The German army has taken delivery of its first batch of 20 Leopard 2A7 main battle tanks, a new version which has been optimized for combat in hot and urban environments to take advantage of ISAF experience in Afghanistan. (KMW photo)
Posted on 12/15/2014 8:47:38 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
MUNICH --- To mark the handover of the first of an initial 20 LEOPARD 2 A7 tanks to the German Army, Frank Haun, Chairman of the Board of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) welcomed numerous guests from the worlds of politics, the military and business to the company's headquarters in Munich on 10 December.
Representing the Inspector General was General Lieutenant Rainer Korff, who accepted the vehicle on behalf of the German Army from Frank Haun, the Canadian Ambassador Marie Gervais-Vidricaire and President of the Army Supplies Division (BAAINBw), Harald Stein.
The LEOPARD 2 A7 is a product of collaboration between multiple NATO partners and KMW that began seven years ago. As part of the ISAF mandate, Canada decided in 2007 to borrow 20 LEOPARD 2 A6Ms with modern mine protection from the German Army. Adapted by KMW to Canadian requirements, the first LEOPARD 2 A6M CAN was available in the same year and proved itself in operation so effectively that Canada wanted to continue using it.
When it was time to return the vehicles, the country acquired surplus Dutch LEOPARD tanks that were to be converted to the design status of the loaned German vehicles. Canada and Germany agreed that, as part of this conversion work, further modifications could be made, resulting in the LEOPARD 2 A7 for the German Army.
The LEOPARD 2 A7 not only features optimised protection against asymmetrical and conventional threats, but also has significantly enhanced sustainment. An auxiliary power unit ensures that the weapon system is fully operational even without a running main engine and that turret and crew compartment are kept cool.
The LEOPARD 2 A7 is integrated into the control network via the combat troops control and weapons deployment system. For reconnaissance, it has leading edge sighting equipment. Its range of capabilities has been adapted through the option to fire fuze-programmable high explosive ammunition. This ammunition is particularly effective against bunkers and fortified positions.
Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG leads the European market for highly protected wheeled and tracked vehicles. At locations in Germany, Brazil, Greece, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the USA and Turkey some 3.200 employees develop, manufacture and support a product portfolio ranging from air-transportable, highly protected wheeled vehicles through reconnaissance, anti-aircraft and artillery systems to main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and bridgelaying systems. The armed forces of more than 30 nations worldwide rely on tactical systems by KMW.
The German army has taken delivery of its first batch of 20 Leopard 2A7 main battle tanks, a new version which has been optimized for combat in hot and urban environments to take advantage of ISAF experience in Afghanistan. (KMW photo)
The original XM1 Tank had a small hot plate with a coffee pot. That was just too damned extravagant. Modern armies don’t make bonfires anymore. Bonfires draw artillery. Our government gives money to people whose talent is producing babies but they couldn’t provide hot water for Soldiers.
How does the Leopard 2A7 main battle tank compare to the US Abrams? Is it lighter & smaller to better air transportable, equal or better armor, crew comfort? I think the US uses the same cannon. What about cost? My half-acre country needs to upgrade its arms.
Modern portable weaponry is making the tank obsolete. It’s why the U.S. has not done much tank development.
If anyone can make tanks viable in the 21st Century—it will be the Germans.
The German military of today is nothing like the Wehrmacht of yesterday. Tank warfare is becoming obsolete because the weapons systems of modern states have made them so. Tanks are this military generation’s battleship.
That’s an interesting perspective. What does an army use to take ground in modern warfare today?
I figured reactive armor would have extended the viability of something like an M1A1, since it rolls as fast as it does. Now that infantry can keep up with tanks that are that fast, I figured the tank would still be viable.
I would be highly interested in any position papers on the topic. I’m writing a fiction novel that involves a major tank battle, and I have not seen any papers that would reflect that point of view.
I think its a valid point of view - certainly more valid than it may have been 20 years ago. The TOW was all we had way back when. Now we have the Copperhead missile, and others.
Many thanks.
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