle tanks and intends to acquire a new Leopard 2, probably between the A5 and Stridsvagn 122 models.

Tank "Leopard-2A5" contributes to the use of new technologies and the preservation of the production capacity of tank building. To equip tank troops, tanks of the next batch are purchased (after increasing the combat effectiveness of stage I - KWS 1).

Unlike TVM2 tanks TVM1 (max.) (Fig.) and TVM1 (min.)

were equipped with additional armor on the top of the tower.

Additional tests of the TVM2 tank (mod.) took place in August - November 1993 and June - September 1994. On the body in the center above the grille of the exhaust cooling system is a small reversing video camera. The left box loaded with a camouflage net on the back of the tower is visible, as well as the head of the PERI-R17 panoramic periscope (the highest point of the machine)

Armament

The main armament of the tank is a 120 mm smoothbore gun developed by Rheinmetall. The barrel has a heat shield and an ejector made of fiberglass. The ejector is placed eccentrically to the axis of the bore to increase the angle of descent of the gun, and along the length of the barrel it is shifted closer to the breech, to the zone of higher pressures of powder gases, in order to increase the efficiency of its action.

The inner surface of the barrel tube is hardened by autofrettage. The barrel is designed for a maximum pressure of powder gases of 7100 kgf / sq. cm, although when fired, this value does not exceed 6300 kgf / sq. cm. The survivability of the barrel is at least 500 shots.

To improve the accuracy of shooting, two recoil brakes are located symmetrically on the gun. The connection of the barrel pipe with the breech is made quick in the form of a sector thread. Mounting and dismantling of the gun during repair is carried out through the embrasure of the tower, without removing the latter.

The ammunition load of the gun is 42 unitary shots with a partially burning cartridge case, of which 15 shots are located on the left in the aft niche of the tower behind an armored partition and 27 shots are in the ammunition rack to the left of the driver.

Armor-piercing sub-caliber solid-body projectiles DM23 made of tungsten alloy and multi-purpose cumulative-fragmentation projectiles DM12 are used. In 1987, the DM33 armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile with a tungsten alloy core with a diameter of 28 mm was adopted. IN last years Armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles DM53 with an initial velocity of 1,670 m/s with energyabout 11.6 MJ for standard gun L-44 ( DM-13 - DM-33 about 9.8 MJ).

After the shot, the cartridge case tray enters the cartridge case mounted on the gun and having the suction of powder gases. To remove pallets from the tank, as well as to load ammunition, a hatch is used in the left side of the turret.

Development of cores from the DM-13 projectile to the DM-53 projectile

Protection

The main element of the modernization of the Leopard-2 tank to the level of the Leopard-2 Improved tank is increased armor protection (manufactured by Clout). This improvement was first considered in 1986. The new armor will be installed on the last vehicles of the eighth production batch for the Bundeswehr (from the end of 1990), as well as on the Leopard-2 tanks already in service, all three consumers from 1994. The design of the new composite armor allows you to insert modular kits into the recesses of the hull and turret (made by Blom und Voss), with their subsequent overlapping with additional layers of armor. The front two meters of side screens consist of two layers of steel and composite armor, which are hung on hinges and folded back when transported by rail. The rear side screens are thinner and lighter and are made of composite material. The frontal part of the turret has been significantly changed in appearance due to the armor required to protect against HEAT rounds.

The improved armor of the turret significantly increased its mass, which led to the need for a more powerful gun control system. As a result, a fully electric gun and turret drive was installed, which made it possible to get rid of hydraulic pipelines. high pressure and tanks in the fighting compartment, as well as reduce noise levels and energy consumption. The wear-resistant electrical system also reduced the need for maintenance.

Brand

MBT

Country of origin

Year of acceptance into the army

B.weight, t.

Protection(mm.) **

Oud. power, hp/t.

Vav.***, km/h

from BPS

from KS

Leopard 2 A5/6

Germany

1994

62,5

1300

fire control system

To increase the ability of the tank to conduct combat operations at night, the commander's periscope device includes a thermal imaging sight, which transmits its image using electronic equipment to a monitor inside the turret. This provides the commander with the ability to observe the terrain, control the vehicle, identify and fire at targets, regardless of the gunner's thermal imaging device, even at night and in bad weather. This search-and-destroy capability means that the commander can maintain a panoramic view while the gunner is firing at the targets. If necessary, the commander can switch the video display from the gunner's device to his monitor and thus observe and control the gunner's actions.

panoramic periscope PERI-R 17 is a day and night vision device (thermal imaging), a device for observation and aiming. The head of the device is protected by a shield (armor cap) from fragments and is equipped with a glass cleaner for cleaning the contaminated protective glass of the head

Commander's place: in the upper field of the figure - the ocular part of the device PERI , top right, two of the commander's six prism observation devices. Below them, from left to right: a monitor for observation using thermal imaging devices or a rear-view video camera, a control and indication device, a navigation unit control device, and a commander's recording device.

The EMES 15 optical sight is the main sight of the tank. It serves for observation, range determination and guidance of airborne weapons. Thermal imaging device installed in

sight EMES 15, used in conjunction with elements of the eyepiece and objective (square thermal imaging window).

Right - Armored protection of the head of the main optical sight EMES 15 with closed protective flaps: the left (along the tank) flap in front of the window of the daylight branch of the device has a hole that, when the flaps are closed (for example, during artillery shelling), allows the gunner to monitor targets

Gunner's position from left to right: optical sight eyepiece FERO-Z 18, in the middle - the ocular part of the main optical sight EMES 15 (binocular), next to it is a gunner's fire control device, to the very right (only partially visible), a computer control device. Below the image fragment are: turret position indicator, main optical sight control device EMES 15 and the gunner's guidance drive control system (double gunner's handle).

Measures to improve controllability and fire control in the tower

Installation of a thermal imaging device with TIM (thermal imaging module) integrated into the modified PERI R17 commander’s device, as well as a video monitor and control device with

commander's video switch for selective observation of the image from the gunner's main optical sight EMES 15 or his own thermal imaging device,

an index pointer for the modified PERI R 17 commander's instrument for the position at "6 and 12 o'clock" (more precisely - forward or backward) in relation to the running gear / body;

equipping with a "Laser-Erstecho" selector switch on the gunner's control handle (for example, to destroy helicopters);

equipping with an electronic device to reduce the response time;

equipping with a modified indicator light device showing the gunner the installation of the sight at a distance of 1000 m in case of a range measurement error;

installation of a hybrid dual-circuit navigation system for orienteering, especially at night and in poor visibility.

Mobility characteristics

Power plant with a capacity of 1500 hp has not been improved, although it is carefully checked before installation on the Leopard-2A5 tank.

For more information about the power plant, see the material about the tank"Leopard-2A1-A4"

Features of the chassis "Leopard-2A5"

Installation of an auxiliary video device for the driver when moving backwards with a camera at the stern of the car and a video monitor by the driver;

functional and technically new protective equipment of the driver's hatch, such as a movable hatch and new prism observation devices;

the use of heavy side screens of the upper branch of the caterpillar chain and the hub cover of the road wheels made of hardened armor steel.

Two large observation devices are installed on the driver's hatch. If the device is pointing straight ahead, it can be cleaned when it becomes dirty with the cleaning unit located next to it on the left.

Opening or closing of the rectangular driver's hatch is a horizontal movement. Two prism observation devices are installed on the hatch, the third - in the front of the hull is moved to the left - forward

Dutch version of the tank "Leopard-2A5"

The Dutch version of the Leopard-2A5 tank differs from the German model in the structure of the following structural units:

Outwardly noticeable differences in:

1. Installation of six small smoke grenade launchers located in pairs one after another for launching smoke-forming substances, stronger and longer antenna rods with round tips, antenna bases in the form of a spring on special holders, a zigzag lower edge of the rear protection sheets of the upper branch of the caterpillar chain with cutouts for landing the crew, installation on the carriage of a 7.62-mm anti-aircraft machine gun of the Belgian company FN.

2. Differences inside the machine:

French radiotelephone installation type FM-9000,

driver's observation device with a video amplifier (HV-rijperiscoop) of the Netherlands company,

a 7.62-mm FN machine gun coaxial with a cannon mounted on a carriage.

Stridsvagn 122

In early 1994, the Swedish Ministry of Defense announced that it would acquire a more combat-ready version of the Leopard 2 tank for its tank brigades.

This new product with the Swedish designation "Stridsvagn 122" has the following differences in relation to the German-Dutch version:

a higher level of protection of the undercarriage, including lining inside the hull;

protection of the roof of the tower from impact from above;

modular control and information system TCCS (Tank Command and Control System), which solves the following tasks:

transmission of orders and information,

location assessment,

management using the situation applied to the electronic map,

terrain orientation,

target identification;

eye-safe laser (RAMAN laser).

Technical characteristics of the tank "Leopard-2A5" / Strv 122

Crew

4 people

Tower roof height

2.64 m

Commander's Periscope Altitude

3.00 m

Line of fire height

2.01 m

Weight

59.7 t62.0 t

Load class

MLC 70

Specific power

18.4 kW/t17.7 kW/t *

Ground pressure

8.9 N/cm2 9.4N/cm2 *

Length with barrel forward

9.97 m

Length with barrel back

8.49 m 8.77 m*

Width with track apron

3.74 m

Width without track aprons

3.55 m

Clearance

0.50 m

Track bearing surface

4.95 m

Track width

0.635 m

Efficiency parameters

Max Speed

72 km/h

Maximum reverse speed

31 km/h

Highway range

500 km

Fuel supply

1200 l

Climbing ability

Bank

Height of the overcome vertical wall

1.10 m

Ditch width

3.00 m

The depth of the overcome water barrier wade without preparation

1.00 m

Depth of the overcome water barrier on a deep ford with preparation

2.35 m

Movement under water

4.00 m

* = Strv 122

A country

Year of adoption

Number of units

Remarks

tanks

BREM - 3

Germany

1979

1995

1856

Battle tank "Leopard-2A4". Of these, 225 units. on high alert. Deliveries in 1995-1998 In others, 125 units. combat effectiveness should be increased. Deliveries 1999 - 2001

Netherlands

1982

1996

Battle tank "Leopard-2A4". Of these, first of all, 180 units. armed on the basis of the Leopard-2A5 tank. Adoption of the next 150 units.

Switzerland

1985

State of the design of the battle tank "Leopard-2A4". Swiss modification "Pz 87 Leopard".

Sweden

1995

1997

Strv 121: The Leopard 2A4 battle tank from the German ground forces was leased for 15 years.

Strv 122: new production of the Swedish version of the Leopard-2A5 battle tank. In the subsequent time, the choice of 90 units. and 17 units. BREM - 3.

Spain

1995

Battle tank "Leopard-2A4" leased from the German ground forces. It is planned to equip the Spanish ground forces with the new Leopard-2 tank. Initially planned 219 units.

States currently using the Leopard-2 tank and ARV based on it.

Fully meets the requirements of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the storage of weapons individuals. The metal cabinet has a corrosion- and wear-resistant, hygienically safe polymer powder coating based on materials made in Italy.

  • Shotgun height: 1380 mm.
  • Castle: o The gun cabinet is equipped with two certified second class three-bolt locks.
  • Protection: And made of steel 3 mm thick. The door is box-shaped for extra reinforcement. Loops - internal from steel 6 mm.
  • Internal device: sapirable (cartridge) compartment and 3 removable shelves.
    Inside the case there is a hook for storing weapons and hunting ammunition, etc.
    On the inside of the safe door there are 2 trays, a frame for storing knives, hooks for storing ramrods, keys, etc.The bottom of the safe is lined with carpet.
  • Installation:P Possibility of fastening of a weapon case to a wall is provided. It is also possible to supply a version that provides for the possibility of fastening to the floor.
  • Modifications: d Additionally, a metal cabinet can be equipped with lodgements, each of which is easily installed in the right place. There are wooden lodgements for any number of barrels, roller lodgements-clamps made in Germany and others.