Recognition Features:
* Nose slopes back under hull with 45 deg. glacis plate, then horizontal
hull, driver front right, turret center, raised engine compartment rear,
vertical hull sides and rear, exhaust grill extends full width of hull
rear
* Turret has long, sloped, pointed front, vertical sides and rear with
bustle extending over engine compartment, raised commander's cupola on
right with periscopic sight on top
* Suspension each side has seven (evenly spaced) road wheels, drive
sprocket rear, idler front and four support rollers, upper part is covered
by armored skirt
Specifications:
Crew: 4
Armament: 120 mm smooth bore main gun with 42 rounds, 7.62 mm
MG (coax) and 7.62 mm MG (AA) with 4,750 rounds
Length, hull: 7.722 meters (25'-4" *F.T.M.C.)
Width: 3.7 meters (12'-1" *F.T.M.C.)
Height, top of turret: 2.48 meters (8'-1" *F.T.M.C.)
Weight, combat: 55,150 kg (121,330 lbs. (60.7 tons) *F.T.M.C.)
Max. road speed: 72 km/hr (45 mph *F.T.M.C.)
* F.T.M.C. = For The Metrically Challenged
Development/Layout:
The base version Leopard 2 entered production in 1977 (2,125 were delivered
to the German Army through 1992, 445 delivered to Dutch Army through 1986,
Switzerland has 380 (345 built in Switzerland), Spain and Sweden also have
Leopard 2's).
The Leopard 2A5 (previously known as Leopard 2 (Improved)) offers many
improvements including additional armor over the frontal arc, new commander's
station with periscopic sight, and a TV camera mounted in the rear of the
hull for backing up the vehicle. Some Dutch and German Leopard 2's are
being upgraded to this standard, Spanish and Swedish are being built brand
new as Leopard 2A5's (the Swedish variant, the Leopard
2 Improved KWS2, has several differences from the Leopard 2A5 and is designated
the Stridsvagn 122 in Sweden).
Layout is conventional with driver right front, turret center with commander
and gunner on the right and loader on the left, engine and transmission
rear. The 120 mm smooth bore main gun is fully stabilized.
Leopard 2 variants include the Buffel ARV and a driver training vehicle
(normal turret replaced with an observation type turret). A Leopard 2 based
AVLB is being developed for the German and Dutch Armies.
The Leopard 2A6 is available, it has a longer 120 mm main gun for more
muzzle velocity and longer range.
Switzerland has fitted a 140 mm gun to a Leopard 2 for trials.
Status:
Leopard 2 in service with Austria, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Poland,
Switzerland and Sweden (Stridsvagn 121).
Leopard 2A5 in service with Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and
Sweden (Stridsvagn 122).
Produced in Germany and licensed produced in Switzerland, Sweden and
Spain.
On 20 Mar. 03 the Greek army ordered 170 new LEOPARD
2 HEL (Hellenic), to be delivered between 2006 and 2009.
In Sept. 02 Poland received some Leopard 2s from
Germany.
In March 01 the German Army took delivery of
their first Leopard 2A6s.
On 20 Feb. 01 it was announced that Norway is
preparing to purchase 52 Leopard 2A4s from the Netherlands.
|
