Leopard 2 PSO

This page is about the German medium tank Leopard 2 PSO. For other versions, see Leopard 2 (Family).

Leopard 2 PSO

Leopard 2A6

Leopard 2A7V

Leopard 2 PSO

Leopard 2A6

Leopard 2A7V

Germany

VIII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
12.0	12.0	12.0

Class:

Medium tank

Research:410 000

Purchase:1 100 000

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Description

The Leopard 2 PSO is a rank VIII German medium tank with a battle rating of 12.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "Sons of Attila".

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

Self-entrenching equipment

Creation of ramparts and trenches in soft ground

Armourfront / side / back

Hull80 / 30 / 20

Turret75 / 80 / 20

Crew4 people

Visibility87 %

The Leopard 2pso has similar armor towards the Leopard 2a4m or the Strv 122 B+ but does not have the frontal composite protection of that of the strv 122 or leo 2a7v. The armor frontally is that of the same as the A5 but with composite on the front deck at the drivers hatch of the PSO which provides some protection, but the front plate is that of the regular A5 with shot in the front plate can either cause a ammo detonation at the second rack or knock out the entire the entire crew. The side composite upgrade provides some protection and in some cases are useful against older ammunition, HEAT or low penetrating rounds but does either little to none towards more advanced APFSDS rounds such as the M829A2 or the 3BM60. If Dozer blade is researched, it can act as frontal armor and if positioned right angling with the side composite and dozer blade is optional though any hit aimed at the tracks might take out some crew or the engine. Dozer blade can also make CQC much more possible, but armor must not be relied upon 100% as advanced APFSDS can still penetrate the front plate with the dozer blade rather easily.

Armour type:

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	___ mm	___ mm Top ___ mm Bottom	___ mm	___ - ___ mm
Turret	___ - ___ mm Turret front ___ mm Gun mantlet	___ - ___ mm	___ - ___ mm	___ - ___ mm
Cupola	___ mm	___ mm	___ mm	___ mm

Notes:

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB76 / 37 km/h

RB and SB69 / 33 km/h

Number of gears10 forward

6 back

Weight67.0 t

Engine power

AB3 110 hp

RB and SB1 630 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB46.4 hp/t

RB and SB24.3 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	76	37	67	2,208	3,110	32.96	46.42
Realistic	69	33		1,442	1,630	21.52	24.33

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB4 495 → 7 012

RB4 356 → 6 795

SB5 514 → 8 601

Total cost of modifications291 900

479 000

Talisman cost3 200

Crew training310 000

Experts1 100 000

Aces2 300

Research Aces1 350 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

160 / 200 / 210 %

256 / 256 / 256 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 21 000 Cost: 32 000 480 Suspension Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 280 Brake System Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 280 Filters Research: 16 000 Cost: 24 000 370 Transmission Research: 20 000 Cost: 31 000 460 Engine Research: 20 000 Cost: 31 000 460	Improved Parts Research: 6 300 Cost: 32 000 480 Improved FPE Research: 3 600 Cost: 18 000 280 Crew Replenishment Research: 16 000 Cost: 24 000 370	Horizontal Drive Research: 21 000 Cost: 32 000 480 Adjustment of Fire Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 280 Dozer Blade Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 280 120mm_DM_HE_FS_ammo_pack Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 280 Elevation Mechanism Research: 16 000 Cost: 24 000 370 Smoke grenade Research: 16 000 Cost: 24 000 370 NVD Research: 16 000 Cost: 24 000 370 Artillery Support Research: 20 000 Cost: 31 000 460 120mm_DM_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 20 000 Cost: 31 000 460 Laser rangefinder Research: 20 000 Cost: 31 000 460

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°

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	38.1	52.7	64.0	70.8	75.3	7.80	6.90	6.36	6.00
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
DM12A1	HEATFS	480	480	480	480	480	480
DM11	HE-TF	37	37	37	37	37	37
DM33	APFSDS	481	478	470	461	450	440
DM53	APFSDS	623	620	610	598	586	573

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%
DM12A1	HEATFS	1,140	13.5	0.05	0.1	2.15	65°	72°	77°
DM11	HE-TF	970	19	0.3	0.1	3.93	79°	80°	81°
DM33	APFSDS	1,640	4.3	-	-	-	78°	80°	81°
DM53	APFSDS	1,670	5	-	-	-	78°	80°	81°

Ammo racks

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	Visual discrepancy
42	16 (+26)	1 (+41)	No

Machine guns

12.7 mm s.MG.50 machine gun

Two-plane stabilizer

Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving

Ammunition800 rounds

Belt capacity100 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate575 shots/min

Vertical guidance-10° / 70°

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

12.7 mm s.MG.50
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Pintle	800 (100)	575	-10°/+70°	±180°

7.62 mm MG3A1
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	4,400 (200)	1,200	-	-

Usage in battles

Due to the extra weight the PSO should be treated with careful planning and positioning. Mobility is limiting due to the weight and makes flanking extremely difficult sometimes with open maps flanking becomes Imposible but does well with CQC engagements with the added armor providing better protection and with the added dozer blade it can sometimes survive frontal penetration of the hull. The tank at stock is similar to an heavy tank and mobility is much more lacking to its counter parts.

L44 and DM53 can help with long range engagements and its advised to use hull down tactics for sniper engagements. In an open map its best to plan carefully where the tank must be positioned as the mobility provides little options for escape in case you are in deep enemy territory, and it is recommended if possible that you work with other teammates to increase the likely hood of survival.

Flanking is possible but extremely difficult as the pso has an massive profile and lacks the mobility of that of the other leopard 2 models. The mobility makes it so that getting into good flanking positions take a much longer time though despite the speed acceleration is lacking and can make your likely hood of getting into a good position much lower. The massive profile of the tanks makes it aslo easier to spot and with its mobility it detection easier for enemy tanks and planes to detect you.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• New 12.7 mm s.MG.50 coaxial machine gun instead of the 7.62 mm MG3A1 machine gun that's featured on all previous Leopard 2 tanks.
• The new engine (MTU MT 883 Ka-501) delivers 123,2 HP more and revs 400 RPMs higher than the older MTU MB 873 Ka-501 engine.
• Added protection from the new armor modules that are present on the turret, sides and on the hull.
• New hull design slightly increases protection.
• High-explosive shells have a harder time to overpressure because of the added armor modules on the hull.
• Has access to the DM11 which makes shooting down planes or helicopters easier.

Cons:

• The new armor modules increase the weight drastically.
• Features the older 120 mm Rh L/44 cannon with less penetration than the 120 mm Rh L/55 cannon that's on the Leopard 2A6.
• The tank is bigger and wider than the other Leopard 2 variants which makes it difficult to find well protected spots.
• The same 1st Gen Thermal imager for the gunner.
• The hull can still be penetrated easily with APFSDS rounds.
• Huge hull ammo rack that can be shot easily, just like on the other Leopard 2 variants.
• Despite the better engine, mobility is lacking against that of the A7, A6 and A5

History

The Leopard 2 PSO, with PSO standing for "Peace Support Operations", was KMW's proactive development of the Bundeswehr's requirements for a tank that needed to be adapted for urban warfare peacekeeping operations. As a result of this version, the Leopard 2 PSO features a compact Euro-Powerpack engine, and has been equipped with optional equipment, capable of being fitted for whatever mission is at hand. The Leopard 2 PSO's hull has been equipped with additional armor modules on the sides and on the turret, as well as reinforced underbody protection. The modernization of Leopard 2 tanks under the PSO program was first delayed and then eventually abandoned in favor of upgrading tanks to the Leopard 2A7 specification.

- From Devblog

Media

Images

• 

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Leopard 2 PSO from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #375 - Metal Beasts section at 00:24 discusses the Leopard 2 PSO.

See also

Related development

• Leopard 2 (Family)

External links

• [Devblog] Leopard 2 PSO: Urban Warfare Tactics