Thread by @CorporalFrisk

100 #Leopard1A5 is good news for #Ukraine, even if it is significantly older than the Leopard 2A6 and a (serious) step below the 2A4. It is however in some ways what Ukraine needs.

https://twitter.com/Defensie/status/1623006659940429849

The bad news is that Leopard 1 is old, and the prime example is the main armament: the legendary 105 mm Royal Ordnance L7. Once the finest tank gun of the west and fitted to a host of different tanks, it is by now (as are rifled 105 mm guns in general) outdated.

However, on the positive side, so are a lot of the potential targets on the battlefield in Ukraine. The T-62 and T-64 are roughly of the same generation, and a lot of the T-72 running around are not the latest and greatest T-72B3M, but Cold War relics.

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1608223041388945408?t=qyQublCP3a4ZgExcshNcLw&s=19

The big thing when discussing tank guns is however that ammunition is often forgotten. There are huge differences between the capabilities of individual tank rounds also when fired from the same gun. It is somewhat unclear how the 105 mm rounds will be sourced.

Countries that still operate 105 mm equipped tanks obviously have rounds in storage, and likely relatively new ones. Greece with both the Leopard 1 and M48 Patton is a good example, and they might share a few rounds even if the tanks stay where they are.

There are still modern 105 mm on offer. This includes e.g. #Nexter offering the #MECAR developed #M1060A2 APFSDS-T anti-tank round (as well as a HEAT-round). What kind of production numbers you get is anyone's guess, as is how many and what kind of rounds are left in storage.

For the stored rounds, the best widely used round for the Leopard 1A5 is the #DM63, a German license produced version of the Israeli #M426. You *might* bag a T-72B with it, but I wouldn't want to be the one to try.

Of course, the Israeli connection might be an issue, though there's unconfirmed (and I stress that word) reports the Slovenian delivery of the #M55S included the DM63 (seems likely Israel had to sign off on the M-55S considering Elbit's role, giving some support to the rumour).

However, let's not bash the L7 too much. There certainly are indications that while Ukraine currently has tanks capable of using significantly better rounds still at least at times don't have these available and has to settle for Cold War-relics.

https://twitter.com/MMaenpaa1/status/1608900913221238784?t=1Dg9yXs4K3E1qJfcfVNppQ&s=19

However, while armament and protection are dated, the #Leopard 1A5 also has some nice features. Key among these are the sensors. The Leopard 1A5 is an upgrade based around the #EMES15 sights and fire control system developed for the Leopard 2 (the 1A5-version being the #EMES18).

In tank combat, seeing the enemy first and hitting with the first round are a big plus (you will still have to get through the enemy armour, but it's a start...), so the value of these features shouldn't be underestimated.

In addition, the 1A5 has significantly lower weight compared to Leopard 2. Sure you probably would prefer the armour and 120 mm gun of the latter, but at least you'll get mobility...

...and perhaps most importantly, the 1A5 are available in nice numbers. Yes, they are old. Yes, sourcing spares and ammunition will be a headache. Yes, they will take time to get out of storage. But having tanks is better than not having tanks.