Besides Germany and Canada, 16 other countries fielded the Leopard 2, including Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Germany built more than 3,500 Leopard 2 tanks. Like the Leopard 1, its engine can be changed in a short time, anywhere from 15 to 35 minutes. The Leopard 2 weighs 62.3 tonnes and is powered by a 1,500-horsepower diesel engine with an automatic transmission. Armament includes two 7.62 mm machine guns - one mounted externally on the turret and one mounted This design choice was a departure from the more lightly armoured Leopard 1 turret. The turret was also fitted with composite armour forĪdded protection against modern threats like anti-tank guided missiles. It was redesigned to accommodate the new German Rheinmetall 120 mm smoothbore cannon. It is not a revolutionary design, but an evolution from its predecessor.Īlthough the chassis was improved, it remained similar to the Leopard 1. In West Germany, development of the Leopard 2 was in-progress even as the Leopard 1 entered service in 1965.
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