Tank "Leopard 2A7": characteristics, photo

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

In 2014, the Bundeswehr received the first Leopard 2A7 tank. This model has become the next stage in the modernization of the combat vehicle.

Manufacturer

In the late 70s of the last century, the concern Krauss-Maffei AG began serial delivery of the new Leopard 2 tank. Its creation was carried out in close cooperation with experienced German arms manufacturers. The Wegmann firm designed the tower. Porsche designed the chassis and transmission. The gun was handled by Rheinmetall. AEG Telefunken was responsible for the implementation of weapons control, surveillance and communications systems. They managed to accumulate a we alth of experience in designing heavy combat vehicles gained during the Second World War. The classic traditions of the German school of tank building were continued.

General characteristics

The car can be named soonerconservative than revolutionary. Building a tank is the art of compromise between mutually exclusive requirements. The Germans chose the convenience and reliability of operation as a priority. Perhaps the endless problems that the haste with putting the Tigers and Panthers into service led to remained firmly in their memory. "Leopard 2" has a classic layout with a rotating turret. The machine turned out to be very reliable in operation, with excellent maintainability. But most importantly, despite the conservatism of execution, over the years, the significant modernization potential inherent in this tank has manifested itself. The new modification continued its disclosure, and it does not yet feel that it has been exhausted. Many consider this the main battle tank of the Bundeswehr not only the best Western, but also the most successful tank of our time. "Leopard 2A7" is designed to support and strengthen this belief.

Engine and chassis

Unlike American and Soviet designers, Krauss-Maffei engineers did not experiment with the propulsion system. The Leopard 2 was equipped with a Mercedes-Benz diesel engine. The subsequent experience of operating the Abrams and T-80 with a gas turbine engine revealed its shortcomings, which confirmed the correctness of the choice of German tank builders. Reliability, maintainability, ease of replacement of a turbodiesel are highly appreciated by the troops. It allows you to disperse the Leopard 2A7 tank, like previous modifications, up to seventy kilometers per hour. Together with hydromechanic altransmission and automatic transmission, this gives the car excellent dynamic performance.

Armaments

Like its predecessors, the Leopard 2A7 tank is armed with a 120mm Rheinmetall cannon. In the process of upgrading the tank, the barrel length changed, which on this modification is fifty-five calibers. A smoothbore gun allows you to use different types of ammunition. For hitting armored targets, the main type is a sub-caliber projectile. Together with the gun, the ammunition was also upgraded, which received a longer striking element with perfect aerodynamics. This led to an increase in the length of the shot and a change in the breech of the gun. The projectile speed increased due to a more powerful charge and the duration of acceleration in the barrel of an elongated gun. The L55 cannon is considered the most advanced artillery system used in modern tanks in terms of armor penetration and fire accuracy.

In addition to sub-caliber ammunition, the tank can use HEAT and high-explosive fragmentation shells included in its ammunition load. The Leopard does not have cannon-launched guided missiles in its arsenal, like Russian tanks, and it lacks an automatic gun loading system. It is difficult to say whether these shortcomings devalue the perfect artillery armament of a German tank. The vehicle is also equipped with two 7.62 mm MG-3 machine guns. It was expected that the seventh modification would be equipped with a remote-controlled turret machine gun, but introops received tanks with a traditional machine-gun point.

Booking

The German tank design school has always been distinguished by increased attention to the protection of the vehicle and crew. Since the creation of a tank has always been an art of compromise, the gain in armor turned into a loss in weight, size and dynamics. The Leopard 2A7 tank, whose photo aroused interest in military circles, made it possible to realize the modernization potential inherent in the initial concept. In the new look of the vehicle, the results of strengthening the armor with multi-layer combined armor are clearly visible. The angles of inclination of the armor plates are as close as possible to acute. The total armor thickness in the most vulnerable projections exceeded one meter.

The tank is equipped with side screens, which can be reinforced with dynamic protection units. In addition to external armor, the interior of the tank is divided by armored steel partitions. The engine compartment is separated from the fighting compartment, and the ammunition rack in the rear of the turret has an armored wall that cuts it off from the habitable compartment. In the stern of the tower, there are knockout panels that divert the energy of the ammunition explosion outward. Together with the protection sectioning, this creates a fairly high level of crew safety.

Equipment

It is difficult to overestimate the combat equipment of a modern tank with information about the tactical situation, navigation, communications and firing. Today, electronic and optical equipment isthe main direction of progress in military technology. This was also reflected in the fact that the characteristics of the Leopard 2A7 tank differ significantly from the level of the first models. The perfect gun stabilization system significantly improved the accuracy and accuracy of fire, making it possible to hit the target from the first shot. Crew members are equipped with more advanced optical instruments. The tank is equipped with several thermal imagers with a high-resolution matrix, which strengthened the position in low visibility conditions. The sights of the tank commander and gunner are included in a single combat control system. She also controls the gun, equipped with a laser rangefinder and an electronic ballistic computer that takes into account the factors of wear, barrel deformation and external conditions. The crew has a navigation and communication system at their disposal, allowing the tank to be included in the network-centric battle tactics.

Comparison with the T-90

Comparison of the characteristics of tanks of potential opponents has always been the subject of discussions, reaching epic emotional intensity. Such arguments are both exciting and pointless. The tank is a combat complex used in the context of other weapons systems and in accordance with the concept of a particular army. Comparing and putting the Leopard-2A7 tank against the T-90, one can come to the conclusion that the Russian machine is more perfect. After all, the "Leopard" does not have an automatic loader, there are no long-range guided missiles. It is much heavier and more massive, which is reflected indynamics and a larger body silhouette. Despite the excellent armor, it does not have hinged dynamic protection units. The number of crew members is greater than in a Russian tank. This is all true, but only on one side. From another point of view, the Leopard 2A7 has clear advantages against the T-90. A more powerful elongated projectile and the ability to hit a target with the first shot even on the move make the tank a very dangerous enemy. The commander's excellent awareness of the tactical situation, provided by sophisticated equipment, allows a larger and heavier tank to avoid threatening situations and achieve tactical superiority. It is worth recognizing that both vehicles are the pinnacles of two tank-building schools, which embodied in them all their own intellectual and technological potential.

Application History

Despite its merits, the family of tanks, which includes the Leopard 2A7, can be called the most non-combatant tanks. Combat use was limited to operations in Afghanistan, in which they were not opposed by any enemy tanks. Nevertheless, this main battle tank forms the basis of the armored forces of Germany, Holland, Denmark and other European countries. With the collapse of the Soviet military-political bloc, it replaces Soviet-made vehicles in the states that have joined the NATO bloc.