Editing Leopard 2 (section)

===ISAF/OEF===
In October 2003, Canada was planning to replace its [[Leopard C2]]s with wheeled [[Stryker Mobile Gun System]]s. However, operational experience in [[Afghanistan]] and in particular during [[Operation Medusa]], convinced the [[Canadian military]] of the usefulness of maintaining a tank fleet.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tanks for the Lesson: Leopards, too, for Canada|url=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/tanks-for-the-lesson-leopards-too-for-canada-03208/#choices|work=Defense Industry Daily|date=December 2006|access-date=2009-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113205328/http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/tanks-for-the-lesson-leopards-too-for-canada-03208/%23choices/|archive-date=2013-01-13|url-status=live}}</ref> Leopard C2s were deployed to [[Kandahar]] in December 2006,<ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen|last=Priestley|title=In to Action – Canadian Leopard C2 tanks and the TLAV M113A3s in Combat|url=http://www.casr.ca/ft-leopard-tank.htm|publisher=[[Canadian American Strategic Review]]|date=2008-10-08|access-date=2009-01-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109063605/http://casr.ca/ft-leopard-tank.htm|archive-date=2010-01-09}}</ref> but they were by then almost 30 years old, and were nearing the end of their operational life. The Canadian government decided to borrow 20 Leopard 2A6s and three [[armoured recovery vehicle]]s from Germany for rapid deployment to Afghanistan. In late August 2007, the first Leopard 2s were airlifted into Afghanistan to equip [[Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Brian|last=Corbett|title=Canada's new main battle tank—Leopard 2|url=http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/community/mapleleaf/vol_10/vol10_27/1027_07.pdf|publisher=The Maple Leaf|date=2007-09-19|access-date=2009-01-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225074757/http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/community/mapleleaf/vol_10/vol10_27/1027_07.pdf|archive-date=2009-02-25}}</ref>

In an assault on 2 November 2007, a Leopard 2A6M hit an [[improvised explosive device]] (IED) and survived without casualties: "My crew stumbled upon an IED (improvised explosive device) and made history as the first (crew) to test the (Leopard 2A6) M-packet. It worked as it should", wrote a Canadian officer in an email to German defence officials.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=2378441|title=Germany gets a thank-you from Canadian IED survivor|publisher=Grand Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune|date=2007-12-06|access-date=2010-10-27|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729174700/http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=2378441|archive-date=2012-07-29}}</ref> Canadian Chief of the Defence Staff General [[Rick Hillier]] denied reports that a Leopard 2 tank that was struck by an IED was a write-off, insisting that the tank has been repaired and is once again in use. "The Taliban have been engaged with some of the new Leopard 2 tanks in several ambushes" and that as a result the [[Taliban]] "learned some very harsh lessons" and lost the battle in question "very quickly and very violently."<ref>{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Freeman|title=Tank hit by IED back in service: Hillier|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/tank-hit-by-ied-back-in-service-hillier/article20406656/|publisher=[[The Globe and Mail]]|date=2007-12-08|access-date=2008-07-31|location=Toronto}}</ref>

In October 2007, Denmark deployed Leopard 2A5 DKs in support of operations in southern Afghanistan. The Danish tank unit, drawn from the first battalion of the ''[[Jydske Dragonregiment]]'' (Jutland Dragoons Regiment),<ref name=CASRDK1>{{cite web|url=http://www.casr.ca/ft-leopard-2a5-denmark.htm|title=The Danish Army is Prepared to Deploy Tanks to Helmand Province|access-date=2009-01-09|last=Priestley|first=Stephen|date=May 2007|publisher=[[Canadian American Strategic Review]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216170241/http://www.casr.ca/ft-leopard-2a5-denmark.htm|archive-date=2008-12-16}}</ref> was equipped with three tanks and one [[M113 armored personnel carrier|M113 armoured personnel carrier]], with an armoured recovery vehicle and another tank kept in reserve.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nato.int/multi/2007/071121b-afghan-stories/video/071121b-01.wmv|title=Danish tanks arrive in Afghanistan|access-date=2008-12-15|publisher=[[NATO]]|date=2008-11-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218111409/http://www.nato.int/multi/2007/071121b-afghan-stories/video/071121b-01.wmv|archive-date=2008-12-18|url-status=live}}</ref> The Danish version of the Leopard 2A5 is fitted with Swedish-made Barracuda camouflage mats that limit the absorption of solar heat, thus reducing infrared signature and interior temperature.<ref name=CASRDK1 /> It also has a conventional driver's seat bolted on the floor of the tank, whereas in the Canadian 2A6M (as part of the mine-protection package) the driver's seat has been replaced by a "dynamic safety seat",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europaeische-sicherheit.de/Ausgaben/2008/2008_01/Umschau/2008,01,umschau.html|title=LEOPARD 2 bewährt sich gegen IEDs|access-date=2009-01-07|date=January 2008|publisher=Europäische Sicherheit|language=de|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111052006/http://www.europaeische-sicherheit.de/Ausgaben/2008/2008_01/Umschau/2008,01,umschau.html|archive-date=2009-01-11}}</ref> which is a parachute-harness like arrangement that the driver wears around his hip. This way, the driver does not have any contact with the hull except on the pedals and is out of the shockwave area of exploding land mines or IEDs.

In January 2008, Danish tanks halted a flanking manoeuvre by Taliban forces near the [[Helmand River]] by providing gunfire in support of Danish and British infantry from elevated positions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.casr.ca/ft-leopard-2a5-denmark-2.htm|title=Danish Leopard tanks in supporting action in Helmand Province: Can Open Government be measured by a Military Press Release?|access-date=2008-07-31|last=Stephen|first=Priestley|date=January 2008|publisher=[[Canadian American Strategic Review]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930180306/http://www.casr.ca/ft-leopard-2a5-denmark-2.htm|archive-date=2008-09-30}}</ref> On 26 February 2008, a Danish Leopard 2 was hit by an explosive device, damaging one track. No one was injured and the tank returned to camp on its own for repairs.<ref>{{cite news|first=Eckart|last=Lohse|title=Leopardenjagd am Hindukusch|url=https://www.faz.net/s/RubDDBDABB9457A437BAA85A49C26FB23A0/Doc~E74D84BBBF12B478BBD4C7901BB39BF59~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html|publisher=[[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]]|date=2008-03-16|access-date=2008-07-31|page=6|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704212849/https://www.faz.net/s/RubDDBDABB9457A437BAA85A49C26FB23A0/Doc~E74D84BBBF12B478BBD4C7901BB39BF59~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html|archive-date=2008-07-04|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first fatality suffered by a crew operating a Leopard 2 happened on 25 July 2008. A Danish Leopard 2A5 hit an IED in [[Helmand Province]]. The vehicle was able to continue {{cvt|200|m|ft}} before it halted.<ref name="Royal Danish Army">{{cite web|url=http://forsvaret.dk/HOK/Nyt%20og%20Presse/ISAF/Pages/Statusoverfredagensbegivenheder.aspx|title=Status over fredagens begivenheder – Afghanistan: Alle danske soldater er nu tilbage i deres respektive lejre i Helmand provinsen|access-date=2008-07-31|publisher=[[Royal Danish Army]]|date=2008-07-25|language=da|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091017063251/http://forsvaret.dk/HOK/Nyt%20og%20Presse/ISAF/Pages/Statusoverfredagensbegivenheder.aspx|archive-date=2009-10-17}}</ref> Three members of the four-man crew were able to escape even though wounded, but the driver was stuck inside. Onsite treatment by Danish medics could not save him. The vehicle was towed to [[Forward Operating Base]] (FOB) Attal and then later to FOB Armadillo for investigation and possible redeployment. During the same contact with Taliban forces, a second tank was caught in an explosion but none of the crew were wounded.<ref name="Royal Danish Army"/>

Beginning on 7 December 2008, Leopard 2 tanks took part in [[Operation Red Dagger]], firing 31 rounds in support of Coalition troops as they recaptured [[Nad Ali District]]. A press release from the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|British Ministry of Defence]] praised the tank's fire accuracy and mobility, claiming the Leopard 2 was a decisive factor in the coalition's success.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/InPicturesOpRedDaggerStrikesInHelmand.htm|title=In Pictures: Op Red Dagger strikes in Helmand (mod.uk)|access-date=2009-01-10|archive-date=2009-01-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107225202/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/InPicturesOpRedDaggerStrikesInHelmand.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>