Canadian Leopards prepare for Afghanistan

[DutchPower]

lol,, oke =) nice

[ice55]

Leopard 1A5

Specifications
Weight: 42.5 tonnes
Length: 9.54 m
Width: 3.37 m
Height: 2.62 m
Crew: 4 (commander, driver, gunner, radio operator/loader)

Armour and armament
Armour: 70 mm
Main armament: 105mm rifled tank gun
Secondary armament: 2×7.62 mm MG 3i (co-axial and commander's hatch)

Mobility
Power plant: 10-cylinder, multi-fuel engine 830hp (620 kW)
Suspension: torsion-bar
Power/weight: 20 hp/tonne

Road speed: 65 km/h
Range: 600 km

M1A1 Abrams

Specifications
Weight 63.0 tonnes (69.5 short tons)
Length 7.92 m (26 ft)
Width 3.64 m (12 ft)
Height 2.43 m (8 ft)
Crew 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)

Armour and armament
Armour: Chobham, RHA
Primary armament: 120 mm M256 Smooth Bore Tank Gun
Secondary armament: 1× .50 (12.7 mm) M2 BMG machine gun,
2× M240 7.62 mm machine guns (1 pintle, 1 coaxial)

Mobility
Engine: AGT-1500 turbine engine, Renk HSWL 354 transmission
1500 hp (1119 kW)
Suspension:torsion bar
Power/weight:24 hp/tonne

Speed Road: 72 km/h (45 mph)
Off-road: 48 km/h (30 mph)
Operational range: 465 km (288 mi)

T-80U

Specifications
Weight 46 tonnes
Length 7.01 m
Width 3.60 m
Height 2.20 m
Crew 3 (driver, gunner, commander)

Armour and armament
Armour: composite armour
Main armament 125 mm 2A46 smoothbore gun
Secondary armament: 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun 12.7 mm NSVT anti-aircraft machine gun

Mobility
Power plant: gas turbine 1,250 hp (930 kW)
Suspension: torsion bar
Power/weight: 27 hp/tonne

Road speed 70 km/h
Range 335 km, 600 km with extra tanks

[WoodChipper]

Good to see that the tanks are being sent over. I know one thing. If Canada sends them they won't be sitting idle in the camp like other contingents equipment. I also won't be surprised that other units over there will be calling on them for supporting their operations. Awesome to see Canada take the lead on this.

[Bzzliteyr]

The Leopard C2 is a later variant of the Leopard 1, it is not to be mistaken with the Leo 2 family, as is often the case. I will point out however that our Leo C2s have the EMES 18 sight in them versus the Leo 2 EMES 15. That means that our thermal sighting system is actually improved over the Leo 2 and definetly more efficient than that of the US Abrams MBT.

To compare apples to apples means you cannot compare the M1 to the Leo C2 as one is a heavy tank and the other is a medium.

[Echo300]

Nice pics

[dragon2w]

Do you know if the Leo-1C2 will be retrofitted with the extra armor?

[ice55]

Do you know if the Leo-1C2 will be retrofitted with the extra armor?

I believe the C2 is uparmoured already, but I am not positive with what.

The below is from wikpedia. I am unsure what happened with the referred to MEXAS (Modular Expandable Armor System) appliqué armour kit applied, made by German firm IBD Deisenroth Engineering or to the tanks that did have it applied. Maybe someone can answer that question as well.

Canada

While investigating the possibilities of increasing the Leopards' armour and adding thermal night-vision equipment, five or six Leopard C1 tanks had an extremely thick MEXAS (Modular Expandable Armor System) appliqué armour kit applied, made by German firm IBD Deisenroth Engineering. These tanks served with Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) in the KFOR mission in Kosovo and designated as Leopard C1A1s. They were later upgraded with the same sights and fire-control system as the Leopard C2 (below).

Starting in 2000, the 114 Leopard C1 tanks in service were upgraded to Leopard C2 at a cost of CAD $139 million. The turrets of 123 surplus Leopard 1A5 tanks purchased from the German Defence Ministry were fitted into the existing Canadian tanks (nine turrets were reserved for spare parts and training), and the German tank hulls sold back to the upgrade contractor. The Leopard C2 is also equipped with thermal sights and EMES 18 fire-control system. Eighteen Leopard Crew Gunnery Trainers were purchased at the same time.

Canada also operates the Leopard 1-based Beaver bridgelayer and Taurus armoured recovery vehicle, bought with the original Leopard C1, and the Badger armoured engineering vehicle with a dozer blade and excavator bucket, which entered service in 1990.

A number of the Canadian Leopard tanks were pulled out of service in anticipation of replacing them with the eight-wheeled Mobile Gun System. These plans were put on hold, and the Canadian Army web site list indicates that 66 Leopard C2 remain in service.[1]

Canada plans to send a squadron of the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) to Afghanistan, equipped with fifteen Leopard C2 tanks.[2] The armoured squadron is intended to provide convoy protection, supporting Canada's Provincial Reconstruction Teams and other organizations equipped with lighter vehicles. The Globe and Mail reported that negotiations are under way with the United States to arrange airlift of the tanks to Afghanistan.[3]

[Pte.Shrubb]

Thats my dads regiment that is going over, hes trying so hard to get over there with them but his boss says hes to important in the position he is in now to go

[EvanL]

I saw one of them being carried on a flat bed headed West on Hunt Club the other day.

[Gryphon81]

that was my question also. how many mexas c2's do we have and are they the ones being sent ?

[saigonsmuggler]

well even a '70s M60A3 TTS had better thermal sights than the M1A1.

But all M1A1's are being upgraded to the same gunner's thermal sight (2nd gen FLIR) as that of the M1A2 SEP.

[ice55]

I saw one of them being carried on a flat bed headed West on Hunt Club the other day.

Hmmmm......DEW Engineering is over on Hawthorne (St. Laurant Blvd South) by Hunt club and I know that in the past they have worked on the LEO's and other vehicles for armouring.

[Bzzliteyr]

There is an armour upgrade kit out there.. but I am not at liberty to discuss how many or whether or not we will be using them due to OPSEC concerns.

[Gryphon81]

i just noticed that my question re the number of mexas tanks had already been posted. does anyone know however if those will be at the front of the line for deployment ?

[hedgehog]

The M1 has a German transmission? (renk) ?