The Leopard 2 was an offshoot of the MBT-70 -- a cancelled joint development project between the USA and West Germany undertaken in the late 1960s. Even though the US had withdrawn from the project, the West Germans, under the auspices of Krauss-Maffei, continued research and development on the renamed Leopard 2 project. In 1977, the first production vehicles were delivered and exported to the smaller Dutch Army while the West German Bundeswehr waited a couple of years before it too was equipped with the powerful new main battle tank. The Leopard 2 is outfitted with a laser rangefinder, thermal-imaging equipment, and nuclear, biological and chemical defense system (NBC), and can conduct shallow amphibious operations. Its fire control system is unusual because the cartridge cases are combustible, which can lead to internal fires. The Leopard 2 has a 30% better power-to-weight ratio than the Leopard I, which results in increased cross-country mobility and a higher survivability rate on the battlefield.

The most widespread version of the Leopard 2 family, the 2A4 models included more substantial changes, including an automated fire and explosion suppression system, an all-digital fire control system able to handle new ammunition types, and an improved turret with flat titanium/tungsten armor. The Leopard 2s were manufactured in eight batches between 1985 and 1992. All the older models were upgraded to 2A4 standard. Until 1994, Germany operated a total of 2,125 2A4s (695 newly built and the rest modified older versions), while the Netherlands had an additional 445 tanks. The 2A4 was licensed and manufactured in Switzerland as the Panzer 87 "Leopard" or Pz 87. This version included Swiss-built 7.5 mm MG 87 machine guns and communications equipment and featured an improved NBC protection system. Switzerland operated 380 Pz 87 tanks.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a Norwegian Leopard 2A4 tank that comes equipped with a detachable snorkel for fording rivers. Painted in a winter camouflage scheme. Pre-order! Ship Date: May 2024.

Dimensions:
Length: 5-1/4-inches
Width: 2-inches

Release Date: ?

Historical Account: "Before the Snow Flies" - The Leopard 2A4 was built initially in four batches with minor differences between each batch. The fifth batch was built between December 1985 and March 1987 and consisted of 370 vehicles with 190 built by Krauss-Maffei, and the remaining 180 by MaK. In this batch, the fire control system was fitted with a digital computer to enable them to use new ammunition, and a fire and explosion suppression system developed by Deugra was installed to improve the crew's survivability. The return rollers were also re-positioned. The turret armor was increased to the equivalent of 700mm for kinetic energy shots and 1000mm for HEAT rounds.

A sixth batch of 150 vehicles was built between January 1988 and May 1989 with 83 built by Krauss-Maffei and 67 by MaK. Improvements included the introduction of Diehl 570FT tracks, the installation of maintenance-free batteries, and the use of zinc cromate free paint. The central warning system light was also installed in a small housing on the hull, in front of the driver's station, for better observation by the driver when driving unbuttoned. In addition, the ammunition supply hatch in the left side of the turret was deleted.

Production of 100 examples in the seventh batch of vehicles began in May 1989 and ended in April 1990, with 55 built by Krauss-Maffei and 45 by MaK. An eighth batch was built between January 1991 and March 1992, with 75 vehicles being delivered, 40 of which were built by Krauss-Maffei and a further 35 by MaK. Improvements included slight modifications of the base mounts for the smoke grenade dischargers, and a muzzle reference system was fitted to the right side of the 120mm main gun, near the barrel's end. This modification was subsequently retrofitted to the vehicles produced in the previous batches.