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Leopard 1
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==Variants== === Leopard 1A1 === [[File:Leopard1 Bundeswehr 1983.jpg|thumb|A [[West Germany|West German]] [[Bundeswehr|army]] Leopard 1A1A1 with additional spaced armour on the turret and gun mantlet.]] [[File:2 norwegian Leopard tanks in the snow.jpg|thumb|A [[Norwegian Army]] Leopard 1A1]] After the last vehicle from the first four production series was delivered, the Bundeswehr initiated an upgrade programme in 1970 to increase the combat effectiveness of its tanks. Known as the '''Leopard A1''' (later '''Leopard 1A1''', after the introduction of the Leopard 2), these tanks received a new gun stabilization system from [[Cadillac Gage]] (full stabilization in both elevation and traverse, as well as powered elevation from -9° to +20°) that allowed the tank to fire effectively on the move. The 1A1 added metal-rubber skirts along the hull flanks to protect against HEAT warheads, and the gun barrel was wrapped in a [[Thermal sleeve|jacket]] to reduce deviation from thermal loads. The track was changed to a D640A double-pin type with detachable, rectangular rubber pads instead of the earlier double-pin Diehl D139E2 track with vulcanised treads. The rubber pads of the new tracks could be easily replaced with metal X-shaped grousers for movement on [[ice]] and snow. 20 grousers were provided for each tank and stored on brackets on the front hull upper glacis when not in use. A new snorkel was developed that allowed for underwater driving to a depth of 4 m after sealing the tank with special plugs. The driver's and commander's active infrared night vision periscopes were replaced with passive image intensification night sights.<ref name=":0" /> Between 1975 and 1977, all of the tanks in the first four batches were brought to the '''Leopard 1A1A1''' standard, and given additional turret armour developed by [[Blohm & Voss]] which consisted of rubber-lined steel plates bolted to the turret (including the rear turret basket) with shock-resistant spacers. The gun mantlet received a wedge-shaped armoured cover made from welded steel plates and the engine's air intake system was improved. Thus upgraded vehicles weighed 42.4 tonnes. An upgrade in the 1980s added a hybrid LLLTV/passive IR aiming and observation system, which were being handed down from the Leopard 2 as they were themselves upgraded to thermal imagers. The PZB 200 [[Low light level television|low light level television (LLLTV)]] system with IRS 100 infrared scanner was developed by AEG-Telefunken and mounted in a protective cage on the mantlet, above the main gun, creating the '''Leopard 1A1A2'''. The system combined an LLTV camera which was a type of [[Image intensifier|image intensification]] device producing a TV picture on the commander's and gunner's monitors, coupled with an IR scanner (sensitive to thermal differences in the 3-5 μm wavelengths and based on a [[Lead selenide|PbSe]] detector) which would superimpose the processed IR image over the LLLTV signal to improve target detection and identification. In the late 1980s, all-digital SEM 80/90 VHF radios were issued to the Bundeswehr and installed in various models of the Leopard 1; the Leopard 1A1A1 with these new radios received the '''Leopard 1A1A3''' designator, and those vehicles with the LLLTV/IR system and SEM 80/90 radios would be known as the '''Leopard 1A1A4'''. === Leopard 1A2 === [[File:Kampfpanzer Leopard 1 A2 A1.JPG|thumb|right|Cast turret Leopard 1A2A1 with upgraded LLLTV/IR night sights mounted inside of a protective cage to the right of the IR searchlight on the gun mantlet.]] The first 232 tanks of the fifth production batch were delivered as the '''Leopard 1A2''' between 1972 and 1974. The A2 included a heavier and better armoured cast turret which was visually difficult to distinguish from the previous type. The most notable difference were the oval, as opposed to round, armoured housings for the optics of the TEM rangefinding sight. The Leopard 1A2 tanks were not subject to further armour upgrades as was the 1A1, but did receive improvements to their NBC protection system.<ref name=":0" /> Throughout their service, these tanks would receive several other upgrades: the '''Leopard 1A2A1''' received AEG-Telefunken LLLTV/IR sights, the '''Leopard 1A2A2''' received digital radios, and the '''Leopard 1A2A3''' got both. === Leopard 1A3 === [[File:BW 1984 HamburgUebung 020.jpg|thumb|right|The Leopard 1A3 received a new, welded turret which can be distinguished by its angular shape. Seen here is a vehicle of PzGrenBtl 301 in 1984.]] The next 110 vehicles in the fifth production batch were fitted with a new type of welded turret designed by Blohm & Voss, which was equipped with spaced armour (consisting of two steel plates with a plastic filling between them), and a wedge-shaped gun mantlet, resulting in the '''Leopard 1A3'''. Although the level of armour protection was equivalent to the cast turrets of the prior A2, the internal volume was increased by 1.5 m<sup>3</sup> and the effective protection level was increased. The commander was given an improved TRP 2A independent observation periscope and both of the loader's fixed periscopes were replaced with a single unit with tilt and traverse adjustment. Most of the vehicles of this batch were allocated to the [[10th Panzer Division (Bundeswehr)|10th]] and [[12th Panzer Division (Bundeswehr)|12th Panzer Divisions]]. Henceforth, all newly manufactured Leopard 1 tanks from Krauss-Maffei and MaK would use this welded turret, as casting large parts such as tank turrets was overly complex and the welded design carried greater upgrade potential. Subsequent upgrades were parallel to the 1A2 models: the '''Leopard 1A3A1''' with improved night sights, '''Leopard 1A3A2''' with the new radios, and the '''Leopard 1A3A3''' with both. === Leopard 1A4 === [[File:Kampfpanzer Leopard 1 A4.jpg|thumb|left|Leopard 1A4 at the German Panzer Museum Munster. The vehicle is displayed with a deep fording snorkel, which would be used to draw in combustion air for the operation of the engine while submerged in water.]] The '''Leopard 1A4''' formed the sixth batch of 250 vehicles (215 manufactured by Krauss-Maffei and 35 from MaK), starting delivery in 1974. The 1A4 was externally similar to the 1A3, but included a new, integrated [[fire control system]]. This consisted of a stabilized PERI R12 independent sight for the commander, a new EMES 12A1 stereoscopic rangefinder coupled to the gunner's primary sight, a fully stabilized main gun and FLER HG ballistic computer. Many of these systems were derived from the Leopard 2 program. While the EMES 12A1 was still just an optical rangefinder (the desired laser rangefinder was still in development), it was used for target acquisition and linked to the ballistic computer, which would automatically produce a lead angle once the range was measured and several other ballistic inputs were computed. This solution reduced the time between target acquisition and engagement and increased the first-round-hit probability. The PERI R12 sight improved the commander's efficiency, allowing him to acquire and relay targets to the gunner considerably faster in what can be considered the precursor to "hunter-killer" capability. The PERI R12 sight also had an integrated night channel (2nd generation image intensifier) toggled with a switch; a considerable improvement over the prior TRP sights which had no night vision capabilities and had to be un-installed and exchanged for an infrared device. The PERI R12 was mounted in the turret roof forward of the commander's cupola and was protected by wire guards. The gunner's forward-looking observation periscope was deleted. [[File:Canadian Army Trophy Competition 1979 Tanks (CC 116871).jpg|thumb|right|West German Leopard 1A4 (far right) at the Canadian Army Trophy gunnery competition in 1979.]] The new equipment for the fire control system consumed additional space and the ammunition load was reduced to 55 rounds, of which 42 were stored in the hull-mounted magazine, while the remaining 13 rounds were in ready racks in the turret. The hull received only minor modifications involving the layout of the tow cables and storage rails for the winter grousers. Final deliveries of the Leopard 1A4 for the Bundeswehr took place in 1976 and would mark the conclusion of Leopard 1 production for West Germany. === Leopard 1A5 === In 1980, a research program was undertaken to investigate further improvements to the Leopard 1, stipulating the need for a new fire control system/ballistic computer and thermal camera for effective night and all-weather capabilities to effectively fight against the more sophisticated Soviet T-64B, T-72B and T-80B series of tanks. A crucial part of the upgrade was the introduction of more effective ammunition, including new [[Kinetic energy penetrator|APFSDS]] rounds. The decision was made to base the upgrade on earlier models which were no longer competitive. The resulting '''Leopard 1A5''' was a retrofit of 1,225 Leopard 1A1A1 vehicles from Bundeswehr stocks. [[File:19 04 2022 - Ministro da Defesa prestigia celebração dos 374 anos do Exército (52017823580).jpg|thumb|The [[Brazilian Army]] Leopard 1A5 BR tank]] After trials, the Krupp-[[Atlas Elektronik]] EMES 18 fire control system, which was developed from the EMES 15 used on the Leopard 2, was selected in December 1983. The large, box-like armoured enclosure for the EMES 18 primary sight was mounted on top of the turret, in front of the commander's hatch, and contained a fully stabilized (both in azimuth and elevation) head mirror which was used for the daylight vision channel (×12 magnification and 5° field of view), [[Nd:YAG laser|Nd:YAG]] laser rangefinder and a WBG-X thermal imager from [[Carl Zeiss AG|Carl Zeiss]]. The gunner would access both day and night channels from the primary sight via binocular eyepiece, in addition to his back-up telescopic daytime sight (the TZF 1A from previous models). The commander would receive imagery from the gunner's primary sight on his ocular by way of a light pipe. His station retained the panoramic periscope (improved model TRP 5A) and vision blocks, with the TRP sight and forward facing vision block raised to clear the EMES 18 sight housing. Both commander and gunner could control the turret traverse with hand controllers, but an override function was given to the commander. In a typical engagement scenario, the commander would identify the target and slew the turret to its azimuth, then hand the target over to the gunner. Using the primary sight, the gunner would aim at the target and lase it to obtain a range; tracking would be initiated (if the target was moving). The fire control computer would then take the manual (ammunition type, target speed – obtained from the horizontal turret traverse rate) and automatic inputs (vehicle cant correction from a vertical sensor, atmospheric conditions, powder temperature, altitude) and continuously compute superelevation and lead solutions for the main armament. Control signals were transmitted to the turret and main gun drives to align the plotted aiming mark with the main gun bore axis, without disturbing the line of sight. Once these were coincident, the gunner could fire. The fire control computer contained ballistic information for up to 7 different ammunition types. Upgraded tanks initially made use of the existing Cadillac-Gage stabilization system, but since 1988, all Leopard 1A5s were either built or retrofitted with a new SRK servo-hydraulic turret and gun control system. The bulbous, horizontally-opposed objective housings for the optical rangefinder were removed and their openings in the turret—sealed with armour plates. Two new types of high performance kinetic energy APFSDS rounds were introduced for use in the Leopard 1A5: the DM23 (a variant of the Israeli M111 Hetz-6) and DM33 (Israeli M413 Hetz-7) rounds. One test vehicle was armed with the smoothbore 120 mm main gun and all A5s are adapted to carry this weapon, but the concept did not proceed into production. The running gear on these vehicles was improved with strengthened torsion bars and shock absorber mounts. Lifting hooks were welded to the hulls of early production vehicles which lacked them (first and second batches) and the driver's station received high pressure washers for his observation periscopes (later installed in most Leopard 1s in German service). A three-tone camouflage was also applied to all tanks undergoing the conversion to A5 standard. The first modified vehicle was delivered in December 1986 and the conversion process ran until 2001 and 2002 which coincided with a reduction of armored forces in the Bundeswehr, resulting in fewer Leopard 1A5 tanks delivered than were originally authorized. Most of the Leopard 1A5 tanks delivered to the Bundeswehr were assigned to formations of the former [[National People's Army|East German army]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lobitz |first1=Frank |title=The Leopard 1 MBT in German Army Service - Late Years |date=2006 |publisher=Verlag Jochen Vollert - Tankograd Publishing |location=Germany |page=6}}</ref> Leopard 1A5s which received new SEM 80/90 VHF radios in the late 1980s were designated '''Leopard 1A5A1'''. Since then, almost all users of the Leopard 1 have applied similar changes to their own vehicles, and in most ways the 1A5 can be considered the "standard" Leopard 1 today. === Leopard 1A5BE === On 18 May 2025, Belgium announced a military aid package for Ukraine which included a prototype Leopard 1A5BE for testing. It has a new turret which is unmanned having been fitted with an autoloader carrying 12-16 rounds.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-18|title= Belgian Leopard 1A5BE with unmanned turret enters Ukraine trials |url= https://bulgarianmilitary.com/amp/2025/05/18/belgian-leopard-1a5be-with-unmanned-turret-enters-ukraine-trials/ |access-date=2025-05-19|author= Boyko Nikolov |website= bulgarianmilitary |language=en}}</ref> === Leopard 1A6 === The ''Leopard 1A6'' prototype was a single Leopard 1 A1A1 testbed, modified with additional armour on the turret and equipped with a 120 mm L/44 gun. The project was ended in 1987, as the Leopard 2 was in widespread service at this point and the 1A5 offered a more reasonable upgrade path for a fraction of the cost.{{Citation needed|date=December 2017}} === Modified and derivative vehicles {{anchor|Beaver}} === [[File:Dachs - 4.jpg|thumb|An armoured engineering vehicle "Dachs" (Badger) German Army]] [[File:Dutch Bergepanzer 2 ARV Crane Deployed.jpg|thumb|right|Bergepanzer 2 of the Royal Netherlands Army with erected crane]] [[File:Panzerschnellbruecke Biber auf Brueckenleger.jpg|thumb|A bridgelayer "Biber" (Beaver) with armoured vehicle-launched bridge]] Simultaneous to the production of the battle tanks, a number of engineering, bridging and recovery vehicles were developed, as well as a number of versions used in the [[anti-aircraft]] role. The most well known Leopard variants are the Bridgelayer "Biber" ('''Beaver'''), "[[Bergepanzer 2]]" armoured recovery vehicle, "Pionierpanzer 2 Dachs" (''Badger'') armoured engineer vehicle and the "[[Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard|Gepard]]" self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. The Warsaw Pact equivalent of the Gepard is the [[ZSU-23-4]]. [[Marconi Electronic Systems]] once offered conversions to the [[Marksman anti-aircraft system|Marksman]] [[Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon|SPAAG]] for existing users of the Leopard 1. The Leopard 1 chassis would be used to carry the Marksman turret. The [[Canadian Army]] operates the Beaver [[Armoured vehicle-launched bridge]], Taurus [[Armoured recovery vehicle|ARV]], and Badger [[Armoured engineering vehicle|AEV]], all based on the Leopard 1. The United Kingdom's [[Royal Marines]] operate a vehicle known as the [[Beach armoured recovery vehicle#Hippo BRV|Hippo]] [[beach armoured recovery vehicle]]. The Hippo is a conversion of a Leopard 1A5 chassis by [[Alvis Vickers|Alvis Moelv]]. The main alteration has been the replacement of the turret with a raised superstructure that resembles the wheelhouse of a boat. The original 830 hp (634 kW) diesel engine has been retained, but the gearing of the transmission had been lowered, reducing the vehicle's road speed to 32 km/h (20 mph), but increasing [[tractive effort]] to 250 kN (56,000 lbf). Other modifications include the addition of working platforms, a nosing block, raised air intakes and an [[Auxiliary power unit]]. This raised the weight of the vehicle from 42.5 tonnes to 50 tonnes. The Hippo has a fording depth of 2.95 m (10 ft) and can pull vehicles up to 50 tonnes weight or push off from the beach a 240 tonne [[displacement (fluid)|displacement]] [[landing craft]]. German company [[Flensburger Fahrzeugbau]] is the producer of a vehicle known as Wisent 1, a modernization of the Bergepanzer 2, it comes in Armoured Recovery Vehicle, Armoured Engineer Vehicle and Mine Clearing vehicle versions. The Wisent 1 is known to be operated by Denmark and Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ffg-flensburg.de/en/products/ffg-developments/wisent-1/|title=WiSENT 1 - FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau GmbH|website=www.ffg-flensburg.de|accessdate=26 March 2024}}</ref> === Gilded Leopard, ''Eber'' and ''Keiler'' === Almost as soon as the Leopard was introduced into service in 1965, Porsche was awarded a contract to study further improvements to the existing design, while awaiting deliveries of the MBT-70 in the mid-1970s. This original ''Gilded Leopard'' (''vergoldeter Leopard'') program expired in 1967 with no production order. In 1967, it had already become obvious that the MBT-70 would be a failure. The agreement between the US and the Federal Republic of Germany forbade any national development of an MBT apart from technological experimentation, so a new tank project was begun under the designation of ''Experimentalentwicklung'' or "experimental development", two prototypes of which were built. When the MBT-70 program was ended, a further contract was offered under the name ''Boar'' (''Eber''), with an emphasis on using as many technologies from the MBT-70 as possible, but without the problematic XM150 152 mm (6.0 in) combined gun/[[MGM-51 Shillelagh]] missile launcher. Two prototype vehicles were constructed using a new chassis from Porsche with the road wheels from the MBT-70 and the original Leopard engine. This was combined with a new Wegmann turret, mounting the MBT-70's [[Rheinmetall 120 mm Gun|Rheinmetall 120 mm smoothbore gun]]. Some also mounted the original 105 mm L7. These were considered promising enough that seven more were ordered, this time powered by the MTU engine designed for the MBT-70. When this happened, the ''Experimentalentwicklung'' team went public with their alternative design which they called the ''Keiler'' (a synonym of ''Eber''). In 1971, the minister of defence, [[Helmut Schmidt]], decided to abandon the ''Eber''-project and build 17 prototypes of a Leopard 2, based on the ''Keiler'' design, which had a turret with spaced [[sloped armour]]. The maximum weight was to be 50 tonnes. During the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]], 1950s and 1960s generation tanks were badly beaten by [[wire-guided missile]]s,{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} and it was realized that dramatically improved armour protection was needed. The decision was made to allow the tank to increase its weight to the next classification, Military Loading Class 60 (tonnes). A new design effort was started, with the spaced armour replaced with a much denser perforated armour assemblage. The new design would go on to augment and, after the [[Cold War]], sometimes replace the Leopard in many countries' armies.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}} === Jumbo Track Multi Fire Fighting and Rescue Vehicle === One ex-German Leopard 1 has been converted into a firefighting and rescue vehicle, called the Jumbo Track Multi Fire Fighting and Rescue Vehicle, by Ram Europe. The conversion, commissioned by Ram Europe CEO Theodore Rentzos, involved the addition of a new metal superstructure over the hull. This superstructure contains a water tank capable of carrying 15,000 liters of water, as well as an air-conditioned compartment capable of carrying up to 10 passengers. <ref name-"JumboFirefighting">{{cite web |title=WATCH: He Spent $5 million On A Tank Called Jumbo |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cllhphkO4D4 |website=youtube.com |publisher=[[Great Big Story]] |language=en |format=video |date=August 31, 2024}}</ref>
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