German Leopard 2 A7 Main Battle Tank 1/35

The Leopard 2 A7 is a formidable third-generation German main battle tank (MBT). Developed by Krauss-Maffei in the 1970s, it entered service in 1979, replacing the earlier Leopard 1 as the primary battle tank of the West German army. Let’s dive into the details:

1. Design and Features:

   • Armor: The Leopard 2 A7 features 3rd generation composite armor, including high-hardness steel, tungsten, and plastic filler with ceramic components.
   • Main Armament: Equipped with a smoothbore 120 mm cannon made by Rheinmetall, operated via a digital fire control system, laser rangefinder, and advanced night vision and sighting equipment.
   • Engine: Powered by a V12 twin-turbo diesel engine from MTU Friedrichshafen.
   • Crew: Requires a crew of four.
   • Dimensions:
     • Length (gun forward): 9.97 meters (32.7 feet)
     • Width: 3.75 meters (12.3 feet)
     • Height: 3 meters (9.8 feet)
   • Secondary Armament: Two 7.62 mm MG3A1 machine guns or two 7.62 mm FN MAG machine guns.
   • Mobility: Maximum speed of 70 km/h (43 mph) and an operational range of approximately 280 km (170 miles) on average.

2. Development Tranches:

   • First Tranche: Includes tanks produced up to the Leopard 2A4 standard, characterized by vertically faced turret armor.
   • Second Tranche: From Leopard 2A5 onwards, features an angled, arrow-shaped turret appliqué armor along with other improvements.

3. Global Deployment:

   • The Leopard 2 continues to serve in the armed forces of Germany and 13 other European countries.
   • It’s also operated by several non-European nations, including Canada, Chile, Indonesia, and Singapore.
   • Some countries have licensed the Leopard 2 design for local production and development.

4. Recent Deployments:

   • In the 1990s, German Leopard 2 tanks participated in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo.
   • During the 2000s, Dutch, Danish, and Canadian forces deployed Leopard 2 tanks in the War in Afghanistan as part of their contribution to the International Security Assistance Force.