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Leopard 2
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====Prototype development==== [[File:Leopard 2 Prototyp PT15 T02 105mm.jpg|thumb|A Leopard 2 PT15 with 105 mm smoothbore gun]] [[File:Leo2Br80.jpg|thumb|A Leopard 2 prototype (1983)]] [[File:Prototyp Leopard2 sk.jpg|thumb|The Leopard 2 T14 mod. with the modified turret housing composite armour]] Following the end of the Gilded Leopard study in 1967, the West German government decided to focus on the ''Experimentalentwicklung'' (experimental development) in a feasibility study and to develop new components for upgrading the Leopard 1 and for use on a future main battle tank programme.<ref name="Krapke20" /> At first 25 million [[Deutsche Mark|DM]] were invested, but after the industry came to the conclusion that with such a low budget the development of the two projected [[testbed]]s was not possible, a total of 30 to 32 million DM was invested. The experimental development was contracted to the company Krauss-Maffei, but with the obligation to cooperate with Porsche for the development of the chassis and with Wegmann for the development of the turret.<ref name="Jerchel, p. 5">Jerchel, p. 5.</ref> Two prototypes with different components were built with the aim of improving the Leopard 1 to match the firepower requirements of the MBT-70. A high first-hit probability at ranges of {{convert|2000|m}} and the ability to accurately engage targets on the move using a computerised fire control system were the main goals of the experimental development. The resulting vehicles were nicknamed ''Keiler'' ("tusker"). Two prototypes (ET 01 and ET 02) of the Keiler were built in 1969 and 1970, both of them being powered by the MB 872 engine.<ref name="Jerchel, p. 5"/> The MBT-70 was a revolutionary design, but after large cost overruns and technological problems, Germany withdrew from the project in 1969. After unsuccessful attempts at saving the MBT-70 by conceptual changes in order to eliminate the biggest issue—the driver being seated in the turret—it became clear in late 1969 that Germany would stop the bi-national development.<ref name="Krapke22" /> The assistant secretary of the military procurement division of the [[Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany)|German Ministry of Defence]] suggested reusing as many technologies developed for the MBT-70 as possible in a further programme, which was nicknamed ''Eber'' ("boar") due to his being named Eberhardt. The ''Eber'' used a modified MBT-70 turret and hull, with the driver being seated in the hull. Only a wooden mock-up was made. One year later, a choice was made to continue the development based on the earlier ''Keiler'' project of the late 1960s, instead of finishing the development of the ''Eber''. In 1971, the name of the design was determined as ''Leopard 2'' with the original Leopard retroactively becoming the Leopard 1, and [[Paul-Werner Krapke]] became the project officer of the Leopard 2 program.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.panzertruppe.com/detailansicht/id-50-jahre-fahrzeuge-der-gepanzerten-kampftruppen.html|title=50 Jahre gepanzerte Kampftruppen|last=Hilmes|first=Rolf|website=Panzertruppe|access-date=2018-02-22|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712001316/https://www.panzertruppe.com/detailansicht/id-50-jahre-fahrzeuge-der-gepanzerten-kampftruppen.html|archive-date=2018-07-12|url-status=dead}}</ref> Originally two versions were projected: the gun-armed Leopard 2K and the Leopard 2FK, which would be armed with the XM150 gun/launcher weapon of the MBT-70.<ref name="Jerchel6">Jerchel, p. 6.</ref> In 1971, 17 prototypes were ordered but only 16 hulls were built as the production of hull PT12 was cancelled. Ten were ordered initially before another seven were ordered. The 17 turrets were designated T1 to T17, and the hulls were designated PT1 to PT11 and PT13 to PT17. To test a larger number of components and concepts, each prototype was fitted with components not found on the other prototypes. Ten of the turrets were equipped with {{cvt|105|mm}} [[smoothbore]] guns and the other seven prototypes were equipped with a {{cvt|120|mm}} smoothbore gun.<ref name="Jerchel6" /><ref>{{cite book|last1=Hilmes|first1=Rolf|title=Kampfpanzer Entwicklungen der Nachkriegszeit|year=1983|publisher=Soldat Und Technik|isbn=9783524890012|page=27|language=de}}</ref> Hulls PT11 and PT17 were fitted with a [[hydropneumatic suspension]] based on the MBT-70 design.<ref name="Jerchel6" /> The running gears of these two hulls had only six road wheels. Different types of [[Auxiliary power unit|auxiliary power units (APUs)]] were mounted in the prototypes. All turrets were equipped with a machine gun for air defence, except the turret mounted on PT11, where a {{cvt|20|mm}} remotely operated autocannon was mounted. With the exception of hulls PT07, PT09, PT15, and PT17, all prototypes used the MB 873 engine. The road wheels were taken from the MBT-70 and the return rollers from the Leopard 1.<ref name="Jerchel6" /> The prototypes were designed with a projected weight of [[Military Load Classification|MLC50]], which equals approximately {{convert|47.5|t}}. The welded turret utilised spaced armour formed by two steel plates.<ref name="Krapke27">Krapke, p. 27.</ref> The prototypes were equipped with an EMES-12 optical rangefinder and fire control system, which later was adopted on the Leopard 1A4. In mid-1973 a new turret was designed by Wegmann saving {{convert|1.5|t|ST}} in weight.<ref>Jerchel, p. 7.</ref> It was nicknamed the ''Spitzmaus-Turm'' (shrew turret) due to the highly sloped front. This design was only possible with the new EMES-13 optical rangefinder, which required a base length of only {{convert|350|mm}} instead of the previous {{convert|1720|mm}}.<ref name="Krapke27" /> Based on experiences in the [[Yom Kippur War]], a higher level of protection than the prototypes' heavily sloped spaced armour was demanded in late 1973 and the Spitzmaus-Turm was never produced.<ref name="Krapke30">Krapke, p. 30.</ref> The weight limit was increased from MLC50 to MLC60, which equals approximately {{convert|55|t}}. The T14 turret was modified to test a new armour configuration, taking on a blockier-looking appearance as a result of using vertical modules of spaced [[composite armour|multilayer armour]]. It was also used to test the new EMES-13 optical rangefinder. The modified T14 turret was designated ''T14 mod''.<ref name="Krapke30" /> and was fitted with a fully electric turret drive and stabilization system, which was developed jointly by [[General Electric]] and [[AEG Telefunken]].
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