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To: Strategy
From Wikipedia:

"The Turkish Army received 354 Leopard 2A4s."

"Production and exports In September 1977, the German Ministry of Defence decided to go ahead with plans for the production of 1,800 Leopard 2s, to be delivered in five batches. Krauss-Maffei was again chosen as the main contractor, but this time Maschinenbau Kiel (MaK), of Kiel would be a major (45%) subcontractor. Deliveries started in 1979, and by 1982 the first batch of 380 Leopard 2; 209 by Krauss-Maffei (Chassis Nr. 10001 to 10210) and 171 by MaK (Chassis Nr. 20001 to 20172) was completed. The earliest of these were fitted with an image intensifier, the last 80 with a new thermal night-sight system, which was later retrofitted to the earlier models.

The first export customer was the Netherlands, which received 445 vehicles between July 1981 and July 1986.[7] The Netherlands later resold 114 of these (and one turret) to Austria, 80 to Canada in 2007,[8] another 52 tanks to Norway, 37 to Portugal and finally 100 to Finland. Sweden also acquired 280 Leopards, 160 2A4s from German stocks, designated Stridsvagn 121, and the rest Leopard 2(S) models (designated Stridsvagn 122) similar in configuration to the Leopard 2A5 variant. Spain first leased and later bought 108 2A4 models in the interim period before 219 license-built Leopard 2A6 models (Leopard 2E) were ready to replace them. Switzerland bought 380 between 1987 and 1993. Some countries also use versions of the tank, including Poland, Denmark, Finland, Greece (license-built Leopard 2Hel), Turkey and Chile. Germany has fielded about 2,125 Leopard 2s in various versions. The design was also tested by the UK in the 1980s, which ultimately decided on the Challenger 1. The Australian Army evaluated ex-Swiss Army Leopard 2s as a replacement for its Leopard 1 tanks in 2003 but instead selected the M1A1 Abrams."

The Ruskies have not yet developed tactics to deal with Leopard tanks? It sounds like they have had a few decades to think about it.

28 posted on 11/29/2015 7:43:23 AM PST by Sooth2222 ("In a democracy, the people get the government they deserve." - Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859))
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To: Sooth2222

Any of their long-developed strategies to deal with the Abrams will make mincemeat of the stock Leopard 2A4s. The Abrams is still reasonably survivable against many of their recent updates, per most experts, but the unupgraded 2A4 is at a severe disadvantage.

Turkey may soon have cause to regret not buying the Trophy ADS system from Israel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtMgnRMIspQ

Russia has a similar system installed on their tanks (having learned the need for them after Afghanistan and Chechnya) - Arena - and they may have even started installing the Ukranian-developed Zazlon system too.


32 posted on 11/29/2015 7:57:38 AM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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