https://wiki.warthunder.com/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=U85854569&feedformat=atomWar Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T12:20:47ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Pz.III_L&diff=115808Pz.III L2021-11-12T15:27:50Z<p>U85854569: /* Ammunition */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=germ_pzkpfw_III_ausf_L<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' ('''Panzer III L''') is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before Update 1.41.<br />
<br />
The Ausf. L modification is intended to improve the protection of the [[Pz.III J1| J variant]] by mounting an additional 20 mm thick armour plates on the front of the hull and turret. While this certainly improve its resistance against HEAT and HE projectiles(which explode on impact, and damage only the first layer of armour), as well as classic AP, more than a single layer 70 mm would do, there are small "holes" in these armour plates - around the driver's viewport and machinegun port. Turret front armour itself also got increased from 50 to 57 mm.<br />
<br />
The 5 cm cannon on this tank is best suited to short-mid range combat, while engaging enemies from the sides and/or rear if at all possible. This gun can allow the tank to hold its own in frontal engagements against angled KVs and T34s, but only at short range where the PzGr40s and 40/1 still have impressive penetration. The gun fires very fast and is accurate even at long range. When fighting tanks that can be penetrated easily, one should use the default ammo as it does more damage than the APCR.<br />
<br />
There are also attached tracks to lower plate of the vehicle, adding extra protection. All this extra armour adds about 1.5 tons, slightly slowing down the machine. Other properties of the vehicle remain unchanged.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
*Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
*Cast homogeneous armour (Cupola)<br />
*High hardness rolled armour (Appliqué armour)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 50 + 20 mm (12°) ''Front plate'' <br> 25 mm (85°), 50 mm (52°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 50 mm (25°) ''Lower glacis'' || 30 mm || 50 mm || 15 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 57 mm + 20 mm ''Turret front'' <br> 50 + 20 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 30 mm || 30 mm || 10 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Cupola || 50 mm || 10 mm<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* It has 50 mm of armour at the front of the hull and 57 on the turret front, but there is an additional 20mm plate on the upper hull and at the front of the turret, increasing the effective armour to 70mm and 77mm respectively. When the armour is angled, this tank becomes very strong frontally.<br />
* The strong turret armour makes this tank powerful when hull-down, as many enemies will only be able to penetrate your cupola, only knocking out the commander. However, don't allow anyone to freely fire there, as some unlucky shot fired there can still occasionally cause severe damage.<br />
* The side and rear armour of the tank are thin, but it is possible to bounce shots from the side armour if it is angled steeply while side-scraping.<br />
* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick.<br />
<br />
Panzer III L has pretty good frontal armour, but there are several weak spots - around the driver's viewport and machinegun port, and few small spots on the turret, where armour is only 50 mm thick and completely flat, aim there. Sides and rear are very thin, if you can target these areas (even under quite a high angle), they are penetrable very easily. If you have powerful enough gun, you can try to outgun it from afar, where its own 5 cm gun will struggle with penetration.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=465|rbMinHp=265}}<br />
<br />
The Panzer III L is a relatively mobile tank compared to many of its opponents, allowing it to flank it situations where going head-on may not be safe, although it is not nearly as fast or mobile as light tanks of the same level. This mobility is best used to place pressure on a crippled opponent, or quickly capture or neutralise a point to prevent ticket loss whilst it is undefended.<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' --><br />
{{main|KwK39 (50 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[KwK39 (50 mm)|50 mm KwK39]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 84 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 13.3 || 18.4 || 22.4 || 24.8 || 26.4 || rowspan="2" | 4.81 || rowspan="2" | 4.25 || rowspan="2" | 3.92 || rowspan="2" | 3.70<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 8.3 || 9.8 || 11.9 || 13.2 || 14.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
<br />
* '''PzGr 39''' - Armour Piercing Capped shell - This is your main ammo type, use it whenever you think it has enough penetration to penetrate your target. It deals the most damage, because of its explosive filler. It also offers the best penetration at very long range (over 1500 m), combat at this range is however not recommended.<br />
* '''PzGr 40/1''' - Armour Piercing Composite Rigid shell - This type of ammo should be used if you are having trouble penetrating your opponent, or trying to hit a fast-moving tank at some distance. However, its damaging potential is much lower, because it has no explosive filler to further enhance damage after the penetration. It should be used only at close range, at medium range, PzGr 40 is better.<br />
* '''PzGr 40''' - Armour Piercing Composite Rigid shell - this variation of APCR is lighter, slightly faster and offers the best penetration. Use it against heavily armoured tanks like KV-1 (If you can't flank them). However, don't expect it to cause any real damage upon penetration, its even worse than that of PzGr 40/1. It basically only deals damage to modules/crew straight in its path. It is therefore almost useless to fire them at things like turret cupolas, as it will usually just fly right through them.<br />
* '''SprGr 38''' - High Explosive ammo - You should carry only very few of these. They are completely useless against anything other than unarmoured AA vehicles, to which it is lethal, which is useful as the vehicle, like many German vehicles at this level, lack an AA machine gun on the turret roof, and the coaxial MG is not always the most efficient.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| PzGr 39 || APC || 106 || 102 || 85 || 68 || 54 || 43<br />
|-<br />
| PzGr 40/1 || APCR || 130 || 121 || 90 || 62 || 43 || 29<br />
|-<br />
| PzGr 40 || APCR || 137 || 126 || 88 || 56 || 36 || 23<br />
|-<br />
| Sprgr. 38 || HE || 5 || 5 || 5 || 5 || 5 || 5<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| PzGr 39 || APC || 835 || 2.05 || 1.2 || 9 || 28.9 || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| PzGr 40/1 || APCR || 1,130 || 1.07 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 66° || 70° || 72°<br />
|-<br />
| PzGr 40 || APCR || 1,180 || 0.9 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 66° || 70° || 72°<br />
|-<br />
| Sprgr. 38 || HE || 550 || 1.81 || 2 || 0.1 || 170 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_Pz.IIIJ1.png|right|thumbnail|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of the Panzer III J1 (identical).]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated: 1.101.1.14''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''84''' || 70&nbsp;''(+14)'' || 62&nbsp;''(+22)'' || 34&nbsp;''(+50)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+83)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Turret empty: 62&nbsp;''(+22)''<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' --><br />
{{main|MG34 (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[MG34 (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm MG34]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 3,750 (150) || 900 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' --><br />
This tank is very versatile as it can do head on engagements, it's good at flanking, and features a rapid-firing 50 mm gun with excellent penetration capability compared to the other nations' medium tanks at similar battle rating. When it comes to the tanks survivability, it's best to keep a reasonable distance to the enemy target to keep the enemies gun out of a solid penetration range. The additional 20 mm frontal plate on the Panzer III L version makes its survivability much higher at long range combat compared to the older J1 version.<br />
<br />
The box shaped armour with no angle makes it an easy target to penetrate so be advised to angle the frontal armour or go full throttle and try to flank the enemy. The Pz III L got a decent turret rotation in case it is forced into a close quarters battle with an enemy tank, but keep in mind that distance with the tank is preferable. Though it can take on most tanks in a head on battle and distance battles makes it a very versatile tank to use in most kinds of situations one will happen to get into when playing with it.<br />
<br />
The Panzer III L's long 50 mm cannon is no laughing matter, with its high rate of fire it can be deadly to enemy opponent if it gets the first shot, with a reliable gun that can corner most enemy tanks at 2.0-4.0 BR range. It will penetrate most enemy tanks, though there are some that require more careful aiming in order to be successful, mostly tanks like [[M4 Sherman (Family)|M4 Shermans]], [[M10 (Family)|M10/Achilles]], [[T-34 (Family)|T-34s]], [[ARL-44 (ACL-1)]], [[KV-1 (Family)|KV-1s]] and [[Churchill (Family)|Churchills]]. Angled armoured tanks like the M4, M10/Achilles, T-34 can possess a certain difficult reliability for the 50 mm gun to penetrate them with ease. Churchill have no angled armour but can still pose a threat to the tank with its heavier armour compared to the medium and light tanks. ARL-44 (ACL-1) and the KV-1 get both heavy and angled armour and will be a tricky opponent to face for the Panzer III's 50 mm gun but they still are not impossible opponents to defeat. In these situations it is best to use the manoeuvrability of the Panzer III to flank them and attack their sides, although it may be best to avoid KV-1s altogether due to their heavy side armour.<br />
<br />
With the speed of the Panzer III, it can outmanoeuvre heavier tanks with ease and flank around them for an easier killing shot if it experiences problems with the enemy frontal armour. It might not be as fast as a light tank, but a top speed of 53 km/h (33 mph) makes the second fastest medium tank at its battle rating. With speed as excellent on this fast medium tank, flanking will not be a problem for it to do.<br />
<br />
* US M4 Shermans have decent strong frontal armour but with angle increasing its survivability against the L/60 gun to be penetrated reliably, especially the HVSS versions are tricky opponents if not knowing how to aim. In close combat the Sherman has the advantage over the Panzer III with its 75 mm gun and angled armour.<br />
* All mentioned USSR tanks have tricky hull armour and can be impenetrable for the L/60, as well as being able to destroy the Panzer III with one well-aimed shot. Avoiding direct confrontation is logical against this kind of enemy. Leave them to your better-armed allies, try to flank them, or aim for weak spots. Use some range to increase the effectiveness of your own armour.<br />
* Pz.IVs and StuGs outgun you at all ranges, you can exchange fire with them or flank them, but they are at an advantage with their long 75 mm cannons. StuG III G can be harder to penetrate.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Strong frontal armour<br />
* High hardness 20 mm plates offer more protection than the usual rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Fast for a medium tank<br />
* Can be angled for more effective armour protection<br />
* Rapid fire gun, good for the sides and rear<br />
* Shells travel fast, making it easier to aim at long distance<br />
* Excellent gun depression<br />
* Fast turret rotation<br />
* Small and well-located ammo racks - the tank is very rarely destroyed by being ammo racked, unlike Pz.IVs<br />
* Winterketten help with navigating rough terrain while retaining mobility<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Gun is unreliable when facing certain tanks frontally (T-34s, [[KV-1 (L-11)|KV-1]], M4s) unless one aims for weak spots or uses the PzGr 40 (APCR) shell<br />
* Gun is bad for long-range combat<br />
* APCR rounds have a poor post-penetration effect<br />
* Armour isn't 70 mm thick at the entire front - machine gun port and the driver viewport are weak spots<br />
* Turret ring is prone to get damaged, even by non-penetrating hits<br />
* Large and vulnerable commander cupola<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The '''Panzerkampfwagen III''' medium tank or the '''Panzer III''' was developed in the 1930s. Starting in early 1934, Heinz Guderian set down some specifications for a new tank, which Army Weapons Department took up to design the tank to weigh no more than 24,000 kilograms with a top speed of 35 km per hour. This tank's role was to be the main tank of the German army and was expected to destroy opposing tanks, as opposed as a tank made to destroy anti-tank guns and opposing infantrymen, which the [[Pz.IV C|Panzer IV]] took up in.<br />
<br />
Damlier-Benz, Krupp, MAN, and Rheinmetall produced prototypes meeting the specifications and the Damlier-Benz model was chosen after testing in 1936-1937. The Panzer III model used a leaf-spring suspension in its early models (Ausf. A - Ausf. D) before utilizing a six-wheeled torsion-bar suspension in the [[Pz.III E|Ausf. E]] and beyond. The Panzer III had a crew of five people, the commander, gunner, loader, driver, and assistant driver. The best feature of the Panzer III during its introduction that is the most overlooked was the three-man turret, which was not as common at the time. This frees the commander to be able to effectively command the tank while maintaining situational awareness rather than be burdened by the role of a loader or gunner, improving the combat effectiveness of the tank. Despite this rather advanced design, the turret did not have a turret basket for the crew. It was a proven design and production began in May 1937. The total number of Panzer IIIs tanks constructed in its production life was 5,774 units (excluding [[StuG III F|StuG III]] variant).<br />
<br />
===Specifications===<br />
The '''Panzer III Ausf. L''' has the improved 50 mm KwK 39 as its main armament, giving it the firepower to go against the better Allied tanks [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]]s and [[M4|M4 Shermans]]. The Panzer III Ausf. L featured the armour finalized on the [[Pz.III J1|Ausf. J1]], with 50 mm of hull armour and offset armour on the front of the hull and turret that is 20 mm effective. This armour also is applied as spaced armour due to not being attached to the hull or turret mantlet. The spaced armour on the front helped defend the tank against Soviet anti-tank rounds or HEAT rounds fired at it on those plates, as it dissipates the penetration power before striking the hull.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
Despite its newer aspects compared to older Panzer IIIs, the prevalence of newer German tanks such as the [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]] and [[Panther D|Panther]] tanks, plus the establishment [[Pz.IV G|upgunned Panzer IVs]] made these more able to take on Allied tanks than the Panzer III. The Panzer III began slowly to be relegated to secondary roles such as training or anti-partisan activities. Nevertheless, the Panzer IIIs proved a versatile armoured platform in German service, as even though it was obsolete in late 1941, it was constantly upgraded with better guns, better protection, or modified completely to fit a different role more efficiently than its original. Even when phased out of service, its chassis was used as the basis of Germany's most lethal tank destroyer, the [[StuG III G|StuG III]].<br />
<br />
The Panzer III at this time was given one more upgrade in its armour into the variant [[Pz.III M|Panzer III Ausf. M]], which featured the new ''Schürzen'' armour skirts.<br />
<br />
=== In-game description ===<br />
Production of the Pz.Kpfw. III light tank, Ausf. L variant began in June 1942. For a few months prior to this date, the military had experimented with installing the turret from the Pz.Kpfw. IV on this tank. This allowed the use of the long-barreled 75 mm KwK43 tank gun. However, this test proved unsuccessful, and in the spring of 1942, the armament department ordered the production of a variant equipped with the 5 cm KwK39 L/60, but including all of the changes that had been made during the attempts to install the turret from the Pz.Kpfw. IV. Because of this, the weapon mantlet, which also served as the weapon's counterweight, had to be reinforced.<br />
<br />
An additional 20 mm front armour plate became standard design. Pz. III Ausf. L tanks received 57 mm of frontal turret armour, along with the installation of a torsion counterbalance for the gun instead of a coil spring. This resulted in a decrease of the ammunition carried for the gun. This variant received a 20 mm spaced armour plate in the forward part of the hull's superstructure. A coolant transfer system was installed which could move warm coolant fluid from one tank to another, making the cold tank easier to start in winter conditions.<br />
<br />
Later, the track adjusters were upgraded, and the smoke bombs were relocated to a position under the rear of the tank. Additional protection was achieved by removing the observation slits from the sides of the turret. The tank's operational weight was 22,700 kilograms.<br />
<br />
During the second half of 1942, the companies Alkett, Henschel, MAN, MNH, MIAG and Wengmann built 653 Ausf. L tanks.<br />
<br />
These tanks were used to replace the losses which had been incurred by the army. They were widely used in Africa and on the Eastern Front from 1942 to 1943. In the summer of 1943, before the Battle of Kursk, the tank was equipped with 5 mm Schutzen side skirts around the hull and turret to protect it from anti-tank and hollow-charge projectiles.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=germ_pzkpfw_III_ausf_L Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Sights<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/post/675135/en/ RideR2's Realistic gunsight (TZF4a, TZF 5a/b/d/e/f/f2, TZF 9b/b1/c/d, TZF 12/a) for Pzkpfw II, Pzkpfw III, Pzkpfw IV, Pzkpfw V, Pzkpfw VI]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|ihBm60qRdrg|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.''<br />
<br />
{{Germany medium tanks}}</div>U85854569https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Leopard_I&diff=115807Leopard I2021-11-12T15:21:18Z<p>U85854569: /* Usage in battles */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = German medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other versions<br />
| link = Leopard 1 (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=germ_leopard_I<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.51 "Cold Steel"]].<br />
<br />
The main strengths of the Leopard I are its high mobility and the above-average rate of fire of the main cannon. In combination with a good gun depression of -9° (meaning, you can lower the gun quite extensively), an experienced Leopard I driver can exploit uneven terrain to effectively fight his enemies without showing much of his vehicle - or being in the inconvenient situation to leave his cover to return fire.<br />
<br />
The MG3A1 is a General Purpose Machine Gun with a low calibre, being unable to penetrate most opponents, although its high rate of fire and the manoeuvrability of the roof-mounted MG can be used to eliminate exposed crew members quickly, especially useful against vehicles such as the [[UDES 33]], or damage aircraft or the lighter utility helicopters sometimes encountered in higher-BR battles, such as the [[AH-1G|AH-1G.]]<br />
<br />
Considering everything, the Leopard 1 is not a bad vehicle in the right hands - unfortunately, the lack of a stabilizer and extremely sub-par armour will result in many less experienced players struggling to perform well when many of their opponents will have better, often stabilised guns and armour.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
<br />
The Leopard's armour is not thick enough in the game to defend itself from most incoming fire, as many shell types at its battle rating are able to easily penetrate and destroy the tank. The Leopard 1 was originally built with a "perfect standard tank" idea, similar to the Main Battle Tank concept, as during its development, the armour has been considered an expendable quality and that superior speed and firepower is most important. Therefore the Leopard's armour design was only meant to withstand 20 mm calibres from the front. A big threat is the [[ZSU-57-2]], which gives any Leopard 1 a hard time with its high rate of fire of effective 57 mm AP rounds. <br />
<br />
It is recommended to carry as little ammo as possible, about 20 rounds, as the majority will be stored in a cluster at the front left of the vehicle, being an extreme vulnerability if overloaded when in a head-on engagement.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
*Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof)<br />
*Cast homogeneous armour (Turret)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides (Slope angle) !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 70 mm (60°) ''Front glacis'' <br /> 50 mm (51°) ''Bottom glacis'' || 35 (40-42°) mm ''Top hull side'' <br /> 30 mm ''Bottom hull side'' || 25 mm (12-47°) || 30 mm ''Front area'' <br /> 15 mm ''Rear area''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 65 mm ''Turret front'' <br> 45 - 200 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 37-45 mm (28-31°) || 25-52 mm (26-72°) || 25-35 mm ''Turret roof'' <br> 20 mm ''Cupola area''<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.<br />
* The turret mantlet has varying thicknesses ranging from 45 - 200 mm. It is thickest near the centre in contrast to the borders where it is the thinnest.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,286|rbMinHp=734}}<br />
<br />
The {{PAGENAME}} is powered by a MTU MB 838 CaM-500 engine, which produces a total of 830 hp (610 kW) at around 2,200-2,300 RPM.<br />
The mobility is between the [[XM-1 (GM)]] and the [[T-55AM-1]]. Expect a speed of 40-50 km/h off-road. The reverse is about -15 km/h off-road. The neutral steering is amazing, you are able to swivel your tank easily, and can be used to boost turret rotation speeds safely as pointing the vehicle in a specific direction is normally pointless due to the all-round lack of armour. The suspensions are also great, very soft with great dampening effects, and give the tank a smooth drive. Overall, mobility is excellent and should be used to your advantage since the tank has limited armour.<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' --><br />
{{main|L7A3 (105 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[L7A3 (105 mm)|105 mm L7A3]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 60 || rowspan="2" | -9°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 22.8 || 31.6 || 38.4 || 42.5 || 45.2 || rowspan="2" | 8.71 || rowspan="2" | 7.70 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 6.70<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
'''DM13 ''APDS''''' (Armour-Piercing Discarding Sabot) will comfortably penetrate the armour of most foes; be aware however that some vehicles such as the IS-4 or M103 are only vulnerable in specific weak spots. APDS rounds do require some finesse with their placement, and because of the lack of explosive filler, unless you're confident you can destroy the enemy before they can respond, you should attempt to disable their weaponry first to ensure your own safety. Against targets with known ammunition storage, it's possible to try to detonate it with a well-placed shot; keep in mind, however, that ammo detonations always occur with a random chance, taking out crew members is more reliable to destroy your enemies. This, of course, requires knowledge about the vehicles you may face - so be sure to use the game's X-Ray view in the hangar and analyse your potential foes for their weak spots! Also, keep in mind that with increased armour thickness the amount of shrapnel shrinks.<br />
<br />
'''DM502 ''HESH''''' (High-Explosive Squash-Head) works very differently than other shell types. It ignores any angle, except for ricochet and deals damage by metal-flakes which are blown off inside the armour by the exterior explosion. To create this deadly shrapnel inside the tank, make sure to only hit armour plates which are directly adjacent to the interior crew compartment of the tank. Hitting exterior parts of a tank like spaced armour, the suspension, tracks etc. will not harm crew members/modules at all. Unfortunately, HESH is particularly ineffective against particularly high true armour values (as opposed to high 'effective' armour values sourced from highly angled but thin armour - HESH loves angles!). Like all high-explosive shells, the fuse is very sensitive and can be set-off by most objects e.g. fences, trees, shrubbery. The low muzzle velocity of this shell can make it quite hard to hit targets at larger distances, although an experienced tanker may be able to use this to their advantage by lobbing a round over a small defilade or hill. It's also worth noting that HESH can be rather unreliable at times; it's best used as a fall-back ammo, or saved for particularly lightly armoured targets.<br />
<br />
'''DM12 ''HEAT-FS''''' (High-Explosive Anti Tank Fin Stabilised): Knowledge of potential opponents vehicle layouts can be very handy - as you now have a round at your disposal that can penetrate essentially any vehicle's armour frontally. Like the APDS shot, increased armour thickness results in a reduced amount of shrapnel after penetration. You are able to take out enemies on any distance since the HEAT round does not lose penetration effectiveness with distance - very handy on big scaled maps like Kursk. There is, however, a significant downside to HEATFS: Given that it is a chemical energy round, its fuse is highly sensitive in regards to its practical application in battle. As a result, virtually anything, such as trees or even a fence, will set it off prematurely, so you cannot fire through obstructions with this kind of round. It's often a good idea to clear bushes and fences with your machine guns quickly before taking a shot. Finally, the HEATFS round is relatively expensive in terms of SL, so keep that in mind when loading up.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| DM13 || APDS || 303 || 302 || 296 || 277 || 257 || 252<br />
|-<br />
| DM502 || HESH || 127 || 127 || 127 || 127 || 127 || 127<br />
|-<br />
| DM12 || HEATFS || 400 || 400 || 400 || 400 || 400 || 400<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| DM13 || APDS || 1,478 || 4 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
| DM502 || HESH || 732 || 14.85 || 0.1 || 4 || 4,310 || 73° || 77° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
| DM12 || HEATFS || 1,173 || 10.5 || 0.05 || 0.1 || 1,270 || 65° || 72° || 77°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''60''' || 58&nbsp;''(+2)'' || 47&nbsp;''(+13)'' || 43&nbsp;''(+17)'' || 40&nbsp;''(+20)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+59)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
Note:<br />
<br />
* Turret empty: 47&nbsp;(+13)<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}<br />
<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' --><br />
{{main|MG3A1 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
The {{PAGENAME}} mounts one coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun and one pintle-mounted 7.62 mm machine gun. These both have particularly high rates of fire, and can be used as a deterrent for close air support as well as clearing light obstacles and crew in open-top vehicles.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[MG3A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm MG3A1]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 5,500 (1,000) || 1,200 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
| Pintle || 2,000 (1,000) || 1,200 || -8°/+20° || ±120°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' --><br />
Scan and use the terrain to your advantage. Take into consideration the moderate vehicle height, which allows you to go turret down in certain locations, allowing you to safely use your commander's binoculars to locate targets. Then, after you have located the enemy, fire a few rounds in quick succession and relocate when spotted, especially when the enemy shots come dangerously close. The Leopard is quite fast, so taking hits from a distance while on the move is a risk that you may consider worth taking.<br />
<br />
Always remember: The Leopard is not designed to take hits from any guns, nor fight in stand-off situations against heavier enemy vehicles. Frontally, the angle of the hull can bounce shots once in a while, but you're better off not to rely on this. The turret front is also the same, it's best to attempt to only fire when you can avoid receiving a shot or relocating to a position if possible. The main goal is to make the opponent incapable of returning fire. The majority of Russian rank V tanks ([[IS-3]], [[IS-4M]], [[T-10M]], [[T-54 (1951)|T-54s]], [[SU-122-54]], [[T-62]] or [[ZSU-57-2]]) gunners are disabled by penetrating the right side of the turret or hull, if they are faced towards you. If you have the possibility to hit a Russian tank's hull, which is again faced towards you, prioritize it, because it is likely to take it out with one shot to the right side of the hull (3 out of 4 crew member are sitting in a row), this does not work with the stock APDS round due to the poor damage output. American top rank tanks like the [[M103]], [[M47]] or [[M60]] are harder to take out. It is advised to take out the gunner first, which is located in the left side of the turret and then take out the rest of the remaining crew members. Hitting the ammo rack of your opponent is often the fastest way to take out an enemy vehicle, keep in mind though there is a small chance the ammo will not blow up (Best ammo types to ammo rack: HEAT-FS > HESH > APDS). <br />
<br />
Remember you have a gun manoeuvrability advantage over most of your enemies - your gun depression will allow you to play hull-down, protecting the large portion of ammo in your hull (especially if fully loaded), and you can turn faster than many opponents due to the neutral steering and powerful engine of this vehicle. However, bear in mind that American tanks in particular, as well as some British tanks, will be able to match, and even outperform, your gun depression angle, so it may be better to flank these enemies using your speed.<br />
[[File:Leopard 1 vs T55AM.png|thumb|right|300px|{{PAGENAME}} engaging a T-55AM on Cargo Port]]<br />
Sometimes moving is not an option, but remember, directly behind your hull front sits a large portion of your ammunition, at least if you're fully loaded. Always have that in mind when positioning yourself against the enemy - and don't forget that you don't have to stack all of your ammunition racks to their maximum capacity! Sometimes it can be wise to take less ammunition with you, as it will increase your survivability when taking hits - especially with the Leopard. The Leopards worst nemesis is the [[ZSU-57-2]] and the [[IT-1]]. The [[ZSU-57-2]] can be easily destroyed by hitting one of the many ammo racks in the big turret, which often leads to an explosion of the whole tank. The [[IT-1]] on the other hand can be quite hard to deal with, since they are able to operate perfectly hull down only exposing the roof mounted ATGM. Destroying (only black damage status counts, red damage does not prevent from firing ATGM) the rocket mount/cannon barrel forces the [[IT-1]] to repair for a whole 27 seconds (maxed out + expert crew).<br />
<br />
The Leopard 1 holds a distinct advantage over almost every other tank it will face - it's almost always faster. While in a direct shoot-out, most other vehicles can take out the Leopard, using the mobility advantage of the Leopard will allow a good tanker to get into an advantageous position and take out targets before they get the opportunity to respond. However, ensure you are aware of your surroundings and have a fall-back option: getting caught off guard on the back of a hill with nowhere to back off to and with no real support is a death sentence.<br />
<br />
Depending on the map and opponents, ammunition choices may vary however usually it's ideal to have HEATFS as primary ammunition (reasonably easy to use at range, reliable penetration values), APDS as a backup (extremely easy to use at range, particularly with the Leo's excellent optics) and a couple of HESH rounds to deal with any light targets you might encounter. Try to keep round storage to a minimum but keep in mind that with these ammunition choices often it will take a number of rounds to guarantee a destroyed target.<br />
<br />
The Leopard 1 is also very effective in sniping, due to its relatively small profile and speed, and high-magnification optics and HEAT-FS being unaffected by range (in terms of penetration), allowing it to get to a comfortable sniping position and relocate quickly. An effective use of this is to combine all strengths of this tank by flanking the enemies holding a specific chokepoint, sniping their vulnerable sides (whilst they are under pressure from your heavier allies at the front), before advancing rapidly after the enemies are neutralised to capture a point or finish off remaining enemies which may be crippled but hiding. However, remember to be flexible and relegate this strategy to teammates using vehicles dedicated to this role (such as the [[JPz 4-5|JPz 4-5)]], as you are still a main battle tank and have other strengths, that they may not be suited to perform.<br />
<br />
''In a nutshell:'' Use the superb mobility with the cannon's perfection to flank and spank enemies, wait and hunt for the perfect positions and pick off the enemy tanks one by one, while always maintaining a good situational awareness. Patience is the key to success.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Fast and very agile when fully upgraded<br />
* High-penetration APDS and HEAT rounds<br />
* HESH rounds extremely effective against light targets<br />
* Reasonably fast reload time, can be reduced to 6.7 seconds<br />
* Good gun elevation and depression<br />
* Reasonably good turret traverse rate<br />
* Access to smoke grenades<br />
* Relatively small, moderately low profile<br />
* Excellent reverse speed<br />
* A well coordinated squad of Leopards can effectively take over a match<br />
* Potential to be an extremely efficient vehicle in the right hands<br />
* Some parts of the turret (mainly the mantlet) can bounce rounds from the right angles<br />
* Reasonably low repair cost<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Essentially non-existent armour that can't stop any more than 20 mm rounds reliably<br />
* No main gun stabiliser<br />
* Tankers unaccustomed to APDS may struggle with the stock vehicle<br />
* Stock accuracy is sub-par<br />
* Does not have the HESH round when stock<br />
* Like all MBTs, there is ammunition stored adjacent to the driver<br />
* 4-man crew complement, reasonably close-packed<br />
* Easy prey for high-calibre autocannons such as those found on the ZSU-57-2<br />
* HEATFS and APDS rounds have sub-par post-penetration effectiveness, often taking multiple rounds to destroy vehicles<br />
* HEATFS detonates when it hits a fence or bush<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The project for the Leopard started as far back as 1956 as an attempt to replace the American [[M41 (90 mm)|M47]] and [[M48A1|M48 Patton]] tanks in service at the time as they were becoming outdated to newer anti-tank technology. Specifications for the new tank came in July 1957 asking for a design weighing no more than 30 tons, with a power-to-weight ratio of 30 horsepower per ton and could withstand 20 mm gunfire alongside protection against chemical weapons and radiation fallout, which was becoming extremely common protection system for the modern tank designs. The design stressed mobility as the main focus, while firepower comes next and armour was relegated to minimum priority. The lack of focus on the armour was because of the belief that no matter how much armour a tank can have, it will eventually fall obsolete to the advent of newer anti-tank weapons such as the HEAT rounds, which was becoming stronger and stronger by the years.<br />
<br />
In the initial stages of development, France and West Germany, interested in this tank design, worked on it from 1957 to build a common tank and the project was designated the ''Europa-Panzer''. France had AMX, SLD Lorraine, and SOMUA with FCM Renault working on the project, while Germany had Porsche, Rheinmetall with Henschel, and Borgward working on the project. In 1958, Italy entered into the development as well, though it's not sure if they provided much to the program. By 1960, Porsche and Rheinmetall had prototypes submitted, as well as AMX from France, all the others failed to provide a prototype in time. In 1963, the Porsche prototype was selected as the winner in 1963, though even before this decision the vehicle already has priority in being built in greater number than the others. Though a tank is set, France and Germany split in the joint tank project in 1963 after France opted out of standardization with the NATO forces. This left Germany alone with their Leopard tank development, which they continued.<br />
<br />
The Porsche Prototype II was well received, though changes were made to the design such as a new cast turret, hull design change, and relocating the radiators. The tank now mounted the 105mm L7 gun over the Rheinmetall design, as well as adding an optical range-finding system for increased gunnery. The design finished trials by the end of 1963 and production started in Munich in February of 1964. The first batches began arriving at the Bundeswehr (German Army) in September of 1965 and were put into units by November of that same year. The tank was finally designated the '''Leopard 1''', with the prototype stage labelled as the ''Leopard 1A0''.<br />
<br />
===Usage===<br />
After the first delivery, many upgrades were made on the tank throughout its production and service life. The first few Leopards were designated ''Leopard 1A1'' and continued all the way to ''Leopard 1A6'' as it incorporates new technology such as sights, gun, radios, armour, or even small upgrades or redesigns on some parts. Some of these Leopards are even upgraded further in each variant form, for example, the ''[[Leopard A1A1|Leopard 1A1A1]]'' which had it fitted with new turret armour and night sights. Other than the different variants, the Leopard 1 was also extensively modified or made into derivatives in roles such as anti-aircraft guns, armour recovery vehicles, bridge layers, and such.<br />
<br />
The versatility of the Leopard 1 design and its rather cheap cost in comparison to other tanks at the time made it a useful tank and it was sought out by many different countries in and out of the NATO force group. These countries put them into service in the conflict, such as Denmark, which is believed to be the first country to use the Leopard 1 in hostile engagement, when going against Bosnian Serb forces. Canada also used the Leopard 1C2 in the War in Afghanistan from 2006-2011. Greece also had Leopard 1s and is the largest user of it, with over 500 units of ''Leopard 1A5s'' still in service.<br />
<br />
The Leopard 1 versatility and widespread use compared to other tanks in the NATO service made it a very useful weapon system for armies that couldn't afford the new American Pattons or Abrams tanks or the British Challengers and [[Chieftain Mk 3|Chieftains]]. The Leopard 1 in German service was eventually replaced by the Leopard 2 design, which entered into service in 1979 as the main battle tank with better armour and better gun compared to the Leopard 1, fully replacing it in 2003. Other countries followed suit by upgrading their tanks to either the Leopard 2, the American M1 Abrams, or their own domestic tank designs. The vehicle in its various modernized forms is still operated by third parties such as , Brazil, Turkey, and Greece. Some are kept in reserve in Chile and Ecuador due to their light frames and ease of use in soft soils like in the jungles in their countries.<br />
<br />
In 1974, the Australian government purchased 101 Leopard 1 tanks (90 MBTs, 5 bridge-laying variants, and 6 recovery vehicles). the first leopard 1s arrived in Australia in 1976 and served with the 1st Armoured Regiment. The Leopard 1 was retired from service in July 2007.<br />
<br />
The Belgian army received 334 Leopard 1s, equipping 8 tank regiments with 40 Leopard 1s each. The Belgian Leopards were retired from service in 2014.<br />
<br />
Canada received 127 Leopard 1 C1 tanks in 1978-1979 to replace the Centurion tank. starting in 2000, the Canadian government upgraded the Leopard 1 C1 to Leopard 1 C2. the Leopard C2 is now obsolete and the Canadian government has opted to use the Leopard 2.<br />
<br />
In 1976, Denmark acquired 120 Leopard 1A3 tanks. Denmark acquired another 110 Leopard 1A3 tanks in 1992, and upgraded all for a total of 230 Leopard 1A5-DKs tanks. Denmark no longer uses Leopard 1 tanks as an MBT (replaced by leopard 2), but still uses an armoured recovery vehicle variant.<br />
<br />
Germany used a total of 2,437 Leopard 1 tanks, of various variants. The remaining Leopard 1s are in storage, replaced by the Leopard 2.<br />
<br />
From 1971-1985, Italy obtained (Purchased from other countries or Built under license) 920 Leopard 1 tanks and 250 Special Variants. Italian Leopard 1 MBTs were retired from service by 2008, and are replaced with the native Italian C1-Ariele tank. Armoured recovery vehicles and bridge-laying variants remain in service.<br />
<br />
The Netherlands operated 468 Leopard 1 tanks, and are replaced with Leopard 2 tanks. Armoured recovery vehicles and bridge-laying variants remain in service.<br />
<br />
Norway operated 172 Leopard 1 tanks, the last Leopard 1 decommissioned in 2011, and are replaced with Leopard 2 tanks. Armoured recovery vehicles and bridge-laying variants remain in service.<br />
<br />
Brazil currently operates 128 Leopard 1BE and 250 Leopard 1A5.<br />
<br />
Chile used to operate 202 Leopard 1V, but sold some and currently have 120 in service.<br />
<br />
Ecuador purchased all 60 of their Leopard tanks from Chile.<br />
<br />
Greece bought 104 Leopard 1A3s in 1983. during 1992, Greece received a further 75 Leopard 1A5. Greece purchased another 192 used Leopard 1A5s. Greece is now the current operator of the most Leopard 1 tank.<br />
<br />
Lebanon purchased 43 Belgian Leopard 1A5.<br />
<br />
Turkey bought and upgraded 170 Leopard 1A1 tanks and upgraded all to Leopard 1T 'Volkan'. Turkey also purchased 227 A3 variants.<br />
<br />
=== In-game description ===<br />
Development of the tank began in 1957 in cooperation with France. However, this attempt to create a unified European tank was unsuccessful. The projects in both countries were conducted virtually in parallel, but in 1963, before the end of comparative testing of the French and German tanks, Germany declined to cooperate further with France. Each country began to build its own national tank — the Leopard in Germany, the AMX-30 in France.<br />
<br />
During the development of the Leopard 1 among all combat characteristics preference was given to firepower and mobility. Later, due to the German engineers' changing perspective on the significance of tank defenses in modern combat, a number of steps were taken to increase it.<br />
<br />
The first production order of 1,500 tanks was placed in 1963, and in September, 1965 the first serial Leopard 1 was delivered to the Bundeswehr.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=germany&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=medium_tank&vehicle=germ_leopard_I Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|GgC8UNa8dok|'''{{PAGENAME}} vs STB-1''' - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|qksBZwDbbvo|'''{{PAGENAME}} - Really Changed After The Changes/Buffs?''' - ''Napalmratte''|SKeFUWKudoY|'''The Shooting Range #63''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 00:33 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|ktBwlyherSY|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis<br />
<br />
* [[Leopard 1 (Family)]]<br />
<br />
;Vehicles equipped with the same gun<br />
<br />
* [[M48A2 G A2]]<br />
* [[Radkampfwagen 90]]<br />
* [[M48 Super]]<br />
* [[Type 74 (Family)]]<br />
<br />
;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role<br />
<br />
* [[AMX-30 (1972)]]<br />
* [[AMX-30]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/792|[Devblog] Leopard 1]]<br />
* [[wt:en/news/3325/current|[Vehicle Profile] Leopard 1]]<br />
* [[wikipedia:Leopard_1|[Wikipedia] Leopard 1]]<br />
* [https://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/West_Germany/leopard-i.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Leopard I MBT (1965)]<br />
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=58 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> Leopard 1]<br />
<br />
{{Germany medium tanks}}</div>U85854569https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Leopard_I&diff=115806Leopard I2021-11-12T15:19:50Z<p>U85854569: Touch up of strategy and other aspects</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = German medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other versions<br />
| link = Leopard 1 (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=germ_leopard_I<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.51 "Cold Steel"]].<br />
<br />
The main strengths of the Leopard I are its high mobility and the above-average rate of fire of the main cannon. In combination with a good gun depression of -9° (meaning, you can lower the gun quite extensively), an experienced Leopard I driver can exploit uneven terrain to effectively fight his enemies without showing much of his vehicle - or being in the inconvenient situation to leave his cover to return fire.<br />
<br />
The MG3A1 is a General Purpose Machine Gun with a low calibre, being unable to penetrate most opponents, although its high rate of fire and the manoeuvrability of the roof-mounted MG can be used to eliminate exposed crew members quickly, especially useful against vehicles such as the [[UDES 33]], or damage aircraft or the lighter utility helicopters sometimes encountered in higher-BR battles, such as the [[AH-1G|AH-1G.]]<br />
<br />
Considering everything, the Leopard 1 is not a bad vehicle in the right hands - unfortunately, the lack of a stabilizer and extremely sub-par armour will result in many less experienced players struggling to perform well when many of their opponents will have better, often stabilised guns and armour.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
<br />
The Leopard's armour is not thick enough in the game to defend itself from most incoming fire, as many shell types at its battle rating are able to easily penetrate and destroy the tank. The Leopard 1 was originally built with a "perfect standard tank" idea, similar to the Main Battle Tank concept, as during its development, the armour has been considered an expendable quality and that superior speed and firepower is most important. Therefore the Leopard's armour design was only meant to withstand 20 mm calibres from the front. A big threat is the [[ZSU-57-2]], which gives any Leopard 1 a hard time with its high rate of fire of effective 57 mm AP rounds. <br />
<br />
It is recommended to carry as little ammo as possible, about 20 rounds, as the majority will be stored in a cluster at the front left of the vehicle, being an extreme vulnerability if overloaded when in a head-on engagement.<br />
<br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
*Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof)<br />
*Cast homogeneous armour (Turret)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides (Slope angle) !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 70 mm (60°) ''Front glacis'' <br /> 50 mm (51°) ''Bottom glacis'' || 35 (40-42°) mm ''Top hull side'' <br /> 30 mm ''Bottom hull side'' || 25 mm (12-47°) || 30 mm ''Front area'' <br /> 15 mm ''Rear area''<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 65 mm ''Turret front'' <br> 45 - 200 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 37-45 mm (28-31°) || 25-52 mm (26-72°) || 25-35 mm ''Turret roof'' <br> 20 mm ''Cupola area''<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.<br />
* The turret mantlet has varying thicknesses ranging from 45 - 200 mm. It is thickest near the centre in contrast to the borders where it is the thinnest.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,286|rbMinHp=734}}<br />
<br />
The {{PAGENAME}} is powered by a MTU MB 838 CaM-500 engine, which produces a total of 830 hp (610 kW) at around 2,200-2,300 RPM.<br />
The mobility is between the [[XM-1 (GM)]] and the [[T-55AM-1]]. Expect a speed of 40-50 km/h off-road. The reverse is about -15 km/h off-road. The neutral steering is amazing, you are able to swivel your tank easily, and can be used to boost turret rotation speeds safely as pointing the vehicle in a specific direction is normally pointless due to the all-round lack of armour. The suspensions are also great, very soft with great dampening effects, and give the tank a smooth drive. Overall, mobility is excellent and should be used to your advantage since the tank has limited armour.<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' --><br />
{{main|L7A3 (105 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[L7A3 (105 mm)|105 mm L7A3]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 60 || rowspan="2" | -9°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 22.8 || 31.6 || 38.4 || 42.5 || 45.2 || rowspan="2" | 8.71 || rowspan="2" | 7.70 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 6.70<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
'''DM13 ''APDS''''' (Armour-Piercing Discarding Sabot) will comfortably penetrate the armour of most foes; be aware however that some vehicles such as the IS-4 or M103 are only vulnerable in specific weak spots. APDS rounds do require some finesse with their placement, and because of the lack of explosive filler, unless you're confident you can destroy the enemy before they can respond, you should attempt to disable their weaponry first to ensure your own safety. Against targets with known ammunition storage, it's possible to try to detonate it with a well-placed shot; keep in mind, however, that ammo detonations always occur with a random chance, taking out crew members is more reliable to destroy your enemies. This, of course, requires knowledge about the vehicles you may face - so be sure to use the game's X-Ray view in the hangar and analyse your potential foes for their weak spots! Also, keep in mind that with increased armour thickness the amount of shrapnel shrinks.<br />
<br />
'''DM502 ''HESH''''' (High-Explosive Squash-Head) works very differently than other shell types. It ignores any angle, except for ricochet and deals damage by metal-flakes which are blown off inside the armour by the exterior explosion. To create this deadly shrapnel inside the tank, make sure to only hit armour plates which are directly adjacent to the interior crew compartment of the tank. Hitting exterior parts of a tank like spaced armour, the suspension, tracks etc. will not harm crew members/modules at all. Unfortunately, HESH is particularly ineffective against particularly high true armour values (as opposed to high 'effective' armour values sourced from highly angled but thin armour - HESH loves angles!). Like all high-explosive shells, the fuse is very sensitive and can be set-off by most objects e.g. fences, trees, shrubbery. The low muzzle velocity of this shell can make it quite hard to hit targets at larger distances, although an experienced tanker may be able to use this to their advantage by lobbing a round over a small defilade or hill. It's also worth noting that HESH can be rather unreliable at times; it's best used as a fall-back ammo, or saved for particularly lightly armoured targets.<br />
<br />
'''DM12 ''HEAT-FS''''' (High-Explosive Anti Tank Fin Stabilised): Knowledge of potential opponents vehicle layouts can be very handy - as you now have a round at your disposal that can penetrate essentially any vehicle's armour frontally. Like the APDS shot, increased armour thickness results in a reduced amount of shrapnel after penetration. You are able to take out enemies on any distance since the HEAT round does not lose penetration effectiveness with distance - very handy on big scaled maps like Kursk. There is, however, a significant downside to HEATFS: Given that it is a chemical energy round, its fuse is highly sensitive in regards to its practical application in battle. As a result, virtually anything, such as trees or even a fence, will set it off prematurely, so you cannot fire through obstructions with this kind of round. It's often a good idea to clear bushes and fences with your machine guns quickly before taking a shot. Finally, the HEATFS round is relatively expensive in terms of SL, so keep that in mind when loading up.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| DM13 || APDS || 303 || 302 || 296 || 277 || 257 || 252<br />
|-<br />
| DM502 || HESH || 127 || 127 || 127 || 127 || 127 || 127<br />
|-<br />
| DM12 || HEATFS || 400 || 400 || 400 || 400 || 400 || 400<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| DM13 || APDS || 1,478 || 4 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
| DM502 || HESH || 732 || 14.85 || 0.1 || 4 || 4,310 || 73° || 77° || 80°<br />
|-<br />
| DM12 || HEATFS || 1,173 || 10.5 || 0.05 || 0.1 || 1,270 || 65° || 72° || 77°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''60''' || 58&nbsp;''(+2)'' || 47&nbsp;''(+13)'' || 43&nbsp;''(+17)'' || 40&nbsp;''(+20)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+59)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
Note:<br />
<br />
* Turret empty: 47&nbsp;(+13)<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}<br />
<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' --><br />
{{main|MG3A1 (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
The {{PAGENAME}} mounts one coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun and one pintle-mounted 7.62 mm machine gun. These both have particularly high rates of fire, and can be used as a deterrent for close air support as well as clearing light obstacles and crew in open-top vehicles.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[MG3A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm MG3A1]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Coaxial || 5,500 (1,000) || 1,200 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
| Pintle || 2,000 (1,000) || 1,200 || -8°/+20° || ±120°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' --><br />
Scan and use the terrain to your advantage. Take into consideration the moderate vehicle height, which allows you to go turret down in certain locations, allowing you to safely use your commander's binoculars to locate targets. Then, after you have located the enemy, fire a few rounds in quick succession and relocate when spotted, especially when the enemy shots come dangerously close. The Leopard is quite fast, so taking hits from a distance while on the move is a risk that you may consider worth taking.<br />
<br />
Always remember: The Leopard is not designed to take hits from any guns, nor fight in stand-off situations against heavier enemy vehicles. Frontally, the angle of the hull can bounce shots once in a while, but you're better off not to rely on this. The turret front is also the same, it's best to attempt to only fire when you can avoid receiving a shot or relocating to a position if possible. The main goal is to make the opponent incapable of returning fire. The majority of Russian rank V tanks ([[IS-3]], [[IS-4M]], [[T-10M]], [[T-54 (1951)|T-54s]], [[SU-122-54]], [[T-62]] or [[ZSU-57-2]]) gunners are disabled by penetrating the right side of the turret or hull, if they are faced towards you. If you have the possibility to hit a Russian tank's hull, which is again faced towards you, prioritize it, because it is likely to take it out with one shot to the right side of the hull (3 out of 4 crew member are sitting in a row), this does not work with the stock APDS round due to the poor damage output. American top rank tanks like the [[M103]], [[M47]] or [[M60]] are harder to take out. It is advised to take out the gunner first, which is located in the left side of the turret and then take out the rest of the remaining crew members. Hitting the ammo rack of your opponent is often the fastest way to take out an enemy vehicle, keep in mind though there is a small chance the ammo will not blow up (Best ammo types to ammo rack: HEAT-FS > HESH > APDS). <br />
<br />
Remember you have a gun manoeuvrability advantage over most of your enemies - your gun depression will allow you to play hull-down, protecting the large portion of ammo in your hull (especially if fully loaded), and you can turn faster than many opponents due to the neutral steering and powerful engine of this vehicle. However, bear in mind that American tanks in particular, as well as some British tanks, will be able to match, and even outperform, your gun depression angle, so it may be better to flank these enemies using your speed.<br />
[[File:Leopard 1 vs T55AM.png|thumb|right|300px|{{PAGENAME}} engaging a T-55AM on Cargo Port]]<br />
Sometimes moving is not an option, but remember, directly behind your hull front sits a large portion of your ammunition, at least if you're fully loaded. Always have that in mind when positioning yourself against the enemy - and don't forget that you don't have to stack all of your ammunition racks to their maximum capacity! Sometimes it can be wise to take less ammunition with you, as it will increase your survivability when taking hits - especially with the Leopard. The Leopards worst nemesis is the [[ZSU-57-2]] and the [[IT-1]]. The [[ZSU-57-2]] can be easily destroyed by hitting one of the many ammo racks in the big turret, which often leads to an explosion of the whole tank. The [[IT-1]] on the other hand can be quite hard to deal with, since they are able to operate perfectly hull down only exposing the roof mounted ATGM. Destroying (only black damage status counts, red damage does not prevent from firing ATGM) the rocket mount/cannon barrel forces the [[IT-1]] to repair for a whole 27 seconds (maxed out + expert crew).<br />
<br />
The Leopard 1 holds a distinct advantage over almost every other tank it will face - it's almost always faster. While in a direct shoot-out, most other vehicles can take out the Leopard, using the mobility advantage of the Leopard will allow a good tanker to get into an advantageous position and take out targets before they get the opportunity to respond. However, ensure you are aware of your surroundings and have a fall-back option: getting caught off guard on the back of a hill with nowhere to back off to and with no real support is a death sentence.<br />
<br />
Depending on the map and opponents, ammunition choices may vary however usually it's ideal to have HEATFS as primary ammunition (reasonably easy to use at range, reliable penetration values), APDS as a backup (extremely easy to use at range, particularly with the Leo's excellent optics) and a couple of HESH rounds to deal with any light targets you might encounter. Try to keep round storage to a minimum but keep in mind that with these ammunition choices often it will take a number of rounds to guarantee a destroyed target.<br />
<br />
The Leopard 1 is also very effective in sniping, due to its relatively small profile and speed, and high-magnification optics and HEAT-FS being unaffected by range (in terms of penetration), allowing it to get to a comfortable sniping position and relocate quickly. An effective use of this is to combine all strengths of this tank by flanking the enemies holding a specific chokepoint, sniping their vulnerable sides (whilst they are under pressure from your heavier allies at the front), before advancing rapidly after the enemies are neutralised to capture a point or finish off remaining enemies which may be crippled but hiding.<br />
<br />
''In a nutshell:'' Use the superb mobility with the cannon's perfection to flank and spank enemies, wait and hunt for the perfect positions and pick off the enemy tanks one by one, while always maintaining a good situational awareness. Patience is the key to success.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Fast and very agile when fully upgraded<br />
* High-penetration APDS and HEAT rounds<br />
* HESH rounds extremely effective against light targets<br />
* Reasonably fast reload time, can be reduced to 6.7 seconds<br />
* Good gun elevation and depression<br />
* Reasonably good turret traverse rate<br />
* Access to smoke grenades<br />
* Relatively small, moderately low profile<br />
* Excellent reverse speed<br />
* A well coordinated squad of Leopards can effectively take over a match<br />
* Potential to be an extremely efficient vehicle in the right hands<br />
* Some parts of the turret (mainly the mantlet) can bounce rounds from the right angles<br />
* Reasonably low repair cost<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Essentially non-existent armour that can't stop any more than 20 mm rounds reliably<br />
* No main gun stabiliser<br />
* Tankers unaccustomed to APDS may struggle with the stock vehicle<br />
* Stock accuracy is sub-par<br />
* Does not have the HESH round when stock<br />
* Like all MBTs, there is ammunition stored adjacent to the driver<br />
* 4-man crew complement, reasonably close-packed<br />
* Easy prey for high-calibre autocannons such as those found on the ZSU-57-2<br />
* HEATFS and APDS rounds have sub-par post-penetration effectiveness, often taking multiple rounds to destroy vehicles<br />
* HEATFS detonates when it hits a fence or bush<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
===Development===<br />
The project for the Leopard started as far back as 1956 as an attempt to replace the American [[M41 (90 mm)|M47]] and [[M48A1|M48 Patton]] tanks in service at the time as they were becoming outdated to newer anti-tank technology. Specifications for the new tank came in July 1957 asking for a design weighing no more than 30 tons, with a power-to-weight ratio of 30 horsepower per ton and could withstand 20 mm gunfire alongside protection against chemical weapons and radiation fallout, which was becoming extremely common protection system for the modern tank designs. The design stressed mobility as the main focus, while firepower comes next and armour was relegated to minimum priority. The lack of focus on the armour was because of the belief that no matter how much armour a tank can have, it will eventually fall obsolete to the advent of newer anti-tank weapons such as the HEAT rounds, which was becoming stronger and stronger by the years.<br />
<br />
In the initial stages of development, France and West Germany, interested in this tank design, worked on it from 1957 to build a common tank and the project was designated the ''Europa-Panzer''. France had AMX, SLD Lorraine, and SOMUA with FCM Renault working on the project, while Germany had Porsche, Rheinmetall with Henschel, and Borgward working on the project. In 1958, Italy entered into the development as well, though it's not sure if they provided much to the program. By 1960, Porsche and Rheinmetall had prototypes submitted, as well as AMX from France, all the others failed to provide a prototype in time. In 1963, the Porsche prototype was selected as the winner in 1963, though even before this decision the vehicle already has priority in being built in greater number than the others. Though a tank is set, France and Germany split in the joint tank project in 1963 after France opted out of standardization with the NATO forces. This left Germany alone with their Leopard tank development, which they continued.<br />
<br />
The Porsche Prototype II was well received, though changes were made to the design such as a new cast turret, hull design change, and relocating the radiators. The tank now mounted the 105mm L7 gun over the Rheinmetall design, as well as adding an optical range-finding system for increased gunnery. The design finished trials by the end of 1963 and production started in Munich in February of 1964. The first batches began arriving at the Bundeswehr (German Army) in September of 1965 and were put into units by November of that same year. The tank was finally designated the '''Leopard 1''', with the prototype stage labelled as the ''Leopard 1A0''.<br />
<br />
===Usage===<br />
After the first delivery, many upgrades were made on the tank throughout its production and service life. The first few Leopards were designated ''Leopard 1A1'' and continued all the way to ''Leopard 1A6'' as it incorporates new technology such as sights, gun, radios, armour, or even small upgrades or redesigns on some parts. Some of these Leopards are even upgraded further in each variant form, for example, the ''[[Leopard A1A1|Leopard 1A1A1]]'' which had it fitted with new turret armour and night sights. Other than the different variants, the Leopard 1 was also extensively modified or made into derivatives in roles such as anti-aircraft guns, armour recovery vehicles, bridge layers, and such.<br />
<br />
The versatility of the Leopard 1 design and its rather cheap cost in comparison to other tanks at the time made it a useful tank and it was sought out by many different countries in and out of the NATO force group. These countries put them into service in the conflict, such as Denmark, which is believed to be the first country to use the Leopard 1 in hostile engagement, when going against Bosnian Serb forces. Canada also used the Leopard 1C2 in the War in Afghanistan from 2006-2011. Greece also had Leopard 1s and is the largest user of it, with over 500 units of ''Leopard 1A5s'' still in service.<br />
<br />
The Leopard 1 versatility and widespread use compared to other tanks in the NATO service made it a very useful weapon system for armies that couldn't afford the new American Pattons or Abrams tanks or the British Challengers and [[Chieftain Mk 3|Chieftains]]. The Leopard 1 in German service was eventually replaced by the Leopard 2 design, which entered into service in 1979 as the main battle tank with better armour and better gun compared to the Leopard 1, fully replacing it in 2003. Other countries followed suit by upgrading their tanks to either the Leopard 2, the American M1 Abrams, or their own domestic tank designs. The vehicle in its various modernized forms is still operated by third parties such as , Brazil, Turkey, and Greece. Some are kept in reserve in Chile and Ecuador due to their light frames and ease of use in soft soils like in the jungles in their countries.<br />
<br />
In 1974, the Australian government purchased 101 Leopard 1 tanks (90 MBTs, 5 bridge-laying variants, and 6 recovery vehicles). the first leopard 1s arrived in Australia in 1976 and served with the 1st Armoured Regiment. The Leopard 1 was retired from service in July 2007.<br />
<br />
The Belgian army received 334 Leopard 1s, equipping 8 tank regiments with 40 Leopard 1s each. The Belgian Leopards were retired from service in 2014.<br />
<br />
Canada received 127 Leopard 1 C1 tanks in 1978-1979 to replace the Centurion tank. starting in 2000, the Canadian government upgraded the Leopard 1 C1 to Leopard 1 C2. the Leopard C2 is now obsolete and the Canadian government has opted to use the Leopard 2.<br />
<br />
In 1976, Denmark acquired 120 Leopard 1A3 tanks. Denmark acquired another 110 Leopard 1A3 tanks in 1992, and upgraded all for a total of 230 Leopard 1A5-DKs tanks. Denmark no longer uses Leopard 1 tanks as an MBT (replaced by leopard 2), but still uses an armoured recovery vehicle variant.<br />
<br />
Germany used a total of 2,437 Leopard 1 tanks, of various variants. The remaining Leopard 1s are in storage, replaced by the Leopard 2.<br />
<br />
From 1971-1985, Italy obtained (Purchased from other countries or Built under license) 920 Leopard 1 tanks and 250 Special Variants. Italian Leopard 1 MBTs were retired from service by 2008, and are replaced with the native Italian C1-Ariele tank. Armoured recovery vehicles and bridge-laying variants remain in service.<br />
<br />
The Netherlands operated 468 Leopard 1 tanks, and are replaced with Leopard 2 tanks. Armoured recovery vehicles and bridge-laying variants remain in service.<br />
<br />
Norway operated 172 Leopard 1 tanks, the last Leopard 1 decommissioned in 2011, and are replaced with Leopard 2 tanks. Armoured recovery vehicles and bridge-laying variants remain in service.<br />
<br />
Brazil currently operates 128 Leopard 1BE and 250 Leopard 1A5.<br />
<br />
Chile used to operate 202 Leopard 1V, but sold some and currently have 120 in service.<br />
<br />
Ecuador purchased all 60 of their Leopard tanks from Chile.<br />
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Greece bought 104 Leopard 1A3s in 1983. during 1992, Greece received a further 75 Leopard 1A5. Greece purchased another 192 used Leopard 1A5s. Greece is now the current operator of the most Leopard 1 tank.<br />
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Lebanon purchased 43 Belgian Leopard 1A5.<br />
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Turkey bought and upgraded 170 Leopard 1A1 tanks and upgraded all to Leopard 1T 'Volkan'. Turkey also purchased 227 A3 variants.<br />
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=== In-game description ===<br />
Development of the tank began in 1957 in cooperation with France. However, this attempt to create a unified European tank was unsuccessful. The projects in both countries were conducted virtually in parallel, but in 1963, before the end of comparative testing of the French and German tanks, Germany declined to cooperate further with France. Each country began to build its own national tank — the Leopard in Germany, the AMX-30 in France.<br />
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During the development of the Leopard 1 among all combat characteristics preference was given to firepower and mobility. Later, due to the German engineers' changing perspective on the significance of tank defenses in modern combat, a number of steps were taken to increase it.<br />
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The first production order of 1,500 tanks was placed in 1963, and in September, 1965 the first serial Leopard 1 was delivered to the Bundeswehr.<br />
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== Media ==<br />
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* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=germany&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=medium_tank&vehicle=germ_leopard_I Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
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;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|GgC8UNa8dok|'''{{PAGENAME}} vs STB-1''' - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|qksBZwDbbvo|'''{{PAGENAME}} - Really Changed After The Changes/Buffs?''' - ''Napalmratte''|SKeFUWKudoY|'''The Shooting Range #63''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 00:33 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|ktBwlyherSY|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}<br />
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== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
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;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis<br />
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* [[Leopard 1 (Family)]]<br />
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;Vehicles equipped with the same gun<br />
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* [[M48A2 G A2]]<br />
* [[Radkampfwagen 90]]<br />
* [[M48 Super]]<br />
* [[Type 74 (Family)]]<br />
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;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role<br />
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* [[AMX-30 (1972)]]<br />
* [[AMX-30]]<br />
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== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
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* [[wt:en/devblog/current/792|[Devblog] Leopard 1]]<br />
* [[wt:en/news/3325/current|[Vehicle Profile] Leopard 1]]<br />
* [[wikipedia:Leopard_1|[Wikipedia] Leopard 1]]<br />
* [https://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/West_Germany/leopard-i.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Leopard I MBT (1965)]<br />
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=58 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> Leopard 1]<br />
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{{Germany medium tanks}}</div>U85854569