Description:
The Leopard 2 is a heavyweight Main Battle Tank (MBT) designed to replace Leopard 1 in the German Army countering the soviet-made T-72. The Leopard 2 features high mobility, protection, improved survivability over previous main battle tanks and a 120mm smoothbore gun. More than 3,000 Leopard 2 have been produced to date for 11 European nations. Due to this fact the Leopard is truly called the Euro Leopard 2.
The Leopard 2 main battle tank is the result of cooperation between Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall. As the proven Leopard 1 technology follow-on, the Leopard 2 features high availability and low life cycle costs. It can operate day/night and in all-weather conditions.
The Leopard 2 modular design clears the way for rapid and easy modernization and upgrading programs. It was deployed for the first time in the 1990s during the former Yugoslavia conflict. It has not been involved in military campaigns, like the M1 Abrams and the British Challenger, but it is considered as one of the best main battle tanks currently in service.
The Leopard 2 A6 is an improved Leopard 2 A5 through the addition of a L55 120mm smoothbore gun (55 calibers long). The new gun provides superior firepower enabling the Leopard 2 A6 to destroy tanks protected with improved heavy armor and to engage targets at longer ranges. The L55 gun will also be able to employ new ammunition and to penetrate heavier armors.
Germany and the Netherlands are upgrading their Leopards to the A6 configuration. Leopard 2 provided to Spain and Greece (Leopard 2 HEL) will be A6 or A6-based models.
The Leopard 2 A6M, also known as Leo 2 A6M or MBT 122M in Sweden, is an improved of Leopard 2 A6 Main Battle Tank featuring additional mine protection for Leopard 2 crew against anti-tank mines. The first Leo 2 A6Ms are scheduled for delivery to the German and Swedish armies in July 2004. The Leopard 2 tanks with additional mine protection will be provided from existing Leopard 2 and MBT 122, Leopard 2 Swedish designation, tanks.
On July 7, 2004, the first mine-protected Leopard A6M were handed over to German and Swedish Armies at Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMG) facilities in Munich, Germany. KMG will supply the retrofit kits to Swedish industry, while Germany's Leopard 2 tanks will be upgraded to the A6M standard locally by KMG. The retrofit kit includes add-on armor, new seat system and re-stowage arrangements.
Specifications Accommodation: Crew 4
Guns: Main Gun Caliber 120 mm
Dimensions: Height 3 m, Length 11 m, Width 3.8 m
Weights: Max Weight 63,500 kg (139,991 lb)
Performance: Cross Country Speed 45 kph (28 mph), Main Gun Max Range 3,500 m (11,483 ft), Max Range 450 km (243 nm), Top Speed 72 kph (45 mph)
Nineteen (19) are employed by the Canadian Forces. An additional one (1) A6M has been loaned to the CF, but remains in Germany as a fully operational reference tank. Germany remains the legal owner of the 20 A6M MBTs
As of
Holdings
2008
20 (loan from Germany)
Germany / 15
Canada borrowed 20 Leopard 2 A6/M tanks and two recovery vehicles from the German Army in 2007
Sweden / 10
Image Gallery
Notes (*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)
Canada / 20 
Germany / 15 
Canada borrowed 20 Leopard 2 A6/M tanks and two recovery vehicles from the German Army in 2007
Sweden / 10