Leclerc SXXI

This page is about the French medium tank Leclerc SXXI. For other versions, see Leclerc (Family).

Leclerc SXXI

Leclerc S2

Leclerc AZUR

Leclerc SXXI

Leclerc S2

Leclerc AZUR

France

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 Leclerc Séries XXI is the third variant of the Leclerc main battle tank family. It has significant enhancements and improvements over its predecessor, the Leclerc Séries 2. The turret now has a new composite front armour package that includes titanium. Turret bustle composite armour has been replaced with lighter explosive reactive armour. Turret storage bins are also being redesigned to allow for potentially larger add-on armour packages, increasing versatility and adaptability. The Leclerc Séries XXI also has a hunter-killer capability thanks to the HL 120 panoramic sight, which contains a laser rangefinder and Iris thermal imaging equipment. Finally, the tank is now equipped with a friend or foe identification indicator.

Introduced in Update "Winged Lions", the Leclerc Séries XXI is well-protected overall, with an effective configuration that results in good survivability. The frontal turret of the Leclerc Séries XXI is particularly well protected by modular composite armour, which combines strong metals, semi-reactive, and ceramic layers to protect against even the most powerful tank ammunition. The modification also involves the inclusion of extra armour beneath the gunner's sight, lowering the likelihood of the gunner being knocked out during conflicts. The Leclerc Séries XXI also has a new HL 120 panoramic sight for the commander, as well as thermal imaging equipment and a laser rangefinder, bringing hunter-killer capability to the Leclerc Séries XXI.

General info

Survivability and armour

ERA

Effective action against the cumulative ammunition

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 / 35 / 20

Turret90 / 90 / 20

Crew3 people

Visibility90 %

The Leclerc SXXI is generally well protected with a well-designed layout resulting in good survivability. It does, however, have a number of prominent weak spots which are not easily hidden - most notable of which is the gun mantlet, which is mostly unprotected and can easily be penetrated to disable the cannon breech and often the tank commander, who sits on the exposed side of the mantlet (right side, looking from the front of the vehicle). The LFP (lower front plate) and UFP (upper front plate) are both weakly protected, with only the central front plate providing sufficient protection against incoming rounds. The Leclerc's turret cheeks are extremely well protected by modular composite armour, combining hard metals, semi-reactive and ceramic layers, protecting against even the most powerful kinetic rounds and most chemical rounds. The SXXI includes the addition of extra armour underneath the gunner's sight as well.

Despite only seating three crew members, the Leclerc's survivability proves to be reasonable, with spaced out crew members, a blow-out compartment for the primary ammunition storage and the turret crew placed as low as feasible. As such, even successful penetration of the Leclerc is unlikely to disable the vehicle immediately - and even a vehicle fire or crew knockout will not stop the vehicle from reloading, ready to fire back. It is possible to destroy the Leclerc with one round by hitting the two crew on the right (viewed from the front).

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

AB80 / 42 km/h

RB and SB72 / 38 km/h

Number of gears10 forward

4 back

Weight56.2 t

Engine power

AB2 862 hp

RB and SB1 500 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB50.9 hp/t

RB and SB26.7 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	80	42	56.2	2,325	2,862	41.37	50.93
Realistic	72	38		1,327	1,500	23.61	26.69

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB4 712 → 7 011

RB4 567 → 6 795

SB5 780 → 8 600

Total cost of modifications287 700

483 000

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: 32 000 430 Suspension Research: 18 000 Cost: 28 000 370 Brake System Research: 18 000 Cost: 28 000 370 Filters Research: 16 000 Cost: 24 000 330 Transmission Research: 20 000 Cost: 31 000 410 Engine Research: 20 000 Cost: 31 000 410	Improved Parts Research: 6 300 Cost: 32 000 430 Improved FPE Research: 5 400 Cost: 28 000 370 Crew Replenishment Research: 16 000 Cost: 24 000 330	Horizontal Drive Research: 21 000 Cost: 32 000 430 Adjustment of Fire Research: 18 000 Cost: 28 000 370 Elevation Mechanism Research: 16 000 Cost: 24 000 330 Laser rangefinder Research: 16 000 Cost: 24 000 330 Smoke grenade Research: 16 000 Cost: 24 000 330 Artillery Support Research: 20 000 Cost: 31 000 410 120mm_NATO_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 20 000 Cost: 31 000 410 NVD Research: 20 000 Cost: 31 000 410

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 GIAT CN120-26 F1 cannon

Two-plane stabilizer

Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving

Autoloader

Automatically feeds projectiles into the breech. The speed does not depend on the skills of the loader

Ammunition40 rounds

First-order22 rounds

Reload5.0 s

Vertical guidance-8° / 20°

The Leclerc SXXIa mounts a 120 mm GIAT CN120-26/52 smoothbore cannon, fitted with a two-plane stabilizer and an autoloading system. The CN120 is a competitive cannon, displaying excellent performance with the OFL 120 F1 APFSDS round, up to a maximum of 575 mm of penetration at 0°. Combined with the consistent 6-second reload (independent of crew), this 120 mm cannon is more than competitive when compared to the offerings on its contemporaries. However, it's important to note that the OFL 120 F1 round is a tier 4 modification, and as such a stock Leclerc will be required to use the OCC 120 G1 HEAT-FS round - which, while capable, can prove somewhat unreliable when used against late vehicles with ERA and composite armour.

120 mm GIAT CN120-26 F1					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Autoloader
Arcade	40	-8°/+20°	±180°	Two-plane	38.1	52.7	64.0	70.8	75.3	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
OCC 120 G1	HEATFS	480	480	480	480	480	480
OFL 120 G1	APFSDS	425	423	417	410	404	396
OFL 120 F1	APFSDS	575	573	565	557	547	537

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%
OCC 120 G1	HEATFS	1,100	14.4	0.05	0.1	2.15	65°	72°	77°
OFL 120 G1	APFSDS	1,780	3.8	-	-	-	78°	80°	81°
OFL 120 F1	APFSDS	1,790	3.8	-	-	-	78°	80°	81°

Ammo racks

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	Visual discrepancy
40	23 (+17)	1 (+39)	No

The ready rack of the SXXI is the same as the other Leclerc, at 22, is quite substantial and does mean that bringing just the ready rack will keep you in the fight for the game.

Machine guns

12.7 mm CRC F1 machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition800 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reload8.0 s

Fire rate575 shots/min

12.7 mm M2HB
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	800 (200)	575	-	-

The Leclerc mounts a single coaxial 12.7 mm machine gun. While this coaxial mount limits it to +20° of elevation, if it can be placed on target it can prove effective against low-flying aircraft. Besides this, it can be useful for clearing out light obstacles, knocking out crew on open-top vehicles, and marking targets.

Usage in battles

The Leclerc is an extremely capable MBT. It can prove somewhat vulnerable in close-range engagements, where its numerous weak points are easily targeted, and as such it's preferable to make use of its high round velocity to snipe, or its excellent mobility to flank enemies.

Rural Combat

The Leclerc's OFL 120 F1 round, with its 1,790 m/s muzzle velocity and high penetration values, is a potent sniping round. As such, on open maps (such as Kursk or Maginot Line), it's recommended to operate the Leclerc as a sniper - this allows it to both employ these round characteristics optimally and avoid the Leclerc's large weak spots being easy targets. On maps where flanking is viable, the Leclerc's high power-to-weight ratio can be used to access and push through these routes.

Urban Combat

The Leclerc is less comfortable in urban combat situations, although still more than capable. On maps such as Alaska, it's preferable to take flanking routes around the edges of urban regions where possible or cap points on the outskirts of the map, avoiding close quarters. In situations where avoiding close quarters is mostly impossible, it's best to play conservatively and maintain full awareness of enemy presence (audio is extremely important information, as you can hear most vehicles). Fortunately the Leclerc has a respectable reverse speed of 38 km/h and providing your engine, transmission, and driver remain intact after a penetration it's more than capable of reversing out of trouble.

Notable opponents

• Challenger 2 - The CR2's turret cheeks are essentially immune to even OFL 120 F1 - and the Challenger is deadly accurate at long range. As such, sniping matches with the Challenger 2 should be avoided at all costs, instead attempt to flank it where possible. If there is no opportunity to get closer, move around between shots and try to land a shot on the gun mantlet or the UFP/LFP.
• M1A1/M1A2 Abrams - The Abrams is a deadly opponent, and thanks to the crew and module spacing will often survive multiple shots. In any engagement, first try to disable the cannon breech - this avoids the Abrams firing back and with your quick reload you'll frequently have time to disable its mobility entirely.
• Leopard 2A5/2A6 - The Leopard 2A5 and 2A6 is a dangerous opponent, with a small gun mantlet weak spot and impenetrable turret cheeks. Fortunately, the OFL 120 F1 round can punch straight through the hull. If the opportunity for a hull shot does not arise, try to shoot through the gun mantlet or turret ring where possible.
• Ariete -Although its armour protection won't stop your APFSDS, almost all the tank is vulnerable to Ariete's firepower, in fact its rounds can easily penetrate most of the frontal section of the Leclerc even at 2,000 m. It is better to disable its gun before trying to destroy the tank, or just shooting at the left turret cheek, killing the gunner and the commander leaving the target harmless.
• Type 10 / Type 90 - The Type 10 and Type 90 are the only other autoloaded tanks currently in the game that can load faster than you, with reload of 4.0 seconds compared to your 5.0 seconds. Getting your first shot off and disabling this tank is top priority as they will out load you.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Has access to a CITV with 2nd generation thermals
• Slightly improved armour around the area of the gunner's sight
• Autoloader allows for consistent reloads
• Large first-stage ammo stowage
• Blow-out panel in turret bustle
• The OFL 120 F1 APFSDS round is effective

Cons:

• Slower than average turret traverse rate
• Only three crew members
• Numerous large vulnerabilities

History

Leclerc S2 main battle tanks were produced in France from 1997 to 2003. The vehicles in the second series were distinguished by improved armour in the hull and turret, new air conditioning and anti-nuclear protection systems, a modified transmission, and updated electronic and optical systems. The Leclerc SXXI is the third production series of the modern main battle tank that was produced from 2003 to 2006. The main features of the series were improved turret protection at frontal angles, as well as a new panoramic HL 120 sight for the commander with a thermal imaging channel and a laser rangefinder. All tanks in the SXXI series were later upgraded by the ICONE tactical control system under the 2007 program.

-From Devblog

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Leclerc SXXI from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Related development

• Leclerc (Family)

External links

• [Devblog] Leclerc SXXI: Knight's Helm

Nexter Systems*
MBTs	Leclerc · Leclerc S2 · Leclerc SXXI
	*GIAT Industries became Nexter Systems in 2006