Main Tank Leopard One

Main tank LEOPARD 1

Development of the tank began in 1957 with France. However, the attempt to create a single “European” (standard) of the tank failed. Practical work in both countries were conducted in parallel, and in 1963, before the end of the comparative trials of German and French tanks, Germany refused to cooperate with France. Each country has to create its national tanks – “Leopard” in Germany and AMX-30 in France.

In developing the Leopard-1 “among all the combat characteristics of the preference was given firepower and mobility. In the future, changing views of the German designers of the importance of security of the tank in modern warfare, a number of activities associated with an increase in its level.

The first order for production of 1,500 tanks were placed in 1963, and in September 1965 the first production tank “Leopard” solemnly handed over to the Bundeswehr. The total demand in the army of Germany Leopard “was defined in 2437 units.

By the mid 70-ies industry has completed the scheduled program, releasing several series of tanks with various improvements. They got the designation “Leopard 1A1, Leopard 1A2, Leopard 1A3 and Leopard 1A4.

In the mid 80-ies it was decided to modernize tanks Leopard-1A1 », using some of the technical solutions developed under the program” Leopard 2 “. In December 1986 the first modernized tanks were designated as “Leopard-1A5″, entered the Bundeswehr.
Layout

The tank has a classical scheme of the overall layout. Driver-mechanic located in the bow of the hull, place shifted to the starboard side. Tank commander and gunner are in the fighting compartment to the right of the gun, and charging – the left of it.

Engine-transmission unit with a longitudinally mounted engine occupies a volume of 6.2 cubic meters. m at the stern of the hull. All the fuel tank capacity of 985 liters are in logistics. Ammunition gun placed in front of the case to the left of the driver’s mechanics (42 shots), and in the fighting compartment (18 shots). Total booked amount of the tank is 18.2 cu. m, of which 4.2 cu. m falls on a tower.
Firepower

The main armament is a 105-mm rifled gun L7A3, manufactured in Germany by the British license. Ejector installed in the zone of high pressure and with an eccentric location on the trunk does not reduce the angle of reducing gun.

The accuracy of fire is increased by applying heat-resistant casing, as well as recoil devices, creating a small resistance retracement before the departure of the projectile bore. The barrel has a quick connection pipe breech. It is designed to produce at least 400 shots. Maximum pressure of powder gases when fired up to 4300 kg / sq. One can see firing 105-mm projectiles, not only of German production, but also and manufactured by Canada, France, Britain, Israel and the United States.

Ammunition is 60 unitary gun shots. It includes armor-piercing, cumulative and armor-piercing high-explosive shells, and shells with ready bomblets.

In MSA provides duplicate fire control from the commander. His daytime panoramic sight is dependent stabilization of the visual field. As night sight uses thermal imaging attachment to the main channel of the gunner’s sight.

Main Gunner’s EMES-18 combined with a laser rangefinder. Thermal channel provides the firing of guns at night at ranges up to 2000 meters. The field of view sight has an independent stabilization in two planes. In the tank, an automatic built-in system validation sight and control system functioning fire control system. Besides the main Gunner’s subsidiary has articulated telescopic sight FERO-Z12.

Gunner’s and commander are provided with automatic closing curtains that prevent blindness when fired at night. Electronic ballistic computer generates an amendment to the target speed, cross wind, distance to the target, roll pins guns, air temperature and atmospheric pressure, the speed of its own tank and barrel wear. The tank is installed two-scene stabilizer arms electrohydraulic type.

As an auxiliary weapons used two 7.62-mm machine gun (coaxial with the gun and anti-aircraft).
Security of

Housing tank welded from monolithic armor plates. The top sheet has a frontal angle of 60 degrees. The sides are protected sectional protivokumulyativnymi screens of rubberized steel plates with thickness of 10 mm.

Tower cast (for modifications, starting with 1A3 – welded), with additional armor. The tank is equipped with FVU and fire equipment, similar to those used on the Leopard 2. For smoke-screens are used, eight grenades (four on each side of the tower).

The tank is covered with paint-distorting, impeding its detection in both day and infrared night vision devices. Reduce heat radiation power plant is provided by mixing exhaust gases with the air flow from the fan cooling system in a special chamber.
Mobility

In the ITO in a single block of transmission and service systems installed multi-ten-four liquid-cooled diesel 838 MB UMA-500. Weight of the block – 4600 lbs. Start the engine is electric start; design of transmission allows the engine start with the tug.

Dual-stream hydromechanical transmission 4NR-250 includes odnoreaktornuyu integrated hydraulic transmission with a locking clutch, planetary gearbox and steering differential type. Planetary gearbox with two degrees of freedom has automatic switching.

To control the rotation of the wheel is used. It is possible to duplicate traffic control from the commander. In addition, the device is designed for remote control of the movement of the tank through a cable or radio channel (for example, in dealing with water hazards on the bottom). To control the functioning units and systems of the power block has a built-in diagnostic equipment.

Caterpillar tracks contains the reference to 7 and 4 to support the ice rink on board, idlers with the mechanism of tension, the driving wheels, tracks with rubber-metal hinges.

In the system of suspension used torsion bar suspension with telescopic Hydromount at 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 knots. Caterpillar has a shaft treadmill and removable rubber cushion. Guide wheels are interchangeable with the road wheels. Mileage to overhaul installed 10000 miles.

In the tank there is ultra telephone simplex radio SEM-90 with a range of operating frequencies of 30-80 MHz.
Modifications Leopard-1 “

Leopard-1 “(1965-67 gg.) – The base model.

Leopard-1A1 »(1967-1972 gg.) – Featuring installation of heat-resistant casing of the gun barrel, side protivokumulyativnyh screens and the use of the stabilizer arms (after 1971), caterpillars of the new design with a removable rubber cushions and equipment for underwater driving.

Leopard-1A1A1 »-« Leopard 1A1 “with heavy armor and masks the gun turret. The tank has increased to 760 kg.

Leopard 1A2 (1973) – differed from the Leopard 1A1 “extra armor towers, improved protection from weapons of mass destruction and installation of active-passive devices monitor the commander and driver.

Leopard 1A3 (1973-1974.) – On the tank instead of the cast is set welded turret with spaced armor and a wedge-shaped armor mask gun, and introduced improvements introduced in the tanks earlier modifications.

Leopard 1A4 (1974) – equipped with new fire control system, which included a laser sight-rangefinder, ballistic computer, a commander with a panoramic sight of the independent stabilization of the visual field.

Leopard-1A5 »(1986) – equipped with new fire control system, including thermal imaging, high-speed fire suppression system, as well as a higher level of armor protection on the conventional means of destruction compared to the Leopard 1A1.

Based on Leopard-1 “created a self-propelled anti-aircraft unit” Cheetah “, BREM BPz-2″ Standard “, launched bridge” Biber “and armored engineering vehicle” Pionirpantser “(manufactured by Krupp MaK). On the basis of bridge layer “Biber” in 1983, developed a self-propelled multi-span bridge.
Manufacture and supply of export

Serial production Leopard-1 “was organized at tankosborochnyh factories firms” Krauss Maffei “and” Krupp MaK “since 1965. Since 1971, the tanks of the first four episodes upgraded to “Leopard-1A1». 232 Leopard 1A2 were manufactured in 1973 and 110 Leopard 1A3 “, in 1973-74. In 1974 he was released 250 Leopard 1A4 (the last, sixth series). In 1985 it was decided to modernize the 1300 Leopard 1A1A1 “to the level of” Leopard 1A5. Results prior to 1992 was modernized in 1275 tanks, and the rest planned to convert to 1995. Today, almost all the tanks Leopard 1 “correspond to the level of model A5.

Since 1967, Germany exported tanks Leopard 1 in Belgium (334 units), Netherlands (468 units), Norway (78 units), Australia (90 units), Denmark (120 units), Canada (114 units), Turkey ( 227 units) and Greece (106 units). Leopard-1 “in other countries are sometimes referred to in its own way, for example, in Canada – C1. In some countries preparing their modernization.