Leopard 2, Leo 1 and Abrams
These tanks are rolling into Ukraine
2/9/2023 5:57 p.m
The West has been hesitating for months, now the armed forces of Ukraine are supposed to get modern battle tanks after all. What models, versions and series can the Ukrainians count on? An overview of delivered tanks of all types and announced deliveries from western stocks.
More heavy weapons will soon be used in the war in Ukraine: several Western countries have promised to supply the Ukrainians with real battle tanks to defend them against the Russian attackers. The heavily armed high-tech machines should enable the Ukrainians to defend themselves against the overwhelming power of the Russian invaders.
In the war zone, however, the promised Leopard, Abrams or Challenger tanks are not the first western-made heavy weapons. Parallel to the “turning point” announced by Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz last spring, the Bundestag cleared the way for the delivery of urgently needed armaments of all kinds shortly after the beginning of the war.
Since then, for example, not only helmets, medical supplies and rocket-propelled grenades have come from Germany, but also powerful special equipment such as the anti-aircraft tank Gepard and the Panzerhaubitze 2000. The anti-aircraft tank Gepard was already a thing of the past in the Bundeswehr. The last copies were retired in 2010. In Ukraine, however, they are apparently still proving to be very useful.
Anti-aircraft tanks from Germany
The Panzerhaubitze 2000, on the other hand, is high-tech material from the active stock. Together with the Dutch, Germany handed over 14 of these rolling turrets to Ukraine.
In the abundance of the supplied material, the overview can quickly become lost. The outline drawings shown here classify the various tank types in the current debate based on basic technical characteristics. At the same time, the overview makes it easier to follow the ongoing reporting.
Rolling high-tech turret
From the German point of view, the deliveries of modern battle tanks to Ukraine promised as part of the “Panzerwende” revolve around tracked vehicles of the Leopard 2 A6 type.
These massively armored vehicles are currently still in use by the Bundeswehr. Among other things, they have a fully stabilized 120 mm cannon, with which the crew of four can, if necessary, fight enemy tanks at full speed over distances of up to five kilometers.
The modern German leopard
Compared to its predecessors, the A6 version of the Leopard 2 is equipped with an improved gun, stronger protection against booby traps and mines, and additional sensor technology. With the upgrades, the two Leo manufacturers, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall, are reacting in particular to the experience gained in the field.
A total of 18 countries have equipped their armed forces with Leopard 2 tanks. Only a fraction of the 3,500 units built so far has a Y license plate: the Bundeswehr currently has just over 200 operational Leopard 2s. A good half of them are A6 version tanks. The other half consists of the previous version A5.
The older version of the Leo 2
Battle tanks are weapons of war and are subject to strict export regulations under German law. German armaments companies cannot simply resell vehicles that they have leased or taken back for other reasons to customers abroad.
Large numbers of used battle tanks are therefore stockpiled in the workshops of the manufacturers involved. Sales negotiations are complicated: Not a single tank can be handed over without the approval of the federal government.
The predecessor model Leo 1
The Leopard 1 was the first German main battle tank model after the Second World War. The concept and development date back to the early 1960s. The basic features of the tank are completely tailored to the needs of national defense under the strategic considerations of the “Cold War” era.
Leo 1 tanks are only slightly smaller, but significantly lighter than Leopard 2 and also weaker armed. The main weapon of the Leo 1 is the 105mm gun. It fires explosive and kinetic energy projectiles in a smaller caliber than the Leo 2 and therefore requires different ammunition. In skirmishes in the Ukraine, the Leo 1 should still be effective despite its advanced age and comparatively economical sensor equipment.
Main battle tank from the USA
In January 2023, Washington received a commitment for 31 copies of the US main battle tank M1A2 Abrams. The 57-ton tanks are similar in size and weight to the German Leopard 2. Because both tank models have the same smoothbore guns, the Abrams and Leopard 2 can fire standard ammunition in the same NATO caliber.
However, when it comes to maintaining and repairing damaged vehicles, Ukrainians face greater challenges. While the 1500 hp engine of the Leopard 2 can be changed by a trained crew within a few hours, even under field conditions, the gas turbine system of the Abrams probably requires significantly more effort.
The British battle tank
The availability of ammunition and spare parts are crucial factors in war. The delivery of additional tank models does not make crew training and supply logistics any easier. After all, most modern battle tanks from Western arsenals have multi-fuel engines that can be refueled with alternative types of fuel, at least under combat conditions.
British Challenger 2 tanks, like the German Leopard, regularly run on diesel. However, the main weapon, the 120 mm British-made gun, has a rifled barrel as standard, so it needs specially suitable tank shells. In contrast to the smoothbore guns of the Leopard 2 and Abrams, however, the British can achieve significantly greater combat distances.
The old German armored personnel carrier
Main battle tanks without accompanying infantry soldiers are easy prey for enemy attempts to defend themselves. The armor protection hinders the overview, and in most cases only the front parts of the hull and the turret walls are armored with thick layers. Hits from the side, from above or even from behind can usually penetrate the armor more easily.
Therefore, tanks usually never fight alone, but in combination with infantry soldiers, long-range artillery and reconnaissance units. Specially designed infantry fighting vehicles advance with charging columns of tanks, providing flanking fire support and deploying their infantry squads close to the main battle line. Germany therefore wants to give the Ukrainians 40 martens for defense. In the Bundeswehr, these armored personnel carriers are to be gradually replaced by the modern Puma model.
Abrams companion Bradley
The Americans are also supplying 59 M2/M3 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles as well as 90 Stryker wheeled armored vehicles, which were built for similar purposes but can accommodate more soldiers. Washington said the contingent should enable Ukraine to “advance and retake territory.”
The Europeans initially want to provide Ukraine with enough Leopard 2 tanks for two full tank battalions. According to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, the first of these will consist of the Leo 2 A6 models, which are almost as good as new and can be deployed quickly. For the second battalion, which will probably take a little longer to assemble, the older Leopard 2A4s are being considered.
Armor breakthrough from Paris
Whether France will join the European Ukraine aid with battle tanks is still open. President Emmanuel Macron has so far hesitated with delivery commitments for the French Leclerc main battle tank model. However, the delivery of French wheeled armored vehicles of the type AMX-10 has been firmly promised.
The vehicle, which is used by the French armed forces as a “light battle tank” or as a “reconnaissance tank”, is usually used for armed reconnaissance. This tank model was of particular importance in the debate about supporting Ukraine with heavy weapons: the surprising AMX commitment from Paris at the beginning of the year had the effect of a symbolic push on the western allies, which was followed by further tank approvals.