Leopard 2A5 (YouTube Cup)
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Contents
Description
The Leopard 2A5, a formidable main battle tank, emerged as the pinnacle of German engineering and design in the late 20th century. Introduced in 1995 as an advanced iteration of the Leopard 2 family, the 2A5 showcased its prowess during the 21st-century conflicts. This tank's innovative features, including modular composite armor enhancements and advanced fire control systems, made it a stalwart on the battlefield. Its baptism of fire came in the early 2000s, notably during NATO's involvement in Afghanistan. With its powerful Rheinmetall 120mm smoothbore gun, the Leopard 2A5 could accurately engage targets at extended ranges, solidifying its reputation as a precision weapon. Its capabilities were further demonstrated during Operation Iraqi Freedom, where it played a pivotal role in coalition forces. A combination of cutting-edge technology, unmatched firepower, and adaptability ensured the Leopard 2A5's enduring legacy, making it a symbol of armored supremacy well into the 21st century.
It was introduced during Update 1.89 "Imperial Navy" as a grand prize for the 2019 YouTube Cup. The Leopard 2A5's exceptional mobility and robust powerplant further enhance its capability to swiftly maneuver on the battlefield, enabling it to quickly identify and engage enemy targets. Whether facing contemporary adversaries like the Russian T-90 or older models like the T-72, the Leopard 2A5's exceptional combination of armor, firepower, and maneuverability cements its position as a dominant force in tank-to-tank combat, reaffirming its status as a preeminent mainstay in modern armored warfare.
General info
Survivability and armour
The Leopard 2A5's armor represents a pinnacle of armour, which provides exceptional protection against a wide spectrum of threats encountered on the battlefield. Its modular composite armor system configuration optimizes the tank's resistance to various types of projectiles, dispersing and dissipating their energy upon impact. The tank's turret and hull are heavily armored, with extra emphasis on critical areas like the frontal arc. The Leopard 2A5's turret spaced armor design further enhances its survivability. By creating air gaps between armor layers, the tank can disrupt the penetration capabilities of shaped-charge warheads, such as those found on anti-tank guided missiles. This design concept effectively minimizes the impact of these threats, providing an additional layer of defense against them. Blowout panels in the Leopard 2A5 serve as critical safety features designed to mitigate the potential catastrophic consequences of an ammunition detonation within the tank. These panels are positioned on the turret, surrounding the ammunition storage compartments. In the unfortunate event of an internal explosion, often triggered by enemy fire or other factors, the blowout panels are able to rapidly release the high-pressure gases and energy away from the crew compartment.
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
The Leopard 2A5's holds a robust engine generating around 1,500 horsepower. This substantial power output translates into remarkable acceleration, agility, and speed, crucial for swift tactical maneuvers and rapid responses to emerging threats. With a horsepower-to-weight ratio of approximately 24 to 26 horsepower per ton, depending on upgrades, the Leopard 2A5 effortlessly maintains its exceptional mobility even while carrying its formidable armor and weaponry. This formidable powerplant not only empowers the tank to conquer challenging terrains but also contributes to its ability to efficiently navigate inclines, ford water obstacles, and surmount various barriers. As a result, the Leopard 2A5's potent horsepower significantly enhances its overall mobility, responsiveness, and tactical versatility, solidifying its position as a dominant and highly maneuverable force on the modern battlefield.
| 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 | 59.5 | _,___ | 2,862 | __.__ | 48.1 |
| Realistic | 69 | 31 | _,___ | 1,500 | __.__ | 25.21 | |
Modifications and economy
| Mobility | Protection | Firepower | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
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Armaments
Main armament
The Leopard 2A5's weaponry and capabilities position it as a formidable force on the modern battlefield. At the heart of its offensive power is the Rheinmetall 120mm smoothbore gun, renowned for its accuracy and penetrating capabilities. This gun can fire a variety of munitions, including armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds and high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds, enabling the tank to engage a wide range of targets with precision and effectiveness. The tank's advanced fire control system and integrated laser rangefinder allow the Leopard 2A5 to engage and neutralize enemy vehicles at extended ranges. The combat effectiveness is greatly enhanced by its utilization of the DM53 armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) round. This advanced ammunition represents a pinnacle of tank projectiles, optimized for penetrating even the most formidable enemy armor. This formidable synergy allows the Leopard 2A5, armed with the DM53 APFSDS round, to confidently engage heavily armored threats at distances surpassing 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) and prevail in engagements that demand superior penetration capabilities.
| 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 |
| 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° | |||
| 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 |
3rd rack empty |
4th rack empty |
5th rack empty |
6th rack empty |
Visual discrepancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ |
Machine guns
In addition to its main gun, the Leopard 2A5 is equipped with secondary armaments, including a coaxial machine gun and a roof-mounted machine gun, providing effective anti-air and close-range defense capabilities.
| 7.62 mm MG3A1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount | Capacity (Belt) | Fire rate | Vertical | Horizontal |
| ___ (___) | ___ | __° | __° | |
| ___ (___) | ___ | __° | __° | |
Usage in battles
In the realm of armored combat, the Leopard 2A5 emerges as a paragon of tactical ingenuity, harmonizing cutting-edge technology with strategic finesse. This formidable main battle tank showcases its prowess through a dynamic symphony of tactics. Adopting an ambush approach with its superb mobility, the Leopard 2A5 capitalizes on its lethal firepower and precision, lying in wait within concealed terrain before swiftly shifting positions to confound adversaries. The Leopard 2A5 seamlessly integrates the concept of hull-down defense. By leveraging its robust armor and taking advantage of natural cover, the tank presents only its turret to the enemy while maintaining its potent offensive capabilities. This tactic not only magnifies protection but ensures that the tank remains a relentless and unyielding force on the battlefield. With a prowess akin to a predator, the Leopard 2A5 embraces flank and rear attacks as a means to exploit its exceptional mobility. Executing lightning-quick maneuvers, it maneuvers to the peripheries of the battlefield, exposing enemy tanks to its voracious appetite for destruction. Through these cunning maneuvers, the tank preys on unsuspecting opponents, targeting their weaker armor and flanks, thus dismantling the enemy team.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Excellent 120 mm gun, DM53 APFSDS is capable of penetrating up to 623 mm maximum at point-blank range
- Impenetrable turret cheeks, the add-on wedge armour makes the turret immune from every shell in the game (average of 850 mm against long rod APFSDS and 1,450 mm against HEAT)
- Good armour on the UFP (430 mm against APFSDS), immune to older shells; though many top-tier tanks possess shells which can go straight through
- Great gun handling: 40°/s turret rotation speed (with Ace crew) and -9°/+20° of vertical guidance
- Side turret covered by add-on armour can bounce early APFSDS shells
- Gunner optics are now mounted on top of the turret, removing the annoying weak spot present on the Leopard 2A4
- Cannon barrel and cannon breech absorbs impact rounds which may otherwise penetrate the turret and injure crews
- Gun breech and mantlet has a smaller profile than other western MBTs
- Good thermal imaging quality (Generation 2 for Binoculars, 800 x 600, and Generation 1 for Gunner's view, 500 x 300)
- Very good all round tank especially when played properly
Cons:
- Lower glacis can still be penetrated by most shells (but is expected for most MBTs)
- 16 shells in the ready-rack may be insufficient when playing in Arcade Battles
- If your turret ammo rack is shot, you might survive but then you lose all your unloaded ammo storage
- Huge hull ammo-rack if more than 16 shells are carried consequently making the tank extremely vulnerable to HE shells
- A penetrating shot on the left side of the hull will most likely knock out the driver, gunner and commander, thus destroying the tank
- A penetrating shell on the right side of the hull will most likely hit the ammo-rack, destroying the tank
- Just like all Leopard series, raised engine deck means less gun depression when the turret is facing the rear
- The wedges can be shot off with several hits, though the turret cheeks alone provide 650 mm against KE
- Tank's weight is 4 tons increased while the engine is still the same, making the Leopard 2A5 (YouTube Cup) slower compared to the 2A4
- Despite all the added armour, the turret ring and driver's hatch are both easily penetrated, and the enemy will most likely aim at these two spots to disable or destroy the tank
- Is outperformed by its successor, the Leopard 2A6, in terms of firepower. The longer L/55 cannon on the Leopard 2A6 increases the performance of both DM33 and DM53 shells.
History
The Leopard 2A5 is a third-generation main battle tank (MBT) developed by the German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). It is an upgrade to the Leopard 2A4, which was the mainstay of the German Army in the late 1990s. The Leopard 2A5 was first introduced in 1995 and served as the backbone of the German Army until the Leopard 2A6 replaced it in 2001.
The Leopard 2A5 features improved armor protection and a new gunner's sight. The tank's armor consists of composite armor, reactive armor, and spaced armor, providing it with superior protection against anti-tank weapons. The Leopard 2A5 also features a modified turret design, which provides better protection for the crew.
The tank's main armament is a 120 mm smoothbore gun, which is capable of firing a variety of ammunition types, including high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT), armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS), and high-explosive, variable time fuze (HE-VT) rounds. The Leopard 2A5 also features a secondary armament consisting of a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun and a 12.7 mm machine gun mounted on the commander's hatch (which on some versions may be a 7.62mm one).
The Leopard 2A5 has been used in several conflicts around the world, including in Kosovo and Afghanistan. The tank has proven to be highly effective in combat, with its superior armor protection and firepower providing a significant advantage on the battlefield. During the Kosovo conflict, the German Army deployed a battalion of Leopard 2A5s, which saw significant action against Serbian forces. The tank's superior protection and firepower proved to be critical in the success of the German mission.
The tank proved to be incapable, though, of urban combat, as German forces suffered heavy losses to shoulder anti-tank weapons, like the RPG-7 and M136, which were highly used by guerilla and insurgency forces from rooftops and areas where the Leopard's defenses couldn't reach. Around 1997, the Leopard 2A5M TUSK I prototype was created, featuring an all-around ERA protection, as well as blowout panels, an autoloader, a shorter barrel, and a remote-controlled machine gun (to prevent the commander/loader from having to turn out of the tank to fire it). Although some units were produced, the project was abandoned quickly due to the replacement of the tank by the Leopard 2A6, along with the high production cost of the new variant.
Production of the Leopard 2A5 began in 1995, and the tank was in service until it was replaced by the Leopard 2A6 in 2001. The Leopard 2A5 was produced in Germany and exported to several other countries, including Austria, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Norway, and Poland.
Despite its successes, the Leopard 2A5 was not without its production issues. The tank was initially delayed due to problems with the new armor technology, and production costs were higher than expected. The tank also had some reliability issues, particularly with its engine, which was prone to overheating.
In conclusion, the Leopard 2A5 is a highly effective third-generation MBT that provided a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the Leopard 2A4. The tank's superior armor protection and firepower made it a formidable opponent on the battlefield, and it has seen successful combat deployment in several conflicts around the world. While the Leopard 2A5 had some production issues, it was a critical asset for the German Army during its time in service.
Media
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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;
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