The Leopard A1A1 (L/44) is a premium medium tank found in the German tech tree. Equipped with the renowned 120mm Rh120 L/44 cannon, capable of nearly 400mm of penetration with its DM13 APFSDS round, this tank has the potential to dominate the battlefield in skilled hands. While lacking armor, it excels in a sniper-focused playstyle due to its great mobility and firepower.
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| Great firepower | Barely any armor to speak of |
| Great mobility | No autoloader — If the gunner is hit, the reload speed drastically decreases |
| Features thermals & laser rangefinder (LRF) |
Mobility
The Leopard A1A1 (L/44) offers great mobility, powered by an 830 HP engine, reaching speeds of up to 65 km/h forward and 25 km/h backward. While these top speeds can easily be achieved on roads, the tank struggles slightly to reach them in grass, sand or mud. Nevertheless, it has decent acceleration, making it highly maneuverable on various terrains. Compared to the XM1 (GM) and the Leopard 2A4, the A1A1's mobility is slightly worse. However, at the same time, it outperforms many slower tanks, such as the T-72s or ZTZ-96s which are limited by lower top speeds.
Survivability
As part of the Leopard 1 family, the A1A1 (L/44) has barely any armor, offering little protection against modern APFSDS or HEATFS rounds. Its thin armor means it is highly vulnerable to most threats. However, the tank benefits from having a crew of four, which can sometimes allow you to survive one or even two hits if the enemy doesn’t aim for critical areas, such as the ammunition rack. While having the advantage of a low profile, situational awareness is still crucial for survival!
Armaments
As previously mentioned, the two-plane stabilized 120mm L/44 serves as the main armament for the Leopard A1A1 (L/44). This cannon is also featured on several advanced tanks, such as the Leopard 2A4 and Leopard 2K. The tank also features two 7.62 mm MG3A1 machine guns (one coaxial), with a fire rate of 1,200 rounds/min each.
Regarding ammunition, the Leopard has access to the DM12 HEATFS round, capable of 480mm penetration, and the DM13 APFSDS round, which offers 393mm penetration at 10 meters and 0° angle. However, many tanks within its BR range, such as the T-64B, ZTZ-96 and XM1 (GM), feature composite or explosive reactive armor (ERA) that significantly reduce the effectiveness of HEATFS rounds. As a result, the DM12 often leads to non-lethal hits or critical damage at best. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to primarily rely on the DM13 APFSDS round.
Target vulnerable areas such as the lower front plate, sides, or rear for the highest probability of destroying the enemy!
With a reload speed of 8.7 seconds (stock)/6.7 seconds (aced), the Leopard boasts an excellent rate of fire, outperforming many MBTs equipped with autoloaders, such as the MBT-70, XM803, T-64 and T-72, when using a maxed crew, while only a handful of tanks at its BR, such as the XM1 (GM) and TTD, can match its reload speed with an aced crew. This advantage, combined with a turret rotation speed of 16.8°/s (stock) or 24.0°/s (aced), allows the Leopard to quickly react to threats from the side.
Usage in Battle
The Leopard A1A1 (L/44) is best suited for a sniping-focused playstyle due to its limited armor but exceptional gun performance in combination with first gen thermals making spotting tanks easier due to their heat signature. When making use of this playstyle, you will have to be patient and rotate every once in a while as enemies will start to know your position. If you are hit, smoke and leave the area! Also watch out for light tanks that could potentially scout and thus mark you for the entire enemy team. When positioned at long ranges or on high ground, the A1A1‘s mobility allows it to swiftly rotate. However, on maps where sniping isn’t viable, such as urban or densely forested environments, the Leopard requires a more dynamic approach.
If you opt for an aggressive playstyle, make use of the Leopard’s mobility to capture zones or flank enemy positions. Use its speed to quickly relocate, outmaneuver slower opponents, and exploit gaps in the enemy’s line. However, this approach comes with significant risks: the Leopard’s lack of armor makes it highly vulnerable. Situational awareness is crucial—always keep an eye on potential threats, and avoid exposing your sides or rear to enemy fire.
On urban maps, avoid head-on engagements with heavily armored opponents such as the T-72A, T-64B. Instead, focus on ambush tactics, using narrow streets for cover. In these scenarios, your ability to outflank and deliver precise shots to weak points is key. On flanking runs, be aware of fast vehicles like the BMP-2M or M3A3 Bradley!
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Leopard A1A1 (L/44) is a force to be reckoned with. While lacking armor, the tank makes up for this in terms of firepower and speed. It also features thermals and a NVD. For playstyle, it is recommended to snipe the enemies from afar. Also, if you want to grind the german ground tech tree, this vehicle is phenomenal as it’s a premium granting you +100% Research Points (RP) in every match!
