Krauss - Maffei Leopard 2 to 2A5 Series, Germany Krauss - Maffei Leopard 1 to 1 A3 Series,

The Germany Army is to upgrade 225 of its Leopard 2 tanks to increase battlefield surviveability. This modification work includes the retrofitting of additional special armour packages, the fitting of a new 120 mm L55 Rheinmetall gun and electric gun controls, upgrading of the sight and fire control systems to the latest state-of-the art. The upgraded version weighs 59 000 kg and is known as the

Leopard 2 (Improved).

The programme is due to start in 19 95 and finish in 1999,

The Dutch and Swiss are also due to upgrade their Leopard 2 tanks in a similar manner. The Dutch will upgrade 330 of their Leopard 2s at the same time as the Germans and the Swiss will upgrade some 300 tanks from the year 2000.

In 1995 Spain decided to manufacture the Leopard 2 (Improved) under license. A total of 200 will be built from 1998 onwards, In the meantime, 108 Leopard 2s are being leased for five years from 1995 onwards.

In 1994, following an MET competition, Sweden signed a contract to build 120 Leopard 2 (Improved) MBTs. Known as Strv 122 they will take their place alongside 160 ex-German Army Leopard 2 (Strv 121) delivered in 1994, A further 90 Leopard 2 (Improved) MBT are an option.

In 1991 deliveries of an ARV version, known as the Buffel, commenced to the German (75 vehicles) and Netherlands (25 vehicles) armies. The Buffel is fitted with the necessary rated hydraulic crane, winch, dozer blade and other equipment required to service or recover a

Leopard 2 MBT.

Buffel ARVot'the German Army recovering an MBT.

Krauss - Maffei Leopard 1 to 1A3 Series Germany

The Leopard 1 family grew out of the mid fifties agreement between France and West Germany to develop a common MET design. In Germany the programme resulted in two competing design team vehicles series with the chosen vehicle design being approved for production in 1963. Since then a number of variants have been built, these are: Leopard 1 - main production variant and armed with a Royal Ordnance 105 mm L7A3 rifled tank gun firing all NATO standard 105 mm tank gun ammunition types. The gunner has a TEM 2A stereoscopic rangefinder sight. The commander has his own TRP 2A sight. For night combat infra-red sighting and driving systems are used. There is also a dismountable white light/infra-red searchlight which can be fitted over the main gun. Leopard 1A1 - refitted Leopard 1 with gun stabilisation system, thermal gun sleeve and new running gear components. Leopard 1A1A1 -retrofitted Leopard 1A1 with special armour on turret sides and roof. Most of the vehicles are being upgraded to the Leopard 1A5 standard with a computerised fire control system and thermal imaging system for night fighting/poor visibility combat. Leopard 1A1A2 - modified Leopard 1A1A1 with LLLTV observation and sighting system. Most vehicles are being upgraded to the Leopard 1A5 standard. Leopard 1A2 - limited production model differing from Leopard 1 Al in only minor respects such as stronger turret, improved ventilation filters and the use of passive image intensifer night vision sights for the commander and driver. Leopard 1 A3 - limited production model as Leopard 1A2 model but built with new welded turret using all-round special spaced armour construction and other minor equipment modifications.

Combat support vehicles are dealt with in the Leopard 1A4 to 1A5 entry.

Specification

First prototype: 1960 First production: Germany 1965-1984 (built by Krupp-MaK and Krauss-Maffei), Italy 1974-83 (720 Leopard 1A2 license built by OTO Melara) Current users: Australia (Leopard 1A3), Belgium (Leopard 1 locally upgraded to Leopard 1A5BE), Canada (Leopard 1A3), Denmark (Leopard 1A3, now upgraded to 1A5 standard), Greece (Leopard 1A3, Leopard 1-V), Italy (Leopard 1A2, with some being upgraded to 1A5T standard), Norway (Leopard 1 locally upgraded to Leopard 1A5), Turkey (Leopard 1A1A1/1A3, Leopard IT)

Crew: 4

Combat weight: Leopard 1 40 000 kg; Leopard lAl/Leopard lAlAl/Leopard 1A1A2 41 500 kg; Leopard 1A2/ Leopard 1A3 42 400 kg Ground pressure: n/av

Length, gun forwards: 9.54 m Width (with skirts): 3.25 m

Height (without AA gun): Leopard 1 2.61 m; Leopard 1A1A1/1A1A2/1A2/1A3 2.74m

Ground clearance: 0.44 m

Max. road speed: 65 km/h Maximum range: 600 km Fording: unprepared 2.25 m Gradient: 60% Side slope: 30%

Vertical obstacle: 1.2 m Trench: 3 m

Powerpack: MTU MB 838 Ca M500 V-10 multi-fuel liquid-cooled diesel developing 830 hp coupled to a ZF 4 HP 250 transmission Armament: (main) 1 x 105 mm gun (55 rounds); (coaxial) 1 x 7.62 mm MG; (anti-aircraft) 1 x 7.62 mm MG; (smoke dischargers) 2 x4

Comparison of Leopard 1A2 (left) and Leopard 1A3 (right) MBTs.