Tank "Leopard 2A7": characteristics, photo

In 2014, the Bundeswehr received the first tank "Leopard 2A7". This model was another stage in the modernization of the combat vehicle.

Manufacturer

In the late 70s of the last century Krauss-Maffei AG started the serial delivery of the new Leopard 2 tank. Its creation was conducted in close cooperation with experienced German arms manufacturers. Wegmann developed a tower. Porsche designed the chassis and transmission. The tool was handled by Rheinmetall. AEG Telefunken was responsible for the implementation of weapons control, surveillance and communications systems. They managed to accumulate a rich experience in the design of heavy combat vehicles, obtained during the Second World War. The classical traditions of the German tank building school were continued.

general characteristics

The machine can be called more conservative than revolutionary. The creation of a tank is an art of compromise between mutually exclusive requirements. The Germans have chosen the priority of convenience and reliability of operation. Perhaps, in their memory, endless problems remained, which were hastily led to the deployment of the Tigers and the Panthers. "Leopard 2" has a classic layout with a rotating turret. The machine was very reliable in operation, with excellent maintainability. But most importantly, despite the conservatism of performance, over the years there has been a significant modernization potential laid in this tank. The new modification continued its disclosure, and until it is felt that it is exhausted. Many consider this the main battle tank of the Bundeswehr not only the best Western, but also the most successful tank of our time. "Leopard 2A7" is designed to support and strengthen this belief.

Engine and chassis

Unlike American and Soviet designers, Krauss-Maffei engineers did not experiment with the propulsion system. On the "Leopard 2" installed diesel produced by Mercedes-Benz. The subsequent experience of operating Abrams and T-80 with a gas turbine engine revealed its shortcomings, which confirmed the correctness of the choice of German tank builders. Reliability, maintainability, ease of replacement of turbodiesel are highly appreciated in the troops. It allows to disperse the tank "Leopard 2A7", like the previous modifications, up to seventy kilometers per hour. Together with hydromechanical transmission and automatic transmission, this gives the car excellent dynamic characteristics.

Armament

Like its predecessors, the Leopard 2A7 tank is armed with a 120mm gun manufactured by Rheinmetall. During the modernization of the tank, the length of the barrel changed, which is fifty-five calibers on this modification. Smoothbore gun allows to use different types of ammunition. To defeat armored targets, the main type is a sub-caliber projectile. Together with the weapon of modernization, ammunition was also received, which received a longer damaging element with perfect aerodynamics. This led to an increase in the length of the shot and the change in the state part of the gun. The speed of the projectile increased due to a more powerful charge and the duration of acceleration in the barrel of an elongated gun. The L55 gun is considered the most advanced artillery system used in modern tanks for armor penetration and accuracy of fire.

In addition to the sub-caliber ammunition, the tank can use cumulative and high-explosive shells that are part of its ammunition. "Leopard" does not have in its arsenal of guided missiles launched from a gun, like Russian tanks, and it does not have a system for automatically loading guns. Whether these shortcomings deviate the perfect artillery weapon of a German tank, it is difficult to say. The machine is also equipped with two MG-3 machine guns of 7.62 mm caliber. It was expected that the seventh modification would be equipped with a remotely controlled tower machine gun, but the troops received tanks with a traditional machine gun point.

Reservation

The German tank design school has always been distinguished by increased attention to the protection of the car and the crew. Since the creation of the tank has always been an art of compromise, the winnings in the reservation turned into a loss in weight, size and dynamics. Tank "Leopard 2A7", a photo of which aroused interest in military circles, allowed to realize the modernization potential inherent in the initial concept. In the new look of the car, the results of the reinforcement of booking multi-layer combined armor are clearly discernible. The angles of tilting armor sheets are as close to sharp as possible. The total thickness of armor in the most vulnerable projections exceeded one meter.

The tank is equipped with side shields, which can be amplified by dynamic protection units. In addition to external reservation, the internal space of the tank is divided by partitions from armored steel. The engine compartment is divided with the combat compartment, and the ammunition of projectiles in the stern of the tower has an armored wall that cuts it off from the inhabited compartment. In the stern of the tower are arranged knock-out panels, diverting the energy of the explosion of ammunition to the outside. Together with the partitioning of the protection, this creates a sufficiently high level of crew safety.

Equipment

It is difficult to overestimate the combat equipment of a modern tank by means of information on tactical situation, navigation, communications and fire. Today, electronic and optical equipment constitute the main direction of the progress of military equipment. This is reflected in the fact that the characteristics of the tank "Leopard 2A7" significantly differ from the level of the first models. The perfect system of stabilization of the gun greatly improved the accuracy and accuracy of the shooting, allowing the target to be struck from the first shot. The crew members are equipped with more advanced optical instruments. The tank installed several thermal imagers with an increased resolution matrix, which strengthened positions in conditions of reduced visibility. The sightings of the commander of a tank and a gunner are included in a single combat control system. She also controls the gun, equipped with a laser rangefinder and an electronic ballistic computer, taking into account the factors of wear, deformation of the trunk and external conditions. At the disposal of the crew there is a system of navigation and communication, allowing to include the tank in the tactics of the network-centric battle.

Comparison with the T-90 tank

Comparison of the characteristics of tanks of potential adversaries has always been the subject of discussions reaching an epic emotional heat. Such disputes are both exciting and pointless at the same time. The tank is a combat complex used in the context of other weapons systems and in accordance with the concept of a certain army. Comparing and putting the tank "Leopard-2A7" against T-90, you can come to the conclusion that the Russian car is more perfect. After all, the "Leopard" does not have a recharge device, there are no long-range guided missiles. It is much heavier and massive, which affects the dynamics and the greater silhouette of the hull. Despite the excellent reservation, it does not have hinged blocks of dynamic protection. The number of crew members is greater than in the Russian tank. This is all true, but only on the one hand. From another point of view, "Leopard 2A7" against T-90 has obvious advantages. A more powerful lengthened shell and the ability to hit the target with the first shot even in motion makes the tank a very dangerous opponent. The commander's excellent information about the tactical situation, provided with perfect equipment, allows a larger and heavier tank to avoid threatening situations and achieve tactical superiority. It is necessary to recognize that both cars are the tops of two tank-building schools, which embodied in them all their own intellectual and technological potential.

History of application

Despite its dignity, the family of tanks, which includes the "Leopard 2A7", can be called the most non-combatant tanks. Combat use was limited to operations in Afghanistan, in which they were not opposed by any enemy tanks. Nevertheless, this main battle tank forms the basis of the armored forces of Germany, Holland, Denmark and other European countries. With the collapse of the Soviet military-political bloc, it replaces the Soviet-made machines in the states that joined the NATO bloc.