1/n 🧵Leopard 2 1979
- 55 t
- 9,67 x 3,7 x 2,79 m
- 4-man crew
- 1500 Hp, 12-cylinder engine, 68 kph, range 450 km
- Armour max. 800 mm, anti-mine, shaped charge protection
- 120 mm L/44, 30 HEAT+12 APDS FS-T ammo, 2 x MG 3
L2 prototype T14 below.
Photo: Darkone @ Wikipedia
2/n Leopard 2 1979 basics pt 2.
- EMES-15 targeting, fire control computer
- Gyro-stabilized turret drive system
- Stabilized optics
- Smoke dischargers
Leopard 2 Beer Test käyttäen @YouTube
3/n A1 and A2 1982-84
+ Thermal imaging device (A 2)
+ Modified commanders periscope
+ Misc small updates
A3 1984-85
+ New radio (SEM 80/90)
+ New camo paint-job
Photo: Finnish 2A4 @ Puolustusvoimat
5/n A4 1985-92
+ Digital ballistics system for fire control computer
+ Fire suppression system for crew compartment
+ Added armour plating, new batteries, tracks, skirts, etc.
Bundeswehr L2’s on manoeuvres in 1986.
Photo: Bundesarchiv @ Wikipedia
6/n A5 1992-96
+ New munition types
+ New sloped armour, shrapnel protection
+ OPHELIOS thermal imaging device
+ Electric turret drive system, emergency adjustment drive
+ Improved laser range finder
+ Hybrid navigation system
Photo: Bundeswehr-Fotos @ Wikipedia
7/n A6 2006-
+ New 120 mm L/55 main gun, penetration of 810 mm of armour from a distance of 2 km
+ More munitions available
+ Weight 60 t
Finnish 2A6.
Photo: Puolustusvoimat
8/n A6M
+ Added mine protection
+ New thermal imaging device
+ Turret fire suppression system
+ Misc small upgrades
A6MA2
+ Dutch battlefield management system
Bundeswehr 2A6M below.
Photo: powidl @ Wikipedia
9/n A7 (2014-)
+ Integrated command information system IFIS
+ Cooling system
+ DM11 ammo compatibility
+ Thermal imaging upgrade
+ Upgraded power system, controls, turret fire suppression system
- Weight 64,1 t
Bundeswehr 2A7 below.
Photo: Boevaya mashina @ Wikipedia
10/n A7+ (2014-)
+ Upgraded main gun to L/55A1 variant
+ Added crew protection, turret armour, mine protection
+ FLW 200 (.50 Cal / 40 mm grenade launcher) remote controlled weaponstation on turret
Photo by AMB Brescia @ Wikipedia
11/n Current operators pt 1
Bundeswehr (266 A6, A6M and A7)
Netherlands (18 2A6M A2 leased from GER)
Switzerland (338 Pz 87)
Sweden (120 Strv 122)
Spain (108 2A4 & 219 2A6+)
Denmark (44 2A7)
Austria (114 2A4)
Norway (36 2A4 NO)
Strv 122 below
Photo: Anders Lagerås @ Wikipedia
12/n Current operators pt 2
Finland (100 2A4 FIN & 100 2A6NL)
Poland (142 2A4 & 105 2A5, 2PL?)
Greece (183 2A4 & 170 2A6 HEL)
Turkey (354 2A4, 2A4 TR)
Chile (140 2A4 CHL)
Singapore (158 2A4 & 45 2A7)
Portugal (37 2A6)
Finnish 2A6s below.
Photo: Puolustusvoimat
13/n Current operators pt 3
Canada (42 2A4+, 20 2A4M CAN & 20 2A6M CAN)
Indonesia (103 2A4)
Qatar (62 2A7+)
Hungary (12 2A4, 2A7+44 (delivery not confirmed))
Indonesian 2A4 w/Revolution upgrade
Photo: Kostrad @ Wikipedia
14 /n General Characteristics pt 1.
- Excellent maintenance record
- APFSDS-T, HEAT, HEAT-MP-T, PELE and Canister munitions
- Use of layered armour provides adaptability
- Lifespan up to 2035
Leopard 2 engine below, note the frame with crane hook.
Photo: Sonaz @ Wikipedia.
15/n General Characteristics pt 2. ammo
APFSDS-T = Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot/w tracer
HEAT = High-explosive anti-tank
HEAT-MP-T = High explosive anti-tank, multipurpose/w tracer
PELE = Penetrator-Enhanced Lateral Effect
Canister = Close range anti-personnel
16/n General Characteristics pt 2.
- Penetration of T-62 turret at 4 km (with L/44), while T-62 needs to close to 1 km
- Excellent first fire capability stationary & on the move
- Excellent night fighting capability
Finnish 2A6 firing.
Photo: Puolustusvoimat.
17/n Notes pt 1.
- Several nation’s L2 inventories are undergoing modernisation, thus numbers fluid
- Specialist vehicles include Engineering, bridging & AA variants
Manufacturers website
kmweg.de/systeme-produk…
Photos: Puolustusvoimat
18/n Notes pt 2.
Main source - Jill Marc Münstermann - Leopard Tanks in Action: History, Variants and Combat Operations of the German Leopard 1 & 2 Main Battle Tanks (2021)
Wikipedia
Below FDF Marksman.
Photo: MKFI @ Wikipedia.
19/n
Feedback welcome, mistakes are my own. 🙂
#Freetheleopards #Tanks #StrongerTogether #StandWithUkraine
Ping @PToveri @JBelcourt73 @JorgeDe83010797 @domenpresern @BalticSnowTiger @noclador @KreusHarri @benjaminwittes @DrPaulyDeSantis @MaggieCaroline1
20/n Thanks
To @HthHans @KaMunChris @diwi28 @kaikowsky @MMaenpaa1 and the great @MriyaReport crowd!
Operational use threads will follow..
Photo: A24 © KMW
21/END
Bonus for those who managed to read till the end.
ALÜ = AUSBILDUNGSLEHRÜBUNG = training teaching exercise = once a year
ALÜ 2022: Panzerkompanie im Angriff - Leopard 2 schießt scharf - Moderat... käyttäen @YouTube
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