Leopard

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Rank VI USSR | Premium | Golden Eagles
Su-25K Pack
This page is about the German destroyer Leopard. For other uses, see Leopard (Disambiguation).
germ_destroyer_class1924_leopard1932.png
GarageImage Leopard.jpg
Leopard
AB RB SB
3.7 3.7 3.7
Class:
Research:Free
Purchase:Free
Show in game

Description

The Raubtier-class, Leopard, 1932 was a German Raubtier-class torpedo boat. Leopard was built as fifth out of six ships built for German navy in 1920s. She was laid down on 4th May 1927 and comissioned on 15th April 1929. Her main armament as built was made of three single 10.5 cm SK C/28 cannons and two triple 500 mm torpedo tubes. After modernisation in 1932, the ship recieved three 12.8 cm SK C/34 cannons as replacement for the older 10.5 cm ones. The anti-aircraft protection was also added in form of two 2 cm C/38 autocannons. The 500 mm torpedo tubes were removed and replaced by two triple 533 mm launchers amidship. During Spanish civil war, the ship made multiple non-intervention patrols. After the outbreak of WWII she was patrolling in area around Skagerrak inspecting neutral shipping. She took part in invading Norway, landing troops in Bergen. On 30th April, after escorting minelayers from laying a minefield at Skagerrak, Leopard was accidentally rammed by minesweeper Preussen and sunk.

The Leopard was introduced in Update 1.79 "Project X" as part of the fleet closed beta test. As a starter ship, Leopard posses a highest caliber of all starter destroyers, coupled with very high fire rate, it also come with its own drawbacks such as only 100 rounds per gun and unprotected magazines located on waterline. The turrets are protected by 8 mm thick antifragmentation armour making them immune only to low caliber machine gun fire. Leopard is also one of the faster destroyers with a max speed of 63 km/h, her torpedo armament is made of the G7a torpedoes which have 358.4 kg TNT eq explosive yield and speed of 81 km/h with 6 km range, making them overall very versatile weapon.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull16 mm (steel)
Superstructure4 mm (steel)
Number of section7
Displacement1 320 t
Crew120 people

With a construction made of steel and a crew of 120 sailors, the survivability of the vessel is normal, but not great. The ship may resist one or two destroyer shots, but quickly will be sunk if you do not do anything to evade.

Armour type:

  • Antifragmentation armour
Armour Bow (Slope angle) Sides Stern Deck
Hull N/A N/A N/A N/A
Armour Front Sides Rear Roof
Turrets 8 mm Front
N/A Gun mantlet
8 mm N/A 8 mm

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB77 / 31 km/h
RB63 / 26 km/h

Among the reserve bluewater ships Leopard is one of the slowest vessels, but it's also the most manoeuvrable. Due to its rather smaller size compared to other destroyers, the Leopard finds it very easy to navigate through narrow corridors, shallow waters, or between enemy torpedoes.

Mobility Characteristics
Game Mode Upgrade Status Maximum Speed (km/h) Turn Time (s) Turn Radius (m)
Forward Reverse
AB Stock 57 23 ~84.93 ~150.19
Upgraded 77 31 ___ ___
RB/SB Stock ___ ___ ___ ___
Upgraded 63 26 ___ ___

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
ABfree
RBfree
Total cost of modifications3 430 Rp icon.png
158 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost190 Ge icon.png
Crew trainingfree
Experts1 000 Sl icon.png
Aces10 Ge icon.png
Research Aces80 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
20 / 30 / 100 % Sl icon.png
100 / 100 / 100 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Seakeeping Unsinkability Firepower
Mods new ship hull.png
Dry-Docking
Research:
330 Rp icon.png
Cost:
15 Sl icon.png
50 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship rudder.png
Rudder Replacement
Mods new ship screw.png
Propeller Replacement
Mods new ship engine.png
Engine Maintenance
Mods ship damage control crew.png
Damage Control Division
Mods ship fire control crew.png
Fire Division
Mods engine smoke screen system.png
Smokescreen
Research:
240 Rp icon.png
Cost:
11 Sl icon.png
35 Ge icon.png
Mods ship anti fragmentation protection.png
Shrapnel Protection
Research:
330 Rp icon.png
Cost:
15 Sl icon.png
50 Ge icon.png
Mods ship venting.png
Ventilation
Research:
330 Rp icon.png
Cost:
15 Sl icon.png
50 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship pumps.png
New Pumps
Mods ship ammo wetting.png
Ammo Wetting
Research:
530 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 Sl icon.png
75 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
20 mm HET magazines
Research:
330 Rp icon.png
Cost:
15 Sl icon.png
50 Ge icon.png
Mods he frag base fuse tank.png
128mm_ger_HE_naval_base_fuze_ammo_pack
Research:
330 Rp icon.png
Cost:
15 Sl icon.png
50 Ge icon.png
Mods new aux caliber turrets.png
Auxiliary Armament Targeting
Mods tank ammo.png
20 mm APT magazines
Research:
240 Rp icon.png
Cost:
11 Sl icon.png
35 Ge icon.png
Mods he frag dist fuse ship.png
128mm_ger_he_naval_dist_fuze_ammo_pack
Research:
240 Rp icon.png
Cost:
11 Sl icon.png
35 Ge icon.png
Mods new main caliber turrets.png
Primary Armament Targeting
Mods ship rangefinder.png
Improved Rangefinder
Mods torpedo.png
Torpedo Mode
Research:
530 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 Sl icon.png
75 Ge icon.png

Armament

Primary armament

3 х Turret12.8 cm/45 SK C/34 naval gun
Ammunition100 rounds
Vertical guidance-10° / 30°

The main armament of the Type 1924 Leopard consists in three 128 mm naval cannons, one at the front of the ship and the other two at the back. These cannons can shoot three types of ammunition. First, the Sprgr. Kpf.Z HE shell with 2 kg of TNT equivalent and a muzzle velocity of 830 m/s. This is the standard ammo for this destroyer. Next is the Sprgr. Bd.z, a base-fused HE shell with more penetration in most cases but with less explosive mass, only 1.4 kg of TNT equivalent and the same muzzle velocity. Finally, the Sprgr. Zt.Z comes with the same amount of TNT and muzzle velocity as the Sprgr. Bd.Z but with a time fuse, which can be useful when engaging enemy aircraft.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
1,000 m 2,500 m 5,000 m 7,500 m 10,000 m 15,000 m
Sprgr. L/4.4 Kpf.Z HE 24 24 24 24 24 24
Sprgr. L/4.4 Bd.Z HE 59 50 38 30 24 18
Sprgr. L/4.4 Zt.Z HE-TF 24 24 24 24 24 24
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(s)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (kg)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
Sprgr. L/4.4 Kpf.Z HE 830 28 0 0.1 1.91 79° 80° 81°
Sprgr. L/4.4 Bd.Z HE 830 28 0.015 5 1.4 79° 80° 81°
Sprgr. L/4.4 Zt.Z HE-TF 830 28 0 0.1 1.91 79° 80° 81°

Secondary armament

2 х Turret2 cm/65 C/38 automatic cannon
Ammunition2000 rounds
Belt capacity40 rounds
Fire rate480 shots/min
Main article: 2 cm/65 C/38 (20 mm)

Leopard is equipped with two 20 mm guns as its secondary armament. These guns provide some protection against low flying aircraft and small torpedo boats, though the main battery will still do most of the damage. The guns are unlikely to instantly dispatch enemy planes, but against lightly armoured planes, and especially a slower one, they will do appreciable damage over time. Against torpedo boats they are mostly effective within 1 km, and only against very lightly armoured boats.

Leopard has 3 belts for its 20 mm:

  • Universal: AP-T · AP · HEF-T · HEF
  • 20 mm HET magazines: HEF · HEF-T · HEF · AP
  • 20 mm APT magazines: AP · AP-T · AP · HEF

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
HEF-T 2 2 2 2 2 2
AP 36 35 27 20 15 11
AP-T 36 35 27 20 15 11
HEF 2 2 2 2 2 2
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(m)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
HEF-T 835 0.12 0 0.1 10.54 79° 80° 81°
AP 785 0.15 - - - 47° 60° 65°
AP-T 785 0.15 - - - 47° 60° 65°
HEF 835 0.12 0 0.1 10.54 79° 80° 81°

Additional armament

Setup 16 x 533 mm G7a torpedo
Main article: G7a (533 mm)

Two triple G7a torpedo launch tubes were mounted on the ship. The G7a is very deadly against any opponents the Leopard might have face at its BR.

Usage in battles

Describe the technique of using this ship, the characteristics of her use in a team and tips on strategy. Abstain from writing an entire guide – don't try to provide a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought. Talk about the most dangerous opponents for this vehicle and provide recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of playing with this vehicle in various modes (AB, RB, SB).

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Good firepower and accuracy
  • G7a torpedoes can knock out any ships at this BR with a few hits
  • Good mobility and agility

Cons:

  • Poor survivability
  • Low crew count
  • Lackluster secondary armaments

History

The Type 1924 "Leopard" was a heavy torpedo boat of the six-ship "Type 24" class. Built for the newly-established German Navy in the 1920s, the ships were extremely heavily-armed for a ship of their size. She sailed on several non-intervention patrols for the German Navy during the Spanish civil war, and saw some service in the German Norwegian campaign during World War II. Leopard's service came to an abrupt end in April of 1940, when she was accidentally rammed and sunk by a minelayer she was escorting.

Design and development

The "Type 24" class of 1924 were a class of six heavy torpedo boats built for the German navy. Despite them being extremely heavily armed and close to destroyer-size, they were classified as torpedo boats by the German navy. In War Thunder, these vessels are classified as destroyers. The ships displaced 1,300 tons full load and could make a top speed of 34 knots (63 km/h). They had a crew of 129 crew members, which was relatively small for a destroyer but large for a torpedo boat. Leopard carried three 10.5 cm (4 inch) naval guns, as well as six 500 mm torpedo tubes. Later on, she received two 2 cm Flakvierling anti-aircraft guns for air defence. She was also later refitted with new 12.7 cm (5 inch) naval guns to test their efficiency, and had her torpedo tubes replaced with 533 mm (21 inch) ones. Leopard was the 5th ship to be laid down, built in Wilhelmshaven like her sister ship Jaguar. She was completed by June 1929 and commissioned with the 4th torpedo boat flotilla.

Operational history

Leopard had a relatively uneventful early life, having seen little in terms of events in her first 5 years. During this time, she was refitted with the 2 cm Flakvierling guns, and received 12.7 cm guns to test their suitability for the new German destroyers that were then under construction. During the late 1930s, she made several non-intervention patrols in the seas off of Spain due to the Spanish Civil War.

At the start of the Second World War, Leopard was assigned to the 6th Torpedo Boat flotilla and promptly began minelaying operations in the North Sea. After the commencement of the German Norwegian Campaign, Leopard was one of the torpedo boats tasked with capturing Bergen Harbour. They entered the harbour and flagged themselves as British ships, but the Norwegians were not fooled and began firing at them. However, they failed to hit the force, which landed their troops and captured the harbour. On the way home, however, Leopard was escorting a group of minelayers when she was struck by the minelayer Preussen, and sank.

Media

Skins

See also

Related development

External links

References

  • Naval Encyclopedia. (2020, May 22). German ww2 Destroyers. Retrieved January 04, 2021, from https://www.naval-encyclopedia.com/ww2/nazi-germany/german-destroyers-of-ww2
  • NAVYPEDIA. (2007). 1924 Type Torpedo Boats. Retrieved January 04, 2021, from http://www.navypedia.org/ships/germany/ger_tb_1924.htm


Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven
Torpedo Boats 
Raubtier-class  Jaguar · Leopard · Luchs
Light Cruisers 
K-class  Köln
Leipzig-class  Leipzig
Unique Ships  Emden
Heavy Cruisers 
Deutschland-class  Admiral Graf Spee
Battleships 
Scharnhorst-class  Scharnhorst
See also  Kaiserliche Werft (1871 - 1918)

Germany destroyers
  Torpedo boats
Type 1924  Jaguar · Leopard · Luchs
Type 1939  T22 · T31
  Destoyers
Type 1934A  Z12 Erich Giese · Z15 Erich Steinbrinck
Type 1936  Z20 Karl Galster · Z22 Anton Schmitt
Type 1936A  Z25 · Z32
Type 1936B  Z43
Type 1936C  Z46 · Z47