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 Even though the US had withdrawn from the project, the West Germans, under the auspices of Krauss-Maffei, continued research and development on the renamed Leopard 2 project.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 Leopard 2 Improved was developed into the Leopard 2A5. Most of its improvements were focused on armor protection; it was enhanced by adding external add-on modules to the turret and replacing the turret's internal armor modules with ones of newer, improved composition. The interior received spall liners to reduce fragments if the armor is penetrated. The commander's sight was moved to a new position behind the hatch and it received an independent thermal channel. The gunner's sight was moved to the turret roof as opposed to the cavity in the front armor in previous models. A heavier sliding driver's hatch was fitted.

The hydraulic turret drives were replaced by an all-electric system, increasing reliability and crew safety, as well as weight savings. The gun braking system was improved to prepare for the later mounting of the new L/55 gun tube and to enable firing of more powerful ammunition, such as the DM53 APFSDS. The first A5s were handed over to the German army tank school in 1995 and started to enter regular service with Panzerbataillon 33 in December the same year.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a Turkish Kampfpanzer Leopard 2A4 main battle tank that was attached to the 2nd Cavalry Armored Brigade, that saw service along the Syrian-Turkish border in 2016. Pre-order! Ship Date: July 2026.

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

Release Date: ?

Historical Account: "Turkish Taffy" - The Turkish-Syrian National Army offensive in Northern Syria (2024-2025) refers to a series of military operations launched by Turkey and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) amid the fall of the Assad regime. As part of the 2024 opposition offensives, the SDF captured territory held by the Assad regime including in and around Aleppo. Amidst these gains, on 30 November 2024 the SNA announced Operation Dawn of Freedom, aiming to expand Turkish-controlled territory, weaken the SDF, prevent Kurdish autonomy in post-Assad Syria, and align with Turkish initiatives to establish a 30-kilometer deep buffer zone in the north of the country. The SNA quickly seized most of the Aleppo governate held by the SDF, other than the Ayn al-Arab District. The SNA the captured Manbij in December 2024, which had been controlled by the SDF since 2016. The SNA however failed to take the strategically important Tishrin Dam and Qara-Qowzak bridge. Fighting continued into 2025, until a ceasefire in April brokered by the Syrian transitional government which saw Kurdish forces withdrew to the eastern bank of the Euphrates river while government security forces would be deployed at the Tishrin Dam to establish a barrier between SDF and SNA forces.