Leopard 2 [REVIEW + SPECS] | Defence Database
  
Leopard 2 main battle tank
Posted by: Andrei Dcs

Leopard 2 is a German main battle tank (MBT) developed by Krauss-Maffei in the 1970s for the West German Army.

Designed in the 1970 by Krauss-Maffei, Leopard 2 MBT have been manufactured by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Maschinenbau Kiel starting with 1979.

Leopard 2, developed as a replacement of the Leopard 1, entered service with the West German Army in 1979.

Author: Bundeswehr-Fotos
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Since 1979, the German main battle tank has been produced in approximately 3,600 units in different variants and had great success on the export market.

In 2007, a Leopard 2A6 main battle tank, the latest model at that time, had a price per unit of US$5.74 million.

The mass of the Leopard 2 tanks depends on the variant.

Leopard 2A6 has a weight of 62.3 tonnes (68.7 short tons), an overall length of 9.97 metres (393 inches) with the gun forward, a width of 3.75 m (148 in), and a height of 3.0 m (120 in). The crew consists of four (4) persons.

Leopard 2A6 has 3rd generation composite armour which includes high-hardness steel, tungsten and plastic filler with ceramic component.

Earlier Leopard 2 tanks have a 120 mm Rheinmetall L/44 gun, while newer versions have the Rheinmetall L/55 smoothbore gun.

As secondary armament, Leopard 2 is equipped either with two 7.62 mm MG3A1 machine guns or with two 7.62 mm FN MAG machine guns with 4,750 rounds.

Leopard 2 is powered by a 1,479 hp (1,500 PS, 1,103 kW) MTU MB 873 Ka-501 liquid-cooled V12 twin-turbo diesel engine rated at 2,600 rpm coupled to a Renk HSWL 354 transmission.

It has a power-to-weight ratio of 24.1 PS/t (17.7 kW/t).

With a fuel capacity of 1,200 litres (264 imperial gallons; 317 US gallons), Leopard 2 has an operational range of 400 km (250 mi) on-road and 240 km (150 mi) off-road.

The German tank can reach a maximum speed of 68 km/h (42 mph) on road.

Leopard 2 - General Data and Specifications:
Type Main battle tank
Place of Origin West Germany
Service Period and Status 1979–present
Designer Krauss-Maffei
Designed Period 1970s
Manufacturer and Builders Krauss-Maffei Wegmann
Maschinenbau Kiel
Program & Unit Cost Unit cost
2A6: US$5.74 million (2007)
Production Period 1979–present
Number Built >3,200
Mass / Weight Empty weight:
2A6M: 60.2 t
2A6: 57.6 t
2A5: 57.3 t
2A4: 52 t

Combat weight:
2A6M: 62.5 t
2A6: 59.9 t - 61.7 t
2A5: 59.5 t
2A4: 55.15 t
Length 2A6/2A6M: 10.97 m / 393 inches (gun forward) 2A4/2A5: 9.67 m
Width 2A5/2A6/2A6M: 3.76 m / 148 in
2A4: 3.7 m
Height 2A5/2A6/2A6M: 3.030 m / 120 in
2A4: 2.79 m
Ground Clearance 540 mm / 54 cm / 0.54 m
crew 4
Fuel Capacity 1,200 litres / 264 imperial gallons / 317 US gallons
Fuel Consumption Road: ca. 340 l/100 km, ca. 340 km
Terrain: ca. 530 l/100 km, ca. 220 km
Average: ca. 410 l/100 km, ca. 280 km
Static test: 12.5 l/h, 72–93 hours (with 900–1,160 liters capacity)
Speed 68 km/h / 42 mph 31 km/h backwards
Operational Range 550 km / 340 mi (internal fuel)
Power-to-Weight Ratio 24.1 PS/t / 17.7 kW/t
Armament Main armament:
2A6/2A6M:
1 × 120 mm Rheinmetall L/55 smoothbore gun (42 rounds)
2A4/2A5:
1 × 120 mm Rheinmetall L/44 smoothbore gun

Secondary armament:
2 × 7.62 mm MG3A1 (4,750 rounds)
Turret Weight 2A5/2A6/2A6M: 21 t
2A4: 16 t
Armor 2A6: 3rd generation composite; including high-hardness steel, tungsten and plastic filler with ceramic component
Engine MTU MB 873 Ka-501 liquid-cooled V12 twin-turbo diesel engine
1,500 PS / 1,479 hp / 1,103 kW at 2,600 rpm
Transmission Renk HSWL 354
Suspension Torsion bar suspension
Vehicle Rotation Time (360 degrees) 10 seconds
Turret Rotation Time (360 degrees) 2A5/2A6/2A6M: 360° in 9 seconds (electric)
Vertical Obstacle 1,100 mm / 1.1 m
Trench Crossing 3,000 mm / 3 m
Fording Depth 1,200 mm / 1.2 m without preparation
4,000 mm / 4 m with snorkel