Leopard 2 PL

Leopard 2 PL

Leopard 2 PL

Germany

VIII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
11.7	11.7	11.7

Class:

SQUADRON

Medium tank

Research:570 000

Purchase:1 140 000

Show in game

Description

The Leopard 2 PL is a squadron rank VIII German medium tank with a battle rating of 11.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "Ixwa Strike".

General info

Survivability and armour

Composite armour

Balanced protection against all types of ammunition

Smoke grenades

Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle

Armourfront / side / back

Hull80 / 65 / 25

Turret80 / 80 / 25

Crew4 people

Visibility95 %

Due to volumetric armour, HEAT-FS rounds are not able to penetrate GPS

APFSDS dart is able to penetrate the Gunner Primary Sight taking out both gunner and commander. However the add-on armour reduces the chances of killing them both in a single shot.

The Leopard 2PL features the strongest and most armoured Leopard 2 seen in game so far. It features a stronger turret armour compared to all the Leopard 2 seen in game but has no add-on hull protection as the Strv 122A and the Strv 122B PLSS. This version is made out of the 2A4 series, featuring mainly the same cons when we talk about hull armour, barely enough to stop rounds seen in game, irrelevant to be explained in this section as all Leopard 2 in game have this exact same issue. However, it completely removes the cons from the turret. At first sight, the GPS (Gunner Primary Sight) can be seen as the main weak point since it is the same weakspot the 2A4 has. However, taking into consideration the new armour, hitting the GPS makes it harder without hitting add-on armour first. As seen in the image, the GPS is mostly safe from a wide variety of full-calibre threats due to volumetric armour and shells, meaning they will prematurely explode, thus reducing its penetration. However, this may change for sub-calibre rounds like APFSDS. As seen in the Leopard 2A4, any hit to the GPS means both gunner and commander will be knocked out. However, chances of hitting the GPS in the exact place for it to disable both crew members is reduced inmensively thanks to the add-on armour. Most of the time, any hit to the GPS will result in the knock-out of the commander only with partial damage to the gunner. As seen in picture, the area highlighted is the place in which both the gunner and commander can be killed with a single shot (more specifically the lower section of the rectangular optic in the GPS).

MILAN ATGM is unable to penetrate the turret sides.

DM53 round is unable to penetrate the add-on armour.

The 2PL is also the first tank in game to be able to withstand more than one hit of CL3143, DM53 and 9M119 to the turret. Previous Leopards (specifically the 2A5 and 2A6 including the Strv 122) can withstand 9M119 to the turret. However, the panels are exploded with a single hit, they will not withstand a second hit. This changes with the 2PL. It is able to withstand up to 4 9M119 hits and continous firing of the CL3143 and DM53 at any ranges. All of them aer able to penetrate the mantlet with no issues at all. However, it is tricky to achieve this since if you are aiming at the turret's front, he is able to kill you too. Moving to turret's add-on side armour, it is able to withstand all the HEAT-FS seen in game. However, the armour protection is increased gradually as we move to the turret front. The first section of the side armour (the one covering the smoke launchers) is relatively weak and is able to be penetrated by all ammunitions seen in the battle-rating. The second section (covering the first half of the sides of the crew compartments) is able to withstand all HEAT-FS in game and MILAN ATGM (meaning is able to withstand up to 580 mm of penetration). The third section of the side armour (covering the second half of the crew compartment) is able to withstand all penetration up to 800 mm of CE (minor damages may happen but crew will stay alive). When we talk about KE protection, side armour offers little to no protection whatsoever.

Armour type:

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	Composite Armour Upper Glacis 35 mm (53°)	20 mm Top 35 mm Bottom	20 mm	20 - 35 mm
Turret	35 mm Turret front 35 mm Gun mantlet Variable thickness add-on armour	15 - 35 mm 300 mm Composite Screen Variable thickness add-on armour	25 mm	20 mm

Composite armour	Front	Sides
Hull	Upper+Lower glacis 400 mm Kinetic 600 mm Chemical	N/A
Turret	Turret cheeks 1010 mm Kinetic 1520 mm Chemical Gun mantlet (Center) 478 - 615 mm Kinetic 730- 1400 mm Chemical Gun mantlet (Outer) 524 - 915 mm Kinetic 535 - 1520 mm Chemical	Side armour 260 mm Kinetic 230 - 600 mm Chemical

Notes:

• Upper hull and Lower rear hull overlap (10 + 20 mm thick)
• Upper mantlet add-on and Mantlet armour overlap (30 + 400 mm thick)
• Holes in the engine deck are covered by 8 mm of mesh

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB76 / 35 km/h

RB and SB69 / 31 km/h

Number of gears8 forward

4 back

Weight59.2 t

Engine power

AB2 862 hp

RB and SB1 500 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB48.3 hp/t

RB and SB25.3 hp/t

Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	76	35	59.2	_,___	2,862	__.__	48.34
Realistic	69	31		_,___	1,500	__.__	25.34

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB4 627 → 6 884

RB4 517 → 6 721

SB5 734 → 8 532

Total cost of modifications281 200

473 000

Talisman cost3 100

Crew training310 000

Experts1 080 000

Aces2 200

Research Aces1 280 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

150 / 190 / 210 %

250 / 250 / 250 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 20 000 Cost: 31 000 440 Suspension Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 310 Brake System Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 310 Filters Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 330 Transmission Research: 20 000 Cost: 31 000 440 Engine Research: 20 000 Cost: 31 000 440	Improved Parts Research: 6 000 Cost: 31 000 440 Improved FPE Research: 4 200 Cost: 22 000 310 Crew Replenishment Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 330	Horizontal Drive Research: 20 000 Cost: 31 000 440 Adjustment of Fire Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 310 120mm_DM_HE_FS_ammo_pack Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 310 Elevation Mechanism Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 330 Smoke grenade Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 330 NVD Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 330 Artillery Support Research: 20 000 Cost: 31 000 440 120mm_DM_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 20 000 Cost: 31 000 440 Laser rangefinder Research: 20 000 Cost: 31 000 440

Armaments

Laser rangefinder

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

Night vision device

Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.

Thermal imager

Allows to see thermal radiation in the infrared range day and night

Main armament

120 mm Rh120 L/44 cannon

Two-plane stabilizer

Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving

Ammunition42 rounds

First-order15 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

7.8 → 6.0 s

Vertical guidance-9° / 20°

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: {{main|Name of the weapon}}. 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.

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	42	-9°/+20°	±180°	Two-plane	__._	__._	__._	__._	__._	_.__	_.__	_.__	_.__
Realistic					__._	__._	__._	__._	__._

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
DM12A1	HEATFS	480	480	480	480	480	480
DM11	HE	37	37	37	37	37	37
DM23	APFSDS	410	408	401	393	384	376
DM33	APFSDS	481	478	470	461	450	440

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile Mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
DM12A1	HEATFS	1140	13.5	0.05	0.1	2150	65°	72°	77°
DM11	HE	950	19.0	N/A	0.1	3930	79°	80°	81°
DM23	APFSDS	1640	4.3	N/A	N/A	N/A	78°	80°	81°
DM33	APFSDS	1640	4.3	N/A	N/A	N/A	78°	80°	81°

Ammo racks

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	6th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
42	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__

Machine guns

7.62 mm MG3A1 machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition4 400 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate1 200 shots/min

7.62 mm MG3A1 machine gun

Ammunition2 000 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate1 200 shots/min

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.

7.62 mm MG3A1
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
	___ (___)	___	__°	__°
	___ (___)	___	__°	__°

Usage in battles

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).

Pros and cons

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:

Cons:

History

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: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

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

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• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.

Squadron ground vehicles
USA	M901 · M1A1 AIM
Germany	Leopard 2 PL
USSR	BMP-2M · T-80UK
Britain	Bhishma TWMP
Japan	RCV (P)
China	Object 122MT "MC"
France	CV 9035NL
Sweden	T 80 U
Israel	Magach 6B Gal