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The Leopard 2 is a German main battle tank built by the German company Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann, developed in the early 1970s and first entering service in 1979, replacing the earlier Leopard 1 as the foremost MBT in the Bundeswehr.
Its different versions have served in the armed forces of Germany and ten other European countries.
There are two main development batches of the tank, the original models
up to Leopard 2A4 which have vertically faced turret armor, and the
"Improved" batch, namely Leopard 2A5 and newer, which have angled
arrow-shaped turret add-on armor together with a number of other
improvements. All models feature digital fire control systems with
laser range-finders, fully stabilized main gun and coaxial machinegun
and night vision equipment (first vehicles used a Low-Light Level TV
system or LLLTV, thermal imaging was introduced later on). The tank has
the ability to engage moving targets while moving over rough terrain.
It can drive through water 4 meters deep using a snorkel or 1.2 meters
without any preparation and climb vertical obstacles over 1 meter high.
The tank is powered with a turbo-charged multi-fuel V12 diesel engine
that produces 1500 horsepower and gives the vehicle a top speed of 68
km/h. The Leopard 2 was indicated by one Discovery Channel program to
be the best MBT ever, the American version featured the M1 Abrams as
such.
The most wide-spread version of the Leopard 2 family, the 2A4 models
included more substantial changes, including an automated fire and
explosion suppression system, an all-digital fire control system able
to handle new ammunition types, and improved turret with flat
titanium/tungsten armor.
* 370 vehicles Leopard 2; 190 by Krauss-Maffei (Chassis Nr. 10789
to 10979) and 180 by Mak (Chassis Nr. 20645 to 20825) were delivered
between December 1985 and March 1987.
* Although only five batches were originally ordered, another batch
of 150 Leopard 2; 83 by Krauss-Maffei (Chassis Nr. 10980 to 11062) and
67 by Mak (Chassis Nr. 20826 to 20892) was ordered in 1987. These
included new batteries and tracks, and moved the warning light so it
could be better observed by the driver when he was driving "head out".
* Yet another batch of 100 vehicles Leopard 2; 55 by Krauss-Maffei
(Chassis Nr. 11063 to 11117) and 45 by Mak (Chassis Nr. 20893 to 20937)
was delivered between May 1989 and April 1990, identical to the sixth.
A smaller batch of 75 vehicles Leopard 2; 41 by Krauss-Maffei (Chassis
Nr. 11118 to 11158) and 34 by Mak (Chassis Nr. 20938 to 20971) was
delivered until 1992.
All older models have been upgraded to the 2A4 standard.
* Sweden received 160 used examples on loan while waiting for the
120 Leopard 2(S) they ordered. The Leopard 2A4 is designated Strv121 in
Swedish service.
* Finland has bought 124 Leopard 2A4 from German Army reserve stocks.
* Poland received 128 Leopard 2A4 from German Army reserve stocks
as military assistance, only paying for the transportation costs.
* Greece has bought 183 Leopard 2A4 from German Army reserve stocks.
* Spain has been leased 108 used Leopard 2A4 by Germany; between
2005 and 2015 these will be paid for after which Spain will have full
ownership.
* Chile is now receiving initial deliveries of 118 Leopard 2A4 from Germany.
* Turkey has bought 298 used Leopard 2A4 from Germany including 10,000 rounds of DM-63 ammunition along with these tanks.
* Singapore will acquire 66 Leopard 2A4 tanks together with 30
spare tanks and supporting equipment from Germany
Leopard 2A6
General characteristics
Crew 4
Length 7.7 m
Width 3.7 m
Height 3.0 m
Weight 62 tonnesArmour and armament
Armour composite; including high-hardness steel, tungsten and plastic filler with ceramic component.
Main armament 120 mm L55 smoothbore42 rounds
Secondary armament 2×7.62 mm MG 3i4,750 rounds
Power plant MTU MB 873 12-cylinder diesel 1,500 PS (1,103 kW) Suspension torsion-bar
Road speed 72 km/h
Range 550 km
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_2
Credits:
* Image of Leopard Night firing courtesy of army-technology.com
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