The Leopard 2 came about from the joint German-US ‘Battle Tank 70’ program, which was abandoned after costs rose above what the West German government was willing to spend. However, out of the ashes arose a phoenix, the outstanding Leopard 2 main battle tank.
The first prototypes developed by Krauss-Maffei were delivered for testing in 1972. The 1973 Yom Kippur War between Israel and Egypt highlighted the importance of armoured protection, and the Leopard 2 developed into a much more heavily armoured vehicle than its predecessor, the Leopard 1. Its composite armour, incorporating layers of materials with different protective characteristics, improved its protection against a variety of anti-tank warheads, while retaining its predecessor's extraordinary speed.
Initially the prototypes were fitted with 105mm guns, but a new more powerful smooth-bore 120mm gun by Rheinmetall was selected (the same gun that would eventually be fitted to the American’s M1 Abrams tank). Combined with a excellent fire-control system, stabilisation, a laser range-finder, and firing Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilised Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) penetrator rounds, the Leopard 2 has proved itself time and time again the best tank in NATO shooting competitions.
Leopard 2 Panzer Zug Contains:
- Plastic Leopard 2 main battle tanks x5
- Resin tank commander sprue x1
- Decal sheet x1
Note: Old boxart. Models supplied unassembled and unpainted. Plastic and resin parts.
Scale: 15mm.
