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Leopard 2A4



Overview

Leopard 2A4

Austrian Leopard 2A4 main battle tank on the move.
Source: böringer friedrich - © GNU Attribution Share Alike license

Origin
Germany
Type
Main battle tank
Entered service
1979
Status
In service
Development
1970 - mid 1980's
Developer
Germany
Production
1979 - 1985 (early batches)
1985 - 1992 or 1993 (A4 model)
Producer
Germany - Krauss-Maffei
Germany - MaK
Switzerland
Number produced
2.950 Leopard 2A0 to 2A4
Designations
Pz 87 / Panzer 87 (Swiss production)
Notable users
Germany
Netherlands
Switzerland

Variants

German production models

Leopard 2
First production model. A total of 380 produced from 1979 to 1982.
Leopard 2A1
Second and third production batches. Features various improvements, most notably the EMES-15 gunner's thermal sight. A total of 750 built in two batches between 1982 to 1984.
Leopard 2A2
Update program of all earlier tanks bringing them up to the late batch Leopard 2A1 standard. This program was carried out between 1984 and 1987.
Leopard 2A3
Fourth production batch, fitted with the SEM80/90 digital radio sets. A total of 300 produced from 1984 to 1985.
Leopard 2A4
Final production model, produced in 8 batches from 1985 to 1992. Features a digital fire control system and titanium and tungsten layers added to the armor. Practically all older models were updated to Leopard 2A4 standard.

Export variants

Leopard 2A4NL
Dutch variant of which 445 were acquired. Leopard 2A4 produced in Germany with subcomponents added in the Netherlands. Features Dutch radios, 2x6 smoke grenade launchers and 7.62mm FN MAG machine guns.
Panzer 87
Swiss license production model of the Leopard 2A4. A total of 380 built. Armed with 7.5mm MG 87 machine guns and fitted with a different NBC system.

Details

Facts Leopard 2A4
General
Origin
Germany
Type
Main battle tank
Crew
4 (commander, driver, gunner, loader)
Dimensions
Weight
55.2 t combat load
52 t empty
Length
9.67 m gun forward
7.72 m hull
8.49 m gun rearward
Width
3.70 m including side skirts
Height
2.79 m overall
2.48 m to turret roof
Main armament
Type
120mm Rheinmetall L/44 smoothbore gun
Mount
Main gun in turret, manually loaded
Ammunition
42 rounds, with 15 rounds in turret
Elevation
-9° to +20°, powered
Traverse
360°, powered
Stabilizer
Yes, both axis
Coaxial armament
Type
7.62mm MG3A1 machine gun
Mount
Coaxial with main armament
Ammunition
4.750 round in total
Traverse
Traverse and elevation as main armament
Secondary armament
Type
7.62mm MG3A1 machine gun
Mount
Pintle mount at loader's hatch
Ammunition
4.750 round in total, 250 ready to fire
Elevation
Manual
Traverse
Manual
Stabilizer
No
Chassis
Chassis type
Tracked chassis, 7 roadwheels
Layout
Idler front, drive sprocket rear
Ground pressure
0.83 kg/cm²
Track width
0.635 m
Track on ground
4.95 m
Tread
2.78 m
Suspension
Torsion bar
Automotive
Engine model
MTU MB 873 Ka-501
Engine type
12-cylinder four-stroke liquid-cooled twin turbocharger diesel
Power output
1.500 hp at 2.600 rpm
Transmission
Renk HSWL 354
4 forward, 2 reverse
Fuel
1.200 L
Mobility
Speed
72 km/h on road
31 km/h in reverse
Range
550 km on road
340 km on dirt roads
220 km in the field
Turn radius
Pivot
Power to weight ratio
27.2 hp/t
Obstacle crossing
Ground clearance
0.54 m front
0.48 m rear
Wall
1.1 m
Trench
3 m
Gradient
60 %
Slope
30 %
Fording
1.2 m unprepared
2.5 m with preparation
4 m with snorkel
Protection
Armor type
Spaced multilayer armor over frontal arc
Includes steel, titanium and tungsten layers
NBC system
Yes
Smoke system
4x4 76mm smoke grenade dischargers
Equipment
Night vision
Thermal for gunner
Passive for driver and commander
Fire control
EMES-15 gunner's sight with 12x magnification and thermal sight unit
FERO Z-18 8x auxiliary gunner's sight
PERI-R17 stabilized sight for commander, 2x and 8x magnification
Laser range finder
Digital fire computer
Radio
Yes

Media

Subcomponents

120mm Rheinmetall Rh-120

The Leopard 2 is the first tank to introduce the Rheinmetall 120mm L/44 smoothbore gun.

Read more about 120mm Rheinmetall Rh-120

Rheinmetall MG3

Most Leopard 2A4 tanks are armed with the MG3A1 machine gun as a coaxial and roof mounted machine gun.

Read more about Rheinmetall MG3

FN MAG Coaxial

Some export users use the FN MAG machine gun instead of the German MG3.

Read more about FN MAG Coaxial

Related articles

Leopard 2A5

The Leopard 2A5 is a further development of the Leopard 2A4. It retains the shorter 120mm L/44 smoothbore gun, but gains the recognizable arrowhead type turret armor.

Read more about Leopard 2A5