Editing Leopard 1 (section)

== Development ==
[[File:Leopard 1 Prototyp Munster.jpg|thumb|left|A Leopard 1 Prototype II]]
[[File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F027415-0001, Kampfpanzer Leopard I.jpg|thumb|left|Several early Leopard tanks (0-series prototypes) preparing for parade duty, distinguished by the centrally-mounted IR/white searchlight and rectangular loader's hatch.]]
The Leopard project started in November 1956 in order to develop a modern tank, the ''Standard-Panzer'', to replace the Bundeswehr's American-built [[M47 Patton|M47]] and [[M48 Patton]] tanks, which, though just delivered to West Germany's recently reconstituted army, were rapidly becoming outdated. On 25 July 1957, the detailed specifications were released. The new design needed to weigh no more than 30 tonnes, have a [[power-to-weight ratio]] of 30 horsepower per tonne, be able to withstand hits by 20&nbsp;mm rapid-fire guns on every side as well as to operate in a battlefield contaminated with [[chemical weapons]] or radioactive [[nuclear fallout|fallout]], the then-standard baseline for combat with the [[Warsaw Pact]].<ref name="ReferenceA">''Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles'', Robert Jackson, 2007 Paragon Publishing, P. 189</ref>

The main armament had to consist of a 105&nbsp;mm caliber weapon (the new British L7A3 105&nbsp;mm gun was selected),<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uMqBO5lrhI&ab_channel=TheTankMuseum | title=Tank Chats #64 Leopard 1 &#124; the Tank Museum | website=[[YouTube]] | date=11 January 2019 }}</ref> carrying at least as many rounds as current US tank designs. Mobility had priority, while firepower came second. Armour was seen as less essential, as it was believed that no real protection against [[hollow charge]] weapons was possible anyway. At the time it was suspected that future conflicts would involve nuclear weapons, which no tank at the time could directly protect from.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

[[File:Militairen van 5 Groep Geleide Wapens op een Duitse Leopard 1 tank tijdens een verplaatsingsoefening (816-988 025227).jpg|thumb|left|Bundeswehr Leopard 1 in 1967]]
[[File:Nederlandse soldaten bezig de door pantservoertuigen aangerichte schade te herst, Bestanddeelnr 921-5836.jpg|thumb|right|Early West German Leopard 1 in 1968]]
[[File:Dutch Leopard 1 Tank of the 43rd Tank Battalion 2155 052428.jpg|thumb|right|Dutch Leopard 1 tank from the fourth production series; the Netherlands were among the first to accept the vehicle into service in 1969.]]

France was very interested in the design as its own [[AMX 50]] project had just failed. In June 1957, [[West Germany]] and the [[French Fourth Republic]] signed an agreement to develop a common tank, designated in German ''Europa-Panzer''. Three German (''Arbeitsgruppe'' A, B and C) and one French design team were included in a competition, with each team producing two prototypes. In September 1958, [[Italian Army|Italy]] joined the development program. Several prototypes were entered for testing in 1960. Among the prototypes were [[Porsche]]'s ''Model 734'' from team A, sporting a cast turret, and that of team B ([[Rheinmetall]]), whose cast turret was somewhat higher. Team C from ''[[Borgward]]'', designing a very futuristic tank, failed to have a prototype ready in time.

Even before these first prototypes were finished, it had (in 1959) been decided that a second phase with improved designs would be started: Team A had to build 26 phase II prototypes for testing, team B six. Only two tanks of the required six were constructed by team B.

The Porsche Prototype II was eventually selected as the winner of the contest in 1963. This did not come as a surprise: it had already been decided in 1961 to build a pre-series of 50 vehicles based on this design. Production of these was started that very year. This "0-series" was modified with a new cast turret and several hull changes to raise the rear deck to provide more room in the engine compartment and move some of the radiators to the upper sides of the hull. Before mass production of the standard version started, it was decided to add an optical range-finding system for better long-range gunnery, which required the turret to be somewhat taller, and added "bumps" on either side of the turret to mount the optics for [[triangulation]]. Germany dropped France from the joint program after France repeatedly missed deadlines for its contribution to the program.<ref name= "France dropped">{{cite news |last1=Wilcke |first1=Gerd |title= Bonn to Build Own Tanks Despite Pact With France; Approval Is Sought |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1963/02/18/archives/bonn-to-build-own-tanks-despite-pact-with-france-approval-is-sought.html |access-date=19 August 2018 |work= The New York Times |date=17 February 1963 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180819083105/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/02/18/archives/bonn-to-build-own-tanks-despite-pact-with-france-approval-is-sought.html |archive-date=19 August 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 1963 Defence Minister [[Kai-Uwe von Hassel]] announced he would soon ask the defence committee in Parliament to approve production of the tank. At this time the tank weighed 40 tons and cost $250,000 each.<ref name= "France dropped" /> In July the Defence Ministry ordered 1,500 tanks with production to take place between 1965 and 1970. Germany also announced its agreement to develop a successor with the United States. Called the [[MBT-70]], the program failed to materialize a tenable design.<ref name="1500 ordered">{{cite news |title= M'Namara Holds Bonn Talks today; Due to Conclude Accord on Joint Tank Development. 1,500 Tanks Ordered | place = Bonn | quote = Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara is expected to conclude a research agreement here this week for the joint development of a tank to be used by the United States and West German armies in the nineteen seventies | work= The New York Times |date= 30 July 1993}}</ref>

Production was set up at [[KraussMaffei]] of [[Munich]] from early 1964 onward, with deliveries of the first batch between September 1965<ref name="1st delivery">{{cite book |last1=Barker |first1=A.J. |title=Modern Combat Vehicles: 3 Leopard |publisher=Ian Allan |date=1981 |page=19 |quote=the first Leopard to be completed left the assembly line on 9 September 1965 and was officially 'taken over' at a ceremony attended by Germany's Minister of Defence. }}</ref> and July 1966. The Leopard was soon being purchased from Germany by a number of [[NATO]] members and other allies, including (in chronological order) [[Belgium]] (1968), the [[Netherlands]] (1969), [[Norway]] (1970), [[Italy]] (1971), [[Denmark]] (1976), [[Australia]] (1976), [[Canada]] (1978), [[Turkey]] (1980) and [[Greece]] (1981). Germany has a strict export-policy for their military equipment. Greece, [[Spain]] and [[Chile]], while still under dictatorships, purchased the French [[AMX-30]] instead.