Leopard MBT

The Leopard main battle tank, is produced by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), of Munich, Germany.

Table of contents 1 Production History 1.1 Configurations 2 General Characteristics for 2A5 3 External Links

Production History

The Leopard 1 was first produced in 1963 and is used by Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey and Australia.

The Leopard 2 was first produced in 1979 and is used by Austria, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden and Spain. Finland and Poland have purchased used German Leopard 2's and Greece has announced it intends to buy Leopard 2's.

Configurations

The Leopard 2 is found in different configurations:

Leopard 2A6

• 120mm L55 smoothbore Gun by Rheinmetall GmbH

Leopard 2A5

• 120mm L44 smoothbore Gun by Rheinmetall GmbH

Leopard 2(S) (aka Strv 122) used by the Swedish Army

• Based on the 2A5
• Has upgraded Command and Control systems and a new passive armour.

Pz87 used by Switzerland

• Indigenous machineguns abd communications.
• Improved NBC protection.

Pionierpanzer 1

• Basic combat engineering vehicle used by Germany.

Bergpanzer 2A1

• Armoured recovery vehicle used by Germany.

Gepard 1

• SPAAG variant armed with a twin 35mm turret.

General Characteristics for 2A5

• Length: 9.9 m
• Width: 3.7 m
• Height: 3 m
• Weight: 62 tons
• Speed: 70 km per hour
• Range: 550 km
• Crew: 4
• Engine: 1,500 hp

External Links

Army Technology Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank (http://www.army-technology.com/projects/leopard/index.html)