In 2014, the Bundeswehr received the first tank "Leopard 2A7". This model was the next stage of modernization of the combat vehicle.
Manufacturer
В конце 70-х годов прошлого века концерн Krauss-Maffei AG began serial supply of the new Leopard 2 tank. Its creation was carried out in close cooperation with experienced German arms manufacturers. Wegmann developed the tower. Porsche designed the chassis and transmission. The instrument involved Rheinmetall. AEG Telefunken was responsible for the implementation of weapons control, surveillance and communication systems. They managed to accumulate a wealth of experience in designing heavy combat vehicles obtained during the Second World War. The classical traditions of the German tank building school were continued.
general characteristics
The car can be called rather conservative thanrevolutionary. Creating a tank is the art of compromise between mutually exclusive requirements. The Germans have chosen the priority of convenience and reliability of operation. Perhaps, endless problems remained firmly in their memory, to which haste with the use of the Tigers and the Panthers resulted. "Leopard 2" has a classic layout with a rotating tower. The car was very reliable in operation, with excellent maintainability. But the most important thing, despite the conservatism of execution, over the years has been a significant modernization potential inherent in this tank. The new modification continued its disclosure, and so far it does not feel that it has been exhausted. Many consider this the main battle tank of the Bundeswehr not only the best western, but also the most successful tank of modern times. Leopard 2A7 is designed to support and strengthen this conviction.
Engine and chassis
Unlike American and Sovietdesigners, engineers Krauss-Maffei did not experiment with the propulsion system. On the "Leopard 2" installed diesel production Mercedes-Benz. Subsequent operating experience "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 turbodiesel highly appreciated in the army. It allows you to disperse the tank "Leopard 2A7", as well as previous modifications, up to seventy kilometers per hour. Together with hydromechanical transmission and automatic transmission, this gives the car excellent dynamic performance.
Armament
Like its predecessors, the tank "Leopard 2A7"armed with a 120mm Rheinmetall gun. In the process of upgrading the tank, the barrel length was changed, which in this modification is fifty-five calibers. Smooth-bore gun allows you to use different types of ammunition. To hit armored targets, the main type is a sabot projectile. Along with the modernization tool, munitions were also subjected, which received a longer striking element with perfect aerodynamics. This led to an increase in the length of the shot and a change in the breech of the gun. The speed of the projectile increased due to a more powerful charge and duration of acceleration in the barrel of an elongated gun. The L55 cannon is considered the most advanced artillery system used in modern tanks for armor penetration and fire accuracy.
In addition to sub-caliber ammunition, a tank canuse cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation projectiles included in its ammunition. "Leopard" does not have in its arsenal of guided missiles launched from a cannon, like Russian tanks, and it does not have an automatic weapon loading system. It is difficult to say whether these shortcomings devalue the perfect artillery armament of the German tank. The machine also has two MG-3 machine guns of 7.62 mm caliber. It was expected that the seventh modification would be equipped with a remote-controlled turret machine gun, but tanks with a traditional machine-gun point entered the troops.
Reservation
German tank design school is alwaysdiffered increased attention to the protection of the machine and crew. Since the creation of a tank has always been an art of compromise, the gain in booking turned into a loss in weight, size and dynamics. Tank "Leopard 2A7", the 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 enhancing the booking of multi-layer combined armor are clearly visible. Tilt angles of armor plates are as close as possible to sharp ones. The total thickness of armor in the most vulnerable projections exceeded one meter.
The tank is equipped with side screens thatmay be amplified by dynamic protection blocks. In addition to external booking, the interior of the tank is divided by armored steel partitions. The engine compartment is separated from the fighting compartment, and the ammunition of the shells in the stern of the turret has an armored wall that cuts it off from the habitable compartment. In the stern of the tower, expelling panels are arranged to divert the energy of an explosion of ammunition to the outside. Together with protection partitioning, this creates a fairly high level of crew safety.
Equipment
It is difficult to overestimate the combat equipment of moderntank media information on tactical conditions, navigation, communications and firing. Today, electronic and optical equipment is the main direction of progress of military equipment. This was reflected in the fact that the characteristics of the tank "Leopard 2A7" are significantly different from the level of the first models. The perfect weapon stabilization system significantly improved the accuracy and accuracy of shooting, allowing you to hit the target with the first shot. Crew members are equipped with more advanced optical devices. The tank is equipped with several thermal imagers with a matrix of high resolution, which strengthened the position in conditions of reduced visibility. The sights of the tank commander and gunner are included in the unified combat control system. She also controls the instrument, equipped with a laser rangefinder and an electronic ballistic computer, taking into account the factors of wear, deformation of the barrel and external conditions. The crew has a navigation and communication system that allows the tank to be included in the tactics of a network-centric battle.
Comparison with the T-90 tank
Comparison of the characteristics of potential tanksopponents have always been the subject of debate, reaching an epic emotional intensity. Such disputes are both exciting and meaningless. The tank is a combat system used in the context of other weapons systems and in accordance with the concept of a particular army. Comparing and putting the tank "Leopard-2A7" against the T-90, it can be concluded that the Russian machine is more perfect. After all, "Leopard" does not have an automatic loader, there are no long-range guided missiles. It is much heavier and more massive, which is reflected in the dynamics and larger silhouette of the body. Despite the excellent booking, he does not have mounted blocks of dynamic protection. The number of crew members is greater than in the Russian tank. This is all true, but only on one side. From another point of view, the “Leopard 2A7” versus the T-90 has clear advantages. A more powerful elongated projectile and the ability to hit a target from the first shot, even in motion, makes the tank a very dangerous opponent. The commander's excellent knowledge of the tactical situation, provided with perfect equipment, allows the 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 merits, the family of tanks, inwhich includes "Leopard 2A7" can be called the most non-military tanks. Combat use was limited to operations in Afghanistan, in which they were not opposed by any enemy tanks. Nevertheless, this main battle tank is 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 Soviet-made cars in the states that have joined the NATO bloc.
