Type: Main Battle Tank
Nation: Germany / Netherlands
Period: Modern
Location: Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
Setting the standard
The Leopard 2 was developed in the 1970s as a replacement for the ageing Leopard 1. After the joint US/German MBT-70 program had been cancelled, both countries went separate ways – resulting in the M1 Abrams and the Leopard 2. The first series vehicle was handed over to the West German Bundeswehr in October 1979. The new “Leo” was the first western tank to introduce a 120 mm smoothbore gun, which today has become the standard for many modern main battle tanks such as the American M1A1/M1A2 Abrams, the French Leclerc or the latest Merkava versions from Israel. Thanks to its two-axis stabiliser and sophisticated fire control system, the Leopard 2 could (and still can) fire on the move and reliably hit moving targets – a significant advantage over potential contemporary opponents such as the Soviet T-72.
Life-extending measures
Over the decades numerous upgrades have been implemented to keep the Leopard 2 up to date and extend its service life way beyond what the tank had originally been designed for. From the A5 version onwards the distinctive wedge-shaped spaced armour was added to the turret front, the commander’s periscope was equipped with a thermal imaging module and the hydraulic gun control system was replaced with an electric one. The A6 received a longer and more potent L/55 gun and the A6M had additional mine protection features such as a belly armour plate.
Unique cooperation
This particular vehicle belongs to the Dutch-German Panzerbataillon 414. It is an A6MA3, which is a conversion with the mine protection of the A6M and several other features known from the even more modern A7V; for example additional frontal hull armour, different radios and “SPECTUS” sensor heads on the front and rear to assist the driver. Since the Dutch Koninklijke Landmacht is using the “Elias” Battlefield Management System” and the German Bundeswehr the IFIS, the 414’s tanks were modified so that they can be equipped with either system. The photos show the vehicle during a presentation at the “Tag der Bundeswehr 2023” event in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany.
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2 responses to “Leopard 2A6MA3”
[…] bogies which were much easier to repair and replace in the field. In 1979 (the same year the German Leopard 2 was introduced) the first units were equipped with the new 63-ton tank. Its combat debut would […]
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[…] This particular vehicle at the DPM is one of two remaining prototypes that can be seen in Germany; the other one is located at the Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung Koblenz. Three of the American prototypes are on display in the US. Although the ambitious MBT-70 was a failure, it was certainly not a waste of time. Based on the gathered experiences, in the 1970s the United States and West Germany independently went on to develop the very successul M1 Abrams and Leopard 2. […]
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