Difference between revisions of "Leopard 2K"

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{{Specs-Card|code=germ_leopard_2k}}
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{{About
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{{Notice|''This page is about the medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''. For other uses, see [[Leopard (Disambiguation)]]''}}
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| about = German medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| usage = other versions
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| link = Leopard 2 (Family)
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}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=germ_leopard_2k
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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<!--''In the description, the first part needs to 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 the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''-->
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.77 "Advancing Storm"]].
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The forerunner to the Leopard 2 was in many ways a return to form of what the Leopard 1 was designed as: the sacrifice of armour for incredible speed and firepower. The '''Leopard 2K''' started life as a project after the US-German [[MBT-70|MBT]]/[[KPz-70]] program fell apart in 1970, as an urgent program to replace the now aging [[Leopard 1]]. There had been prior attempts at modernization and development, such as the "vergoldeter Leopard" (gilded Leopard) program in 1967 which aimed to install an autoloader and coaxial autocannon to the Leopard 1, and the Bundeswehr decided to re-use parts of this development in a series of vehicles nicknamed "Keiler", or "tusker". This resulted in two separate vehicles being prototyped and tested: The Leopard 2FK, which was armed with a gun/launcher system similar to the [[KPz-70]]'s, and the Leopard 2K, armed with a smoothbore 105 mm cannon. The Bundeswehr declared the 2K as the superior design in 1971, and development of the 2FK was abandoned as a result.
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There were 16 Leopard 2K prototypes produced (the 17th hull was cancelled), the first 10 equipped with the 105 mm smoothbore gun and the later 6 with the 120 mm smoothbore. These prototypes went through technical tests in between 1972 and 1975, but were ultimately held back due to development of the EMES-13 rangefinder stalling and the MLC 50 requirements (roughly 47.5 tons), which were insufficient in providing adequate protection against enemy tank fire. Unfortunately for the Leopard 2K, the lessons learned during the Yom Kippur War in 1973 alerted the Bundeswehr to the fact that armour was still very much relevant in tank engagements, which led to the easing of restrictions on weight to MLC 60 (55 tons). Coupled with the EMES-13 system finishing development, development moved on to produce what became the [[Leopard 2AV]], while the Leopard 2K was rejected due to its perceived inadequate armour against potential threats, ending its development.
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Introduced in [[Update 1.77 "Advancing Storm"]], the Leopard 2K is what the Leopard 2 could have been, following up on the Leopard 1's design choices in low armour in exchange for near unmatchable mobility and firepower. A titular glass cannon, the Leopard 2K is not heavily armoured and can be penetrated almost anywhere by contemporary tank rounds. However, what the 2K lacks in armour it more than makes up for in the other two areas; speed and firepower. The 120 mm smoothbore cannon has enough penetration to simply point and click at the upper plate of very common enemies at this BR such as the [[T-72AV (TURMS-T)]], and coupled with the laser rangefinder can accurately fire shells at extreme ranges with adequate zoom on its optics. The vehicle is also equipped with an [[Rh202 (20 mm)|Rh202]] autocannon on the roof, which is operated by the gunner, which lets the vehicle still fire the gun even when on 2 crew. The autocannon has a high traverse rate and has a high rate of fire, and can engage both enemy light vehicles, barrels, tracks and aircraft ubiquitously. The mobility is the standout feature of this tank, with an eye-watering 30 hp/t power-to-weight ratio that lets it barrel across the map faster than almost anyone else. Even the extremely mobile [[XM-1 (GM)]] is just shy of 30 at 28.9 hp/t, and outside of vehicles such as the [[VT1-2]] with its horrifying 50.6 hp/t it can outpace just about all MBTs it can face in the positioning game. This combination of the 20 mm autocannon, high damaging 120 mm smoothbore cannon and mobility that is almost unmatched by any other means the Leopard 2K is a beast of a tank that performs best when used to the extreme, going from firing position to firing position and always being unexpected.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
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''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?''
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{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
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The Leopard 2K has what can mostly be described as superficial armour. It can stop some autocannon fire to the upper plate and some areas of the turret but most contemporary rounds be they autocannon or tank caliber will go straight through. The vehicle should be treated as having almost no armour, and taking any sort of enemy fire should ideally be avoided at all costs to increase survivability.
  
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''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
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{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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!Armour!!Front (Slope angle)!!Sides!!Rear!!Roof
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|-
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| Hull || 160 mm ''Upper'' <br> 120 mm ''Lower'' || 65 / 95 mm* ''Top'' <br> 35 / 110 mm* ''Bottom'' || 38 / 48 mm* || 20 mm
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|-
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| Turret || 160-350 / 220-500 mm* ''Turret front'' || 60 / 90 mm* || 46 / 96 mm* || 20 mm
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|-
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|}
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<nowiki>* Kinetic / Chemical</nowiki>
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'''Notes:'''
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* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, tracks are 20 mm thick, and torsion bars are 10 mm thick.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
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''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
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<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp=2,032|rbMinHp=1,327}}
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The mobility of the {{PAGENAME}} is astonishing, making it one of the most agile MBTs at its BR if not in the entire game. A HP/t of 30 means that it easily outruns the sluggish T-72s in the Soviet tree, and it can even give the [[XM1 (GM)]] a run for its money while being significantly up-armed in terms of firepower. You will almost always be the front of the vanguard on your team, and very few vehicles on either side will be able to compete with you to advantageous positions.
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=== Modifications and economy ===
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{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
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{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
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''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.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
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{{main|Rh120 L/44 (120 mm)}}
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The Leopard 2K's gun is a 120 mm Rheinmetall L44. It can be found on the later models of the tank, such as the [[Leopard 2A4]] and [[Leopard 2A5]], and shares round types with the [[Leopard 2A4]] which are: DM12 HEATFS, DM13 APFSDS, and DM23 APFSDS. Being fitted with a 120 mm Rheinmetall gun, it is effective at all ranges, capable of penetrating tanks at range in tandem with the laser rangefinder.
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[Rh120 L/44 (120 mm)|120 mm Rh120 L/44]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
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|-
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! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
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! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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|-
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! ''Arcade''
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| rowspan="2" | 41 || rowspan="2" | -9°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 38.1 || 52.7 || 64.0 || 70.8 || 75.3 || rowspan="2" | 8.71 || rowspan="2" | 7.71 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 6.70
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|-
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! ''Realistic''
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| 23.8 || 28.0 || 34.0 || 37.6 || 40.0
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|-
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|}
  
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=== Additional armament ===
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==== Ammunition ====
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''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
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{{:Rh120 L/44 (120 mm)/Ammunition|DM12, DM13, DM23}}
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==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
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[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
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<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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|-
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! Full<br>ammo
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! 1st<br>rack empty
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! 2nd<br>rack empty
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! Visual<br>discrepancy
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|-
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| '''41''' || 11&nbsp;''(+30)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+40)'' || No
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|-
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|}
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'''Note''':
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 +
* The 2nd ammo rack is a first-stage ammo stowage and will refill from the 1st rack.
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
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''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.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
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{{main|Rh202 (20 mm)|MG3A1 (7.62 mm)}}
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The tank has a 20 mm anti-aircraft gun situated on top of the turret which can fire over cover and be used to knock out gun barrels and tracks, light tanks, helicopters and planes. The belts are alternating HEFI-T/HVAP-T, with 57 mm of penetration at 0 degrees at 10 m. The 20 mm has quite good elevation, and rotates independently from the turret, able to surprise light tanks attempting to flank following turret ring immobilization.
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[Rh202 (20 mm)|20 mm Rh202]]
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|-
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
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|-
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| Pintle || 750 (750) || 900 || -9°/+45° || ±180°
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|-
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|}
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[MG3A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm MG3A1]]
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|-
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
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|-
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| Coaxial || 4,000 (1,000) || 1,200 || N/A || N/A
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|-
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|}
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
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''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 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).''
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<!-- ''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).'' -->
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'''Stock gameplay:'''
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As with any vehicle, the Leopard 2K finds itself at a serious disadvantage while stock. Without access to the APFSDS rounds, users will need to play more carefully. While the DM12 HEATFS round is powerful, it struggles against composite armour and ERA, as well as having lackluster post-penetration damage. Players will have to aim more carefully to deal effective damage with the DM12 HEAT round. As with every chemical shell, try to avoid shooting at tracks, spaced armor and the aforementioned composite armor/ERA. Your mobility is still ahead of the pack, so use it to get into advantageous positions so as to make up for your lack of firepower at the moment by flanking the sides of a map or being in unexpected crossfire positions.
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 +
'''Spaded gameplay:'''
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The Leopard 2K is a powerful tank, arguably the strongest tank at its Battle Rating with few that rival its strengths. The DM23 APFSDS round has adequate penetration, and it should be easy to destroy most enemy vehicles - common enemies such as the [[T-72AV (TURMS-T)]] can be penetrated through even the upper front plate at closer distances, and your shells will easily go through all contemporary weakspots at the BR or higher. The Leopard 2K does, however, struggle in some regards against tanks in higher battle ratings, although this is not to say it's unable to contend with true top tier tanks. The most notable weakness is its most obvious; the lack of armor. None of your modules grant you extra protection against enemy fire, and as a result even vehicles with autocannons can very often shred your tank from even very mild side angles. While you can definitely still win in such an engagement either by using the main gun or the Rh202 autocannon, it can severely damage your vehicle or you may end up simply trading kills.
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 +
The other, more subtle downside is the lack of thermal vision. As Night Battles are completely optional now and are also BR gated to 10.0+, this is a downside that's only applicable should you want to bring the Leopard 2K up to higher BRs. You may ask why you would bring the Leo 2K up to say, 10.7 (the [[Leopard 2A4 | 2A4]]'s BR) or higher, but there is definitely an argument ''for'' it due to its glass cannon nature. The Leopard 2K is an incredibly mobile vehicle, with the same 1,500HP output engine as the 2A4 with less weight and a higher top speed, making it noticeably more mobile than the 2A4 overall. The 2K can act as a great backup or flanking vehicle all around, as its firepower is still lethal even up to top tier and its mobility equally so. In these situations, if you have Night Battles active or get a large map like Red Desert or Fields of Poland / Eastern Europe, finding targets can be a bit of a hassle due to the excessive shrubbery and long distances as you cannot simply find the white heat signatures in a field of black. Assuming you can find your targets, however, this is at best a minor annoyance, and the 2K still offers a very high-risk high-reward flanker playstyle at any BR it's at.
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'''Long range engagements:'''
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 +
The Leopard 2K is capable at long range, but is outclassed by many other vehicles. The cannon is powerful, but not especially so compared to its adversaries. The biggest issues the Leopard 2K will face in regards to long range engagements is the thin turret armour and lack of thermals. While the DM13 APFSDS round will fail to penetrate the turret cheeks of vehicles like the [[Challenger Mk.2]] and [[T-64B]], their rounds will have no such trouble with the Leopard 2K. The lack of thermals makes it difficult to scout for enemies through foliage, meaning trying to snipe is not an effective strategy against any enemies equipped with thermals, as they will almost certainly spot you first. You can use flank routes hidden from long range sightlines to get closer to identify your targets easier, or aim for the weakspots (including the sides and rear if you've flanked them, but front-on this would be the LFP on carousel autoloader designs as well as the turret ring/gun mantlet) on those enemy vehicles to counter-snipe them if need be.
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'''Gameplay summary:'''
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Although the Leopard 2K is somewhat weak when stock as all tanks are, it is a strong frontline tank while spaded. The good APFSDS round and 20 mm give it a strong position in the German high tier lineup. However, Leopard 2K tank commanders should play around the lack of armor, avoiding direct confrontations and fair fights for a flank-heavy playstyle, catching people off guard from unexpected angles. Your biggest strength is your mobility, the most proactive strength possible in the game, while your weakness is armor, something that matters relatively less at higher BRs than at lower BRs due to the introduction of darts - and also something you can negate entirely by using your mobility to avoid being in predictable sightlines altogether. The Leopard 2K is an exceptionally capable vehicle, and the only limiting factor will be your map awareness and positioning skills.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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''Summarize 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 - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
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<!-- ''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".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
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* 120mm gun with effective rounds
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* 120 mm gun with good performance
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* Sloped armor has tendency to bounce shots
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* Most manueuvrable Leopard model with very high torque
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* 20mm cannon very effective against light armor and aircraft
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* Extremely good mobility
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* Excellent mobility
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* Reverse gearbox allows fast retreats
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* Has excellent optics with 8x-16x zoom level
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*
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* 20 mm Rh202 autocannon is also stabilized
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
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* Thin armor, ineffective if angles and cover not utilized
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* Requires the player to utilize its strengths proactively at all times
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* Slower reload time for BR, relative to tanks with smaller guns or autoloaders
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* Armor is inadequate against autocannon fire
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* Reload is slower than other Leopard 2 models
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*
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* Lacks thermal vision
 +
* The 20mm has mediocre penetration, often failing to penetrate light tanks unless on their sides
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* The 20 mm has HVAP-T(APCR) as ammo, having poor post-penetration damage
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
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<!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an 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></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article.''-->
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<!-- ''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).'' -->
 
In the 1960s, Germany and the United States were jointly-developing the MBT-70, and Germany was contractually prevented from developing any new MBTs independently until the joint project with the US was completed.
 
In the 1960s, Germany and the United States were jointly-developing the MBT-70, and Germany was contractually prevented from developing any new MBTs independently until the joint project with the US was completed.
  
 
But development problems plagued the MBT-70 project, and it appeared that the vehicle would not be finished within an acceptable time frame—so Germany found a way to bypass contractual limitations for the MBT-70 development.
 
But development problems plagued the MBT-70 project, and it appeared that the vehicle would not be finished within an acceptable time frame—so Germany found a way to bypass contractual limitations for the MBT-70 development.
  
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Instead of ordering the development of a new tank, the German government issued an order to the Porsche company to research ways to improve the Leopard I tank already in service with the German army. This enabled Germany to research a more advanced fighting vehicle without breaching the contract signed with the US.
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Instead of ordering the development of a new tank, the German government issued an order to the Porsche company to research ways to improve the Leopard I tank already in service with the German army. This enabled Germany to research a more advanced fighting vehicle without breaching the contract signed with the US.
  
−
Porsche’s first study of the Leopard I revealed a lot of room for improvement, and   second study focusing on upgrading the Leopard I to match the MBT-70’s firepower was launched almost immediately. This eventually resulted in the construction of two prototype vehicles—one in 1969 and one in 1970—nicknamed Keiler (tusker).
+
Porsche's first study of the Leopard I revealed a lot of room for improvement, and second study focusing on upgrading the Leopard I to match the MBT-70's firepower was launched almost immediately. This eventually resulted in the construction of two prototype vehicles: one in 1969, and one in 1970 nicknamed Keiler (tusker).
  
 
In the early 1970s, Germany was able to back out of the MBT-70 project due to spiraling development costs. Instead, they continued work on the development of the Keiler, which was renamed to Leopard 2.
 
In the early 1970s, Germany was able to back out of the MBT-70 project due to spiraling development costs. Instead, they continued work on the development of the Keiler, which was renamed to Leopard 2.
Line 61: Line 178:
 
The Leopard 2 project was expected to yield two versions: the Leopard 2K armed with a cannon, and the Leopard 2FK armed with a gun/launcher similar to the MBT-70. In 1971, ten prototypes were ordered, and seven more orders followed shortly thereafter.
 
The Leopard 2 project was expected to yield two versions: the Leopard 2K armed with a cannon, and the Leopard 2FK armed with a gun/launcher similar to the MBT-70. In 1971, ten prototypes were ordered, and seven more orders followed shortly thereafter.
  
−
To get the most out of their prototypes, German engineers equipped each one with different components to determine what worked best. Some Leopard 2 versions were equipped with a 105mm smoothbore cannon, whereas others were fitted with 120mm smoothbore cannons. Some prototypes received a hydraulic suspension while others didn’t, and there was even a version equipped with the 20mm anti-air mount on the turret (similar to the one found on the Kpz-70).
+
To get the most out of their prototypes, German engineers equipped each one with different components to determine what worked best. Some Leopard 2 versions were equipped with a 105 mm smoothbore cannon, whereas others were fitted with 120 mm smoothbore cannons. Some prototypes received a hydraulic suspension while others didn't, and there was even a version equipped with the 20 mm anti-air mount on the turret (similar to the one found on the Kpz-70).
  
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Sixteen out of seventeen Leopard 2 prototypes were built and tested, yielding many refinements to the Leopard 2 design. Subsequent models further increased the Leopard 2’s capabilities, with each variant making it more powerful—and ultimately into the Leopard 2 known today.
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Sixteen out of seventeen Leopard 2 prototypes were built and tested, yielding many refinements to the Leopard 2 design. Subsequent models further increased the Leopard 2's capabilities, with each variant making it more powerful—and ultimately into the Leopard 2 known today.
  
−
''- From [https://warthunder.com/en/news/5309-development-leopard-2k-a-legend-in-the-making-en Devblog]''
+
''- From [[wt:en/news/5309-development-leopard-2k-a-legend-in-the-making-en|Devblog]]''
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
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''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
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<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
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;Skins
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* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=germ_leopard_2k Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
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 +
;Videos
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{{Youtube-gallery|WMxQNdaqA7E|'''You Need To Play This Tank Again: Leopard 2K''' - ''Virus''|gyrbSUvCj-8|'''Leopard 2K: the Original German Ingenuity''' - ''JustinPlaysYT''|p6cWlyUnJQA|'''Top 7 off-road beasts''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 4:00 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|WA3jQgZLjAg|'''The Shooting Range #94''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:29 discusses the Leopard 2K.|vF02GuEIww0|'''Leopard 2K Tank Review''' - ''Napalmratte''}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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== External links ==
 
== External links ==
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<!--''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
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<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
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* ''encyclopedia page on tank;''
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* ''other literature.'' -->
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* ''other literature.''-->
 
  
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* [https://warthunder.com/en/news/5309-development-leopard-2k-a-legend-in-the-making-en [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> Leopard 2K: A Legend In The Making]
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* [[wt:en/news/5309-development-leopard-2k-a-legend-in-the-making-en|[Devblog] Leopard 2K: A Legend In The Making]]
  
 
{{Germany medium tanks}}
 
{{Germany medium tanks}}

Latest revision as of 15:37, 15 November 2024

Rank VI | Premium | Golden Eagles
Chinese A-5C Pack
This page is about the German medium tank Leopard 2K. For other versions, see Leopard 2 (Family).
Leopard 2K
germ_leopard_2k.png
GarageImage Leopard 2K.jpg
ArtImage Leopard 2K.png
Leopard 2K
Germany flag.png Germany
VII Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
10.0 10.0 10.0
Class:
Research:260 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:710 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
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Description

The forerunner to the Leopard 2 was in many ways a return to form of what the Leopard 1 was designed as: the sacrifice of armour for incredible speed and firepower. The Leopard 2K started life as a project after the US-German MBT/KPz-70 program fell apart in 1970, as an urgent program to replace the now aging Leopard 1. There had been prior attempts at modernization and development, such as the "vergoldeter Leopard" (gilded Leopard) program in 1967 which aimed to install an autoloader and coaxial autocannon to the Leopard 1, and the Bundeswehr decided to re-use parts of this development in a series of vehicles nicknamed "Keiler", or "tusker". This resulted in two separate vehicles being prototyped and tested: The Leopard 2FK, which was armed with a gun/launcher system similar to the KPz-70's, and the Leopard 2K, armed with a smoothbore 105 mm cannon. The Bundeswehr declared the 2K as the superior design in 1971, and development of the 2FK was abandoned as a result.

There were 16 Leopard 2K prototypes produced (the 17th hull was cancelled), the first 10 equipped with the 105 mm smoothbore gun and the later 6 with the 120 mm smoothbore. These prototypes went through technical tests in between 1972 and 1975, but were ultimately held back due to development of the EMES-13 rangefinder stalling and the MLC 50 requirements (roughly 47.5 tons), which were insufficient in providing adequate protection against enemy tank fire. Unfortunately for the Leopard 2K, the lessons learned during the Yom Kippur War in 1973 alerted the Bundeswehr to the fact that armour was still very much relevant in tank engagements, which led to the easing of restrictions on weight to MLC 60 (55 tons). Coupled with the EMES-13 system finishing development, development moved on to produce what became the Leopard 2AV, while the Leopard 2K was rejected due to its perceived inadequate armour against potential threats, ending its development.

Introduced in Update 1.77 "Advancing Storm", the Leopard 2K is what the Leopard 2 could have been, following up on the Leopard 1's design choices in low armour in exchange for near unmatchable mobility and firepower. A titular glass cannon, the Leopard 2K is not heavily armoured and can be penetrated almost anywhere by contemporary tank rounds. However, what the 2K lacks in armour it more than makes up for in the other two areas; speed and firepower. The 120 mm smoothbore cannon has enough penetration to simply point and click at the upper plate of very common enemies at this BR such as the T-72AV (TURMS-T), and coupled with the laser rangefinder can accurately fire shells at extreme ranges with adequate zoom on its optics. The vehicle is also equipped with an Rh202 autocannon on the roof, which is operated by the gunner, which lets the vehicle still fire the gun even when on 2 crew. The autocannon has a high traverse rate and has a high rate of fire, and can engage both enemy light vehicles, barrels, tracks and aircraft ubiquitously. The mobility is the standout feature of this tank, with an eye-watering 30 hp/t power-to-weight ratio that lets it barrel across the map faster than almost anyone else. Even the extremely mobile XM-1 (GM) is just shy of 30 at 28.9 hp/t, and outside of vehicles such as the VT1-2 with its horrifying 50.6 hp/t it can outpace just about all MBTs it can face in the positioning game. This combination of the 20 mm autocannon, high damaging 120 mm smoothbore cannon and mobility that is almost unmatched by any other means the Leopard 2K is a beast of a tank that performs best when used to the extreme, going from firing position to firing position and always being unexpected.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull59 / 29 / 12
Turret122 / 45 / 29
Crew4 people
Visibility88 %

The Leopard 2K has what can mostly be described as superficial armour. It can stop some autocannon fire to the upper plate and some areas of the turret but most contemporary rounds be they autocannon or tank caliber will go straight through. The vehicle should be treated as having almost no armour, and taking any sort of enemy fire should ideally be avoided at all costs to increase survivability.

Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 160 mm Upper
120 mm Lower 		65 / 95 mm* Top
35 / 110 mm* Bottom 		38 / 48 mm* 20 mm
Turret 160-350 / 220-500 mm* Turret front 60 / 90 mm* 46 / 96 mm* 20 mm

* Kinetic / Chemical

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, tracks are 20 mm thick, and torsion bars are 10 mm thick.

Mobility

Reverse gearbox
Forward and backward movement is possible at the same maximum speed
Speedforward / back
AB81 / 81 km/h
RB and SB73 / 73 km/h
Number of gears8 forward
8 back
Weight50.0 t
Engine power
AB2 862 hp
RB and SB1 500 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB57.2 hp/t
RB and SB30.0 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 81 81 50 2,032 2,862 40.64 57.24
Realistic 73 73 1,327 1,500 26.54 30

The mobility of the Leopard 2K is astonishing, making it one of the most agile MBTs at its BR if not in the entire game. A HP/t of 30 means that it easily outruns the sluggish T-72s in the Soviet tree, and it can even give the XM1 (GM) a run for its money while being significantly up-armed in terms of firepower. You will almost always be the front of the vanguard on your team, and very few vehicles on either side will be able to compete with you to advantageous positions.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB4 770 → 6 582 Sl icon.png
RB4 621 → 6 376 Sl icon.png
SB5 639 → 7 781 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications210 200 Rp icon.png
351 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 800 Ge icon.png
Crew training200 000 Sl icon.png
Experts710 000 Sl icon.png
Aces2 100 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 080 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
160 / 200 / 250 % Sl icon.png
232 / 232 / 232 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
310 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
13 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
20 000 Sl icon.png
370 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
13 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
20 000 Sl icon.png
370 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
3 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
310 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
3 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
20 000 Sl icon.png
370 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement ger.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
310 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
120mm_NATO_APDS_FS_ammo_pack
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
310 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
13 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
20 000 Sl icon.png
370 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
14 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
22 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods tank laser rangefinder.png
Laser rangefinder
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
120mm_DM_APDS_FS_ammo_pack
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Laser rangefinder
Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder

Main armament

120 mm Rh120 L/44 cannon
Two-plane stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving
Ammunition41 rounds
First-order11 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
8.7 → 6.7 s
Vertical guidance-9° / 20°
Main article: Rh120 L/44 (120 mm)

The Leopard 2K's gun is a 120 mm Rheinmetall L44. It can be found on the later models of the tank, such as the Leopard 2A4 and Leopard 2A5, and shares round types with the Leopard 2A4 which are: DM12 HEATFS, DM13 APFSDS, and DM23 APFSDS. Being fitted with a 120 mm Rheinmetall gun, it is effective at all ranges, capable of penetrating tanks at range in tandem with the laser rangefinder.

120 mm Rh120 L/44 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 41 -9°/+20° ±180° Two-plane 38.1 52.7 64.0 70.8 75.3 8.71 7.71 7.10 6.70
Realistic 23.8 28.0 34.0 37.6 40.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
DM12 HEATFS 480 480 480 480 480 480
DM13 APFSDS 393 390 384 376 367 359
DM23 APFSDS 410 408 401 393 384 376
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (kg) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
DM12 HEATFS 1,140 13.5 0.05 0.1 2.15 65° 72° 77°
DM13 APFSDS 1,650 4.44 - - - 78° 80° 81°
DM23 APFSDS 1,640 4.3 - - - 78° 80° 81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Leopard 2K
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
41 11 (+30) 1 (+40) No

Note:

  • The 2nd ammo rack is a first-stage ammo stowage and will refill from the 1st rack.

Machine guns

20 mm Rh202 cannon
Two-plane stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving
Ammunition750 rounds
Belt capacity750 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
13.0 → 10.0 s
Fire rate900 shots/min
Vertical guidance-9° / 45°
7.62 mm MG3A1 machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition4 000 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate1 200 shots/min
Main articles: Rh202 (20 mm), MG3A1 (7.62 mm)

The tank has a 20 mm anti-aircraft gun situated on top of the turret which can fire over cover and be used to knock out gun barrels and tracks, light tanks, helicopters and planes. The belts are alternating HEFI-T/HVAP-T, with 57 mm of penetration at 0 degrees at 10 m. The 20 mm has quite good elevation, and rotates independently from the turret, able to surprise light tanks attempting to flank following turret ring immobilization.

20 mm Rh202
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Pintle 750 (750) 900 -9°/+45° ±180°
7.62 mm MG3A1
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 4,000 (1,000) 1,200 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

Stock gameplay:

As with any vehicle, the Leopard 2K finds itself at a serious disadvantage while stock. Without access to the APFSDS rounds, users will need to play more carefully. While the DM12 HEATFS round is powerful, it struggles against composite armour and ERA, as well as having lackluster post-penetration damage. Players will have to aim more carefully to deal effective damage with the DM12 HEAT round. As with every chemical shell, try to avoid shooting at tracks, spaced armor and the aforementioned composite armor/ERA. Your mobility is still ahead of the pack, so use it to get into advantageous positions so as to make up for your lack of firepower at the moment by flanking the sides of a map or being in unexpected crossfire positions.

Spaded gameplay:

The Leopard 2K is a powerful tank, arguably the strongest tank at its Battle Rating with few that rival its strengths. The DM23 APFSDS round has adequate penetration, and it should be easy to destroy most enemy vehicles - common enemies such as the T-72AV (TURMS-T) can be penetrated through even the upper front plate at closer distances, and your shells will easily go through all contemporary weakspots at the BR or higher. The Leopard 2K does, however, struggle in some regards against tanks in higher battle ratings, although this is not to say it's unable to contend with true top tier tanks. The most notable weakness is its most obvious; the lack of armor. None of your modules grant you extra protection against enemy fire, and as a result even vehicles with autocannons can very often shred your tank from even very mild side angles. While you can definitely still win in such an engagement either by using the main gun or the Rh202 autocannon, it can severely damage your vehicle or you may end up simply trading kills.

The other, more subtle downside is the lack of thermal vision. As Night Battles are completely optional now and are also BR gated to 10.0+, this is a downside that's only applicable should you want to bring the Leopard 2K up to higher BRs. You may ask why you would bring the Leo 2K up to say, 10.7 (the 2A4's BR) or higher, but there is definitely an argument for it due to its glass cannon nature. The Leopard 2K is an incredibly mobile vehicle, with the same 1,500HP output engine as the 2A4 with less weight and a higher top speed, making it noticeably more mobile than the 2A4 overall. The 2K can act as a great backup or flanking vehicle all around, as its firepower is still lethal even up to top tier and its mobility equally so. In these situations, if you have Night Battles active or get a large map like Red Desert or Fields of Poland / Eastern Europe, finding targets can be a bit of a hassle due to the excessive shrubbery and long distances as you cannot simply find the white heat signatures in a field of black. Assuming you can find your targets, however, this is at best a minor annoyance, and the 2K still offers a very high-risk high-reward flanker playstyle at any BR it's at.


Long range engagements:

The Leopard 2K is capable at long range, but is outclassed by many other vehicles. The cannon is powerful, but not especially so compared to its adversaries. The biggest issues the Leopard 2K will face in regards to long range engagements is the thin turret armour and lack of thermals. While the DM13 APFSDS round will fail to penetrate the turret cheeks of vehicles like the Challenger Mk.2 and T-64B, their rounds will have no such trouble with the Leopard 2K. The lack of thermals makes it difficult to scout for enemies through foliage, meaning trying to snipe is not an effective strategy against any enemies equipped with thermals, as they will almost certainly spot you first. You can use flank routes hidden from long range sightlines to get closer to identify your targets easier, or aim for the weakspots (including the sides and rear if you've flanked them, but front-on this would be the LFP on carousel autoloader designs as well as the turret ring/gun mantlet) on those enemy vehicles to counter-snipe them if need be.

Gameplay summary:

Although the Leopard 2K is somewhat weak when stock as all tanks are, it is a strong frontline tank while spaded. The good APFSDS round and 20 mm give it a strong position in the German high tier lineup. However, Leopard 2K tank commanders should play around the lack of armor, avoiding direct confrontations and fair fights for a flank-heavy playstyle, catching people off guard from unexpected angles. Your biggest strength is your mobility, the most proactive strength possible in the game, while your weakness is armor, something that matters relatively less at higher BRs than at lower BRs due to the introduction of darts - and also something you can negate entirely by using your mobility to avoid being in predictable sightlines altogether. The Leopard 2K is an exceptionally capable vehicle, and the only limiting factor will be your map awareness and positioning skills.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • 120 mm gun with good performance
  • Most manueuvrable Leopard model with very high torque
  • Extremely good mobility
  • Reverse gearbox allows fast retreats
  • Has excellent optics with 8x-16x zoom level
  • 20 mm Rh202 autocannon is also stabilized

Cons:

  • Requires the player to utilize its strengths proactively at all times
  • Armor is inadequate against autocannon fire
  • Reload is slower than other Leopard 2 models
  • Lacks thermal vision
  • The 20mm has mediocre penetration, often failing to penetrate light tanks unless on their sides
  • The 20 mm has HVAP-T(APCR) as ammo, having poor post-penetration damage

History

In the 1960s, Germany and the United States were jointly-developing the MBT-70, and Germany was contractually prevented from developing any new MBTs independently until the joint project with the US was completed.

But development problems plagued the MBT-70 project, and it appeared that the vehicle would not be finished within an acceptable time frame—so Germany found a way to bypass contractual limitations for the MBT-70 development.

Instead of ordering the development of a new tank, the German government issued an order to the Porsche company to research ways to improve the Leopard I tank already in service with the German army. This enabled Germany to research a more advanced fighting vehicle without breaching the contract signed with the US.

Porsche's first study of the Leopard I revealed a lot of room for improvement, and second study focusing on upgrading the Leopard I to match the MBT-70's firepower was launched almost immediately. This eventually resulted in the construction of two prototype vehicles: one in 1969, and one in 1970 nicknamed Keiler (tusker).

In the early 1970s, Germany was able to back out of the MBT-70 project due to spiraling development costs. Instead, they continued work on the development of the Keiler, which was renamed to Leopard 2.

The Leopard 2 project was expected to yield two versions: the Leopard 2K armed with a cannon, and the Leopard 2FK armed with a gun/launcher similar to the MBT-70. In 1971, ten prototypes were ordered, and seven more orders followed shortly thereafter.

To get the most out of their prototypes, German engineers equipped each one with different components to determine what worked best. Some Leopard 2 versions were equipped with a 105 mm smoothbore cannon, whereas others were fitted with 120 mm smoothbore cannons. Some prototypes received a hydraulic suspension while others didn't, and there was even a version equipped with the 20 mm anti-air mount on the turret (similar to the one found on the Kpz-70).

Sixteen out of seventeen Leopard 2 prototypes were built and tested, yielding many refinements to the Leopard 2 design. Subsequent models further increased the Leopard 2's capabilities, with each variant making it more powerful—and ultimately into the Leopard 2 known today.

- From Devblog

Media

Skins
Videos
You Need To Play This Tank Again: Leopard 2K - Virus
Leopard 2K: the Original German Ingenuity - JustinPlaysYT
Top 7 off-road beasts discusses the Leopard 2K at 4:00 - War Thunder Official Channel
The Shooting Range #94 - Metal Beasts section at 00:29 discusses the Leopard 2K.
Leopard 2K Tank Review - Napalmratte

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the vehicles;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links


Germany medium tanks
Pz.III  Pz.III B · Pz.III E · Pz.III F · Pz.III J · Pz.III J1 · Pz.III J1 TD · Pz.III L · Pz.III M · Pz.III N
Pz.IV  Pz.IV C · Pz.IV E · Pz.IV F1 · Pz.IV F2 · Pz.IV G · Pz.IV H · Pz.IV J · Pz.Bef.Wg.IV J
Pz.V  VK 3002 (M) · Panther A · Panther D · Panther F · Panther G · Ersatz M10 · Panther II
M48 upgrades  M48A2 G A2 · M48 Super
Leopard 1  Leopard I · Leopard A1A1 · Leopard A1A1 (L/44) · Leopard 1A5 · C2A1 · Turm III
Leopard 2  PT-16/T14 mod. · Leopard 2K · Leopard 2AV
  Leopard 2A4 · Leopard 2 (PzBtl 123) · Leopard 2A4M · Leopard 2 PL · Leopard 2A5 · Leopard 2 PSO · Leopard 2A6 · Leopard 2A7V
Trophies  ▀M4 748 (a) · ▀T 34 747 (r)
Other  Nb.Fz. · KPz-70
USA  mKPz M47 G · M48A2 C
USSR  ◊T-72M1

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