There are few tanks that can match the power of a Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank. Capable of destroying anything on any battlefield, this tank is a force to be reckoned with.
With its state-of-the-art armor and powerful weapons system, this German tank is one of the most feared armored vehicles and is regularly upgraded to be lethal on battlefields.
The German Leopard 2 main battle tank
The Leopard 2 is a German main battle tank designed to take on the Soviet Union’s T-72 tank. The Leopard 2 was first deployed in 1979 and has seen action in several conflicts, including the Iraq War, Afghanistan, and the Syrian Civil War.
Designed and manufactured by the German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, it has been widely exported. It is currently in service in countries such as Chile, Canada, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Finland, and Singapore.
#DidYouKnow that the 🇪🇦 Army is deployed in #Latvia in the framework of @NATO @eFPBGLatvia and that its Main Battle Tank #MBT is the #Leopardo2E, a variant of the German Leopard 2, tailored to the requirements of the 🇪🇦 army?@SHAPE_NATO@NATOpress@LV_NATO
— España en la OTAN 🇪🇦 (@SpainNATO) January 9, 2020
🎥 @EjercitoTierra pic.twitter.com/dcjwCTXRO7
Nowadays, more than 3,500 Leopard 2 tanks have been produced, and it has shown its reliability in combat time and time again.
However, there are also reports of some of these tanks destroyed by irregular groups in Syria, which demystifies the claim that this tank is indestructible.
In any case, its combat performance has been exceptional. However, it has never been pushed to its limits in a conflict against well-trained groups armed with state-of-the-art weapons.
Its continuous features optimization
The Leopard 2 was the West German replacement for the Leopard 1. It was developed during the 1970s and entered service in 1979. Around 3500 have been built, and it is operated by 18 nations.
— The Tank Museum (@TankMuseum) April 21, 2021
Find out more in David Willey’s Tank Chat https://t.co/XPlzZ9rJPS pic.twitter.com/yqvbTrCdvr
The Leopard 2 has undergone several upgrades in the last decades.
The most recent version is the Leopard A2-7, which was introduced in 2014. The A2-7 is the latest in a long line of improvements that have made the Leopard 2 one of the most lethal weapons on any battlefield. However, there are only 20 A2-7s.
One of the most impressive aspects of the Leopard is its armor. The tank is equipped with composite armor that can withstand a direct hit from piercing shells. This type of armor is incredibly rare, and it makes the Leopard tank nearly impenetrable to enemy fire.
Another remarkable feature of the Leopard tank is its main gun. The 120mm smoothbore gun can fire both armor-piercing and high-explosive rounds. This allows the Leopard tank to destroy both armored vehicles and infantry targets.
The Leopard tank is also equipped with two 7.62 mm MG3A1 machine guns. These weapons allow it to engage multiple targets at once, making it one of the most versatile tanks on any battlefield.
Leopard 2 main tank specs
- In service: 1979–present
- Manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann
- Unit cost (2A7): €15 million
- Produced: 1979–present
- No. built: 3,600
- Mass: (2A6): 62.3 tons
- Length: (2A6): 9.97 meters (32.7 feet)
- Width: (2A6): 3.75 meters (12.3 feet)
- Height: (2A6): 3.0 meters (9.8 feet)
- Crew: 4
- Main armament: One 120 mm Rheinmetall smoothbore gun
- Secondary armament: 2× 7.62 mm MG3A1 or 2×7.62 mm FN MAG (4,750 rounds)
- Fuel capacity: 1,200 liters (317 gallons)
- Average operational range: 280 kilometers (170 miles)
- Maximum speed: 70 km/h (43 mph)
The Leopard 2 is a superior tank already proven on the battlefield
The Leopard tank is an incredible piece of machinery, and it is clear why it is one of the most feared tanks in the world. With its advanced armor and powerful weapons system, the Leopard tank can kill anything on any battlefield.
It has undergone so many significant upgrades to keep it relevant that we’re likely to see it in some future conflict – That way, we’ll be able to evaluate its combat performance carefully.
Feature image credit: Royal Danish Army Leopard 2 tank fires by 7th Army Training Command. Licensed under CC by 2.0.
