The m1 tusk and leopard 2a6m versions can ignore singlewarhead antitank rockets like the rpg7, and can also add belly armor kits to improve protection against ied. Nov 06, 2015 a great idea for the swedish military and all nato german made leopard 2 main battle tanks this new camouflage will make a big difference on the battle field of tomorrow. Leopard 2a6m can in afghanistan trackpadpublishing. Leopard 2 has a large turret and a common complaint in all leopard 2 kits is that the hull top sags when the turret is mounted, meaning the long turret bustle often touches down on the rear deck.
The myth surrounding canadian leopard tanks in afghanistan. Leopard 2 in afghanistan tactical lessons learned from. Kampfpanzer leopard 2 main battle tank development and german army service frank lobitz on. Canadas globe and mail newspaper reports that 80 of the 100 new leopard 2 tanks the leopard 2a4s remain in storage, over a year after the formal contract with the netherlands, 18 months after the first leopard 2a6s were shipped to afghanistan, and over 2 years after the initial agreement in principle. My particular hull has no sag, but i would advise gluing in a rectangle of 40 or 60 thou card 95 mm x 5 mm to keep it straight and help support.
Given the limitations of my knowledge and the breadth of my reference library, this list is by no means complete. Like its predecessor, the leopard 2 has seen wide use beyond germany, serving with nations as diverse as chile, indonesia and qatar, along with many european armies. The german leopard 2 was chosen to be the main tank of the new brigade. This in the field book looks at the danish leopard 2a5dk as it appeared in the desert sands of helmand province, afghanistan, from 2007 until 2014. For those who dont have volume one it is a clear background to help identify the different versions as they are in use with other nations, whilst it serves as a handy reference for those who do have. Battle tank leopard 2 2a6m afghanistan canadian forces in. Various versions have served in the armed forces of germany and 12 other european countries, as well as several noneuropean nations. The canadian leopard 2a6m can had a baptism by fire in afghanistan as soon as it entered service. This publication grants an overview on the leopard 2 today in service with no less than. Leopard 2 is the worlds first 3rd generation tank a brief explanation on tanks generations is available here, resulting from a failed joint germanus main battle tank project one that gave birth to abrams m1 too and introduced in late seventies.
Tankograd specials kampfpanzer leopard 2 leopard 2 main. The successor to the leopard 1, the leopard 2, was first produced in 1979. Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone. Later in the afghan war, more modern leopard 2 tanks were also. Leopard 2 main battle tank international service and variants. Leopard 2a6 mbt main battle tank technical data pictures. The danish leopard 2a5 is a 172 page book in a4 format, full colour, about the leopard 2a5 main battle tank in service with the danish army. This list of leopard 2 reference material was originally compiled from books in my own reference library. The leopard 2 was developed and manufactured by the german defence company kraussmaffei wegmann based on the leopard 2a5 main battle tank.
The leopard 2 is a main battle tank developed by kraussmaffei, and successor to the successful leopard 1. The reason for this was that it did not meet the requirements for a 1944. It is a main battle tank developed by kraussmaffei in the 1970s for the west german army. The leopard 2a6 is the latest generation of main battle tank from the family of german leopard. Book canadian leopard c2 mexas in afghanistan, modeler photo. Kampfpanzer leopard 2 main battle tank development and german army service. Battle tank leopard 2 2a6m afghanistan canadian forces in action pionierpanzer duration.
Cold war german swedish leopard 22a5 tank mini colour series book. Under a canadian tank replacement project for the leopard c2, twenty leopard 2a6s were leased from germany. The leopard 2 was produced for the first time in 1979 and is in service in austria, canada, chile, denmark. S, o the leopard 2 has repeatedly underlined its leading position as the most capable and most versatile main battle tank of the world.
Consideration should also be given to retaining a mixed fleet of leopard c2 and leopard 2 vehicles in the theatre until this technical issue can be resolved. A new smoothbore gun, the 120mm l55 gun, was developed by rheinmetall waffe munition of ratingen, germany to replace the shorter 120mm l44 smoothbore tankgun on the leopard 2. A 2009 tankograd book by frank lobitz kampfpanzer leopard 2. It has the same upgraded armor as the previous leopard 2a5 1987. This book came autographed by the author, warrant officer retd marvin.
New thermal sight, deflector plate for the periscope and a large coverplate to protect the existing nbc protection system. The leopard 2 was chosen over the usmade m1a1, and it was immediately decided that the leopards would be. The leopard 2 is a main battle tank developed by kraussmaffei in the early 1970s for the west german army. Although the primary focus of the book is to recount the missions given to danish tank crews in afghanistan and how they went about accomplishing them, it does. Leopard 2 main battle tank leopard 2 hauptkampfpanzer. The leopard 2 was developed by kraussmaffei in the 1970s as a successor to the leopard 1, which had been germanys front line tank since the mid 60s. Danish leopards in helmand is an important book because of the insight it provides on the condition of employment of one of the most advanced ground warfare weapon systems around today. Leopard 2 main battle tank development and german army service.
This book details the leopard c2 mexas in afghanistan during the hot summer of 2007. For a more detailed history of the c2 mexas in afghanistan, leopard clubs own fact file, lff03 leopard c2 mexas in afghanistan also written by anthony sewards is a useful companion to this book, as are lff04 leopard 1 dozer, lfff05 leopard 1 mine roller and lff06 leopard 1 mine plough. The additional leopard 2 buys totaled 27 tanks hulls. Leopard 2a6 1998 this new version of the leopard 2 was introduced in 1998 and distinguished itself by a new, long 120 mm l55 rheinmetall barrel. Another one of russias great tank designs during that period was the is 2 heavy tank, which had excellent protection and a powerful gun. Leopard hulls have been reused in a wide variety of roles. Developed in an era when heat warheads were thought to make conventional heavy armour of limited value, the leopard focused on firepower in the form of the germanbuilt version of the british l7 105mm gun, and improved crosscountry performance that was. Afghanistan theatre from 20062008, commanding both leopard 1 and leopard 2. Sorensen, kim hartvig danish leopard 2a5dk in afghanistan isbn. Trackpad publishing tp001 dutch leopard 1 english book.
Swedish military new advanced camouflage for leopard 2. Its a very universal construction with strong focus on mobility, and it has become quite. Danish army leopard 2a5 main battle tanks were deployed to afghanistan. The leopard or leopard 1 is a main battle tank designed and produced by porsche in west germany that first entered service in 1965. Canadian leopard in the mud april 14, 2016 by tankandafvnews leave a comment here is a picture of a canadian leopard 2 bogged down in some afghanistan mud. A number of minor modifications and the installation of the gunners thermal sight, new ammunition racks. Jcsp 38 pcemi 38 master of defence studies maitrise en etudes.
Even with its addon mexas armor, the 1970s vintage leopard 1s lack the allaround protection possible in the latest main battle tanks like the american m1 abrams, german leopard 2, et. Leopard 2 main battle tank international service and variants the leopard 2 has repeatedly underlined its leading position as the most capable and most versatile main battle tank of the world. The leopard 2 is a main battle tank developed by kraussmaffei in the 1970s for the west german army. The swiss announced, on 24 august 1983, that they were acquiring 210 german leopard2 tanks, after three years of testing and evaluating both the us m1 tank and the leopard2 tank. Tanks on public road in switzerland leopard 2 youtube. In october 2007, denmark also deployed leopard 2a5 dks in support of operations in southern afghanistan. Swedish military new advanced camouflage for leopard 2 main. The m1 tusk and leopard 2a6m versions can ignore singlewarhead antitank rockets like the rpg7, and can also add belly armor kits to improve protection against ied land mines. The main change was the addition of the sem8090 digital radio sets also being. This book complements the two existing trackpad books detailing the danish leopard 2. Hopefully the publisher makes such a book also about his brother, the older leopard 1 tank. A variety of upgrade programs and options are available for the leopard 2. Province afghanistan in the words of the crew members. A great idea for the swedish military and all nato german made leopard 2 main battle tanks this new camouflage will make a big difference on.
Sturmpanzerwagen a7v, vom urpanzer zum leopard 2 ww1 german. Leopard 2 main battle tank development and german army. The reason for this was that it did not meet the requirements for a 1944 vehicle. Danish army leopard 2a5dk in afghanistan bookworld. Leopard 2 main battle tank development and german army service covers the leo 2 in. This book about the leopard 2 tank is highly recommandable for military enthousiasts. The swiss announced, on 24 august 1983, that they were acquiring 210 german leopard 2 tanks, after three years of testing and evaluating both the us m1 tank and the leopard 2 tank.
All the countries which have the tank in service come along, with beautifull colour pictures of the tank in action. This book complements the two existing trackpad books detailing the danish leopard 2 danish leopards in helmand from the crews perspective, and danish leopard 2a5dk and qrf. Battle tank leopard 2 kampfpanzer leopard 2 the successor to the leopard 1, the leopard 2, was first produced in 1979. Edited from the article canadian armour in afghanistan published in canadian army journal by major trevor cadieu, secondincommand, lord strathconas horse royal canadians. Various versions have served in the armed forces of germany and twelve other european countries, as well as. The book starts with an overview of the development of the leopard 2, repeating in essence the highlights of this chapter from volume one. Kampfpanzer leopard 2 main battle tank development and. Leopard 2 tank demonstration including live fire wtd91 4k uhd. The largest german tank procurement program, with scheduled expenditure of. In 1993, it was decided to form a new deployment 4,500 man brigade called the danish international brigade. Though most people know me from my two books about the danish leopard 2 mbt 2009 and the danish tank crews and their experiences in afghanistan 2016, i also have a deep interest in the vehicles of the israeli defence force idf and the idf use of the m4 sherman family of vehicles in particular. The leopard 2 driver training tank, as the name implies, is a noncombatant leopard 2 for instructing soldiers in the finer points of handling the tank.
The turret is supplanted by a weighted and fixed observation cab with forward and sidefacing windows and a dummy gun. Tankograd specials kampfpanzer leopard 2 leopard 2 main battle tank international service and variants. The danish tank unit, drawn from the first battalion of. Jun 26, 2014 canadian leopard tanks, kandahar afghanistan. These vehicles received the added m mine armor package and other additional modifications for canadian army service, hence their new designation. The leopard 2 is a german main battle tank kampfpanzer developed by kraussmaffei in the early 1970s and first entering service in 1979. Another one of russias great tank designs during that period was the is2 heavy tank, which had excellent protection and a powerful gun. The book tells the complete development history of the danish leopard 2a5 from the initial creation of the vehicle concept to the qrf version, which served in afghanistan from november 2007 to may 2014. Jun 05, 2018 the eda project based on this idea is called optimisation of the main battle tank capability in europe with initial focus on leopard 2 ombtleo2 and its main goal is to equip eastern eu member states with modern leopard 2 tanks.
All the countries which have the tank in service come along, with beautifull. Canadian leopard 2, leopard tank afghanistan, tank stuck in mud featured articles tanks of world war ii episode 7. This paper was written by a student attending the canadian forces college in fulfilment of one of the requirements of the course of studies. Canadian leopard c2 mexas in afghanistan leopard club. The tank first entered service in 1979 and succeeded the earlier leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the german army. The eda project based on this idea is called optimisation of the main battle tank capability in europe with initial focus on leopard 2 ombtleo2 and its main goal is to equip eastern eu member states with modern leopard 2 tanks. The danish leopard 2a5 tells the story of the leopard 2a5 main battle tank in use with the danish army. Automatically, this would boost the interoperability among the different armed forces within the eu. Leopard 2 project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read. Kampfpanzer leopard 2 leopard 2 main battle tank development and german army service with 679 photographs, 97 graphics and 2 fourside 5 scale drawings on 320 pages this is the most comprehensive study on the leopard 2 mbt ever published.
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