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In connection with well-known international events, the Russian information field is full of references to the German Leopard 2 tank. And sometimes you get the impression that this
Leopard 2 is a German main tank. The very first modification began to be produced in the late 70s of the last century. But now, in the media and telegram channels, it is not he who is “sucked”, but a later and improved version – “Leopard 2A4”. These machines are what we talk about when we read the news. Their German military-industrial complex produced in 1985-1987 (according to open data, a total of 695 units were produced). Tanks were and are in use by many NATO member states, but also by the Scandinavian countries.
“Leopard 2A4” is built according to the classic scheme of the rear engine with a control compartment in front. Crew – 4 people. The weight of the combat vehicle is 55 tons. The tank is equipped with a diesel multifuel V12 with a capacity of 1500 liters. Of. from MTU. And the mileage before the overhaul of armored vehicles is 10,000 km. Which is hardly feasible in the conditions of a real armed conflict – the enemy is more likely to kill him. It is curious that the entire power plant of the machine with its engine is arranged in one module. This allows it to be completely replaced even in the field in just 45 minutes.
The Leopard 2 turret is equipped with a 120-mm 44-caliber smoothbore gun – Rh-120 from Rheinmetall. It has a 7.62 mm MG3 machine gun attached to it. Another of the same is placed in the turret in front of the loader hatch. The set of ammunition for the gun is standard: armor-piercing subcaliber and fragmentation-cumulative shells. The gun can also be modified to fire anti-tank missiles.
As befits a modern tank, the Leopard 2A4 is equipped with a modern automatic fire control system: the gunner marks his video screen with a marker and pulls the trigger. And the gun automatically aims at the desired point and sends a projectile there. A thermal imager is used for targeted shots at night.
In general, in terms of combat characteristics, the Leopard 2 of the A4 generation roughly corresponds to the Soviet T-80 – not yet modernized, a model of the mid-late 80s of the last century. Despite several upgrades and really excellent frontal armor, it’s hard to call the Leopard 2A4 a superweapon.
This was evidenced by the experience of its combat use by the Turkish army in Syria in 2016. Losses then amounted to at least 10 combat vehicles of this type. At least some of these occurred as a result of hits from anti-tank missile systems. We also note that in the conditions of modern battles, any powerful and perfect tank can turn into a large useless piece of iron, while remaining on the move, with useful weapons and a supply of ammunition.
The fact is that even a stray fragment can completely disable, for example, sensors of a targeting device or a high-tech monitoring device. These gadgets must be repaired or replaced quickly to ensure the tank remains a formidable force and not an easy target even for an inexperienced grenade launcher. But only with the rapid restoration of the combat capabilities of the Leopards 2A4 in real combat conditions, far from NATO repair bases and qualified specialists, serious problems can arise …
Leopard 2 is a German main tank. The very first modification began to be produced in the late 70s of the last century. But now, in the media and telegram channels, it is not he who is “sucked”, but a later and improved version – “Leopard 2A4”. These machines are what we talk about when we read the news. Their German military-industrial complex produced in 1985-1987 (according to open data, a total of 695 units were produced). Tanks were and are in use by many NATO member states, but also by the Scandinavian countries.
“Leopard 2A4” is built according to the classic scheme of the rear engine with a control compartment in front. Crew – 4 people. The weight of the combat vehicle is 55 tons. The tank is equipped with a diesel multifuel V12 with a capacity of 1500 liters. Of. from MTU. And the mileage before the overhaul of armored vehicles is 10,000 km. Which is hardly feasible in the conditions of a real armed conflict – the enemy is more likely to kill him. It is curious that the entire power plant of the machine with its engine is arranged in one module. This allows it to be completely replaced even in the field in just 45 minutes.
The Leopard 2 turret is equipped with a 120-mm 44-caliber smoothbore gun – Rh-120 from Rheinmetall. It has a 7.62 mm MG3 machine gun attached to it. Another of the same is placed in the turret in front of the loader hatch. The set of ammunition for the gun is standard: armor-piercing subcaliber and fragmentation-cumulative shells. The gun can also be modified to fire anti-tank missiles.
As befits a modern tank, the Leopard 2A4 is equipped with a modern automatic fire control system: the gunner marks his video screen with a marker and pulls the trigger. And the gun automatically aims at the desired point and sends a projectile there. A thermal imager is used for targeted shots at night.
In general, in terms of combat characteristics, the Leopard 2 of the A4 generation roughly corresponds to the Soviet T-80 – not yet modernized, a model of the mid-late 80s of the last century. Despite several upgrades and really excellent frontal armor, it’s hard to call the Leopard 2A4 a superweapon.
This was evidenced by the experience of its combat use by the Turkish army in Syria in 2016. Losses then amounted to at least 10 combat vehicles of this type. At least some of these occurred as a result of hits from anti-tank missile systems. We also note that in the conditions of modern battles, any powerful and perfect tank can turn into a large useless piece of iron, while remaining on the move, with useful weapons and a supply of ammunition.
The fact is that even a stray fragment can completely disable, for example, sensors of a targeting device or a high-tech monitoring device. These gadgets must be repaired or replaced quickly to ensure the tank remains a formidable force and not an easy target even for an inexperienced grenade launcher. But only with the rapid restoration of the combat capabilities of the Leopards 2A4 in real combat conditions, far from NATO repair bases and qualified specialists, serious problems can arise …
Source: Avto Vzglyad
Donald Salinas is an experienced automobile journalist and writer for Div Bracket. He brings his readers the latest news and developments from the world of automobiles, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the latest trends and innovations in the automotive industry.
