Leopard 2A5 (April Fools)

General info

The Leopard 2A5

The Leopard 2A5 is a Rank VIII German main battle tank with a battle rating of 13.0. It was introduced in Update 1.67 as part of Rank IX Open Testing lasting from March 31st to April 3rd.

The main purpose, usage and tactics recommendations

General playstyle
The Leopard 2 with its greater mobility makes it a great tank to conduct a lightning assault, cover large ground to hit an enemy where they wouldn't expect it. Its 120 mm cannon is a great asset for this as the APFSDS ammunition is superior in penetration characteristics, along with its great muzzle velocity, this allows for great long-distance fighting capability.

How to vs MBTs and Helicopters
The biggest adversary is other Leopard 2A5 and the T-90As. Keep in close with the enemy with the APFSDS ammunition, due to its superior capabilities over the HEAT rounds. Watch out for flankers as a shot into the locations where the ammo racks are will result in a detonation.

Use APFSDS rounds if ever going against helicopters as its greater muzzle velocity will not require much leading.

Tactics
Arcade: In Arcade, the Leopard 2 presents great mobility that can be used to effectively engage targets. The arcade spotting system on the mini-map means reaction is heightened to respond to any enemy movement.

Realistic: With the lack of enemy marker, it is important to not overextend the Leopard 2's position into enemy territory without allies, otherwise a lone enemy tank could plant a shell onto the sides, effectively disabling if not disabling the Leopard 2.

Specific enemies worth noting
Opposing Leopard 2 and T-90s are perhaps the biggest threat to the Leopard 2 on the ground. The front armour is quite resistant to enemy rounds, but rounds on the lower glacis and hull roof may penetrate into the crew compartment. Good luck surviving if any tanks manage to get a shot on the Leopard 2's sides.

From the air, helicopters with guided missiles will prove a big threat. Use the Leopard's great mobility and smoke to hide the tank from a precise direct hit from helicopters.

Describe the vehicle in the game - its distinctive features, the tactics used against major opponents, recommendations for using the vehicle in different situations.
The Leopard 2 looks very similar to its predecessor with its rectangular hull and turret shape, as well as sharing its characteristics of very good mobility and a powerful armament. Unlike its predecessor, however, the armour on the Leopard 2 is quite substantial, enough so to resist most frontal shots with little wear and tear.

What to expect, if it would be in command of the enemy.
The enemy would exploit the Leopard 2's great mobility and firepower to take up a sniping or offensive stance. The gun depression also means the enemy will also use small hills for hull-down positions quite often, only exposing the turret top for return fire.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Only two ammo racks to keep track of
• APFSDS round has superior armour-piercing characteristics
• Exceptional mobility on and off roads
• Good gun depression for hull-down fighting
• Smoke dischargers can be used twice before running out
• Neutral steering available

Cons

• Two ammo racks to keep track of, two locations enemies will aim for an ammo rack
• Damaged/incapacitated loader will severely increase loading time
• Rear engine deck prevents optimal gun depression
• Very weak side armour

Specifications

Armaments

1 x 120 mm L/44 Rheinmetall cannon (42 Rounds)
1 x 7.62 mm MG 3A1 machine gun (co-axial, 2,000 Rounds)
1 x 7.62 mm MG 3A1 machine gun (AA pintle-mount, 2,000 Rounds) 16 x 76 mm smoke grenade launcher

Main armament

1 x 120 mm L/44 Rheinmetall cannon

• Ammunition Capacity: 42 Shells
• Gun Depression: -9°
• Gun Elevation: 20°
• Turret Rotation Speed: 52.9°/s (AB), 45.0°/s (RB)
• Reload Rate: 6.7s

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
DM53	APFSDS	700	690	685	680	675	670
DM12	HEATFS	650	650	650	650	650	650

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%
DM53	APFSDS	1,670	5	N/A	N/A	N/A	12°	10°	9°
DM12	HEATFS	915	18	0	0.1	2,790	25°	18°	15°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Leopard 2

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

Note:

• Front empty: 16 (+26) shells.

Secondary armament

• 1 x 7.62 mm MG 3A1 machine gun (co-axial)
• 1 x 7.62 mm MG 3A1 machine gun (AA pintle-mount)
• 16 x 76 mm smoke grenade launcher

Crew

• Commander
• Gunner
• Loader
• Driver

Total: 4 crew members

Armour

Armour	Front	Sides	Rear
Hull	500 mm (Kinetic) 600 mm (Cumulative)	50 mm	20 mm
Turret	700 mm (Kinetic) 1,100 mm (Cumulative)	50 mm	50 mm

Engine & Mobility

Weight: 59.0 ton
Max Speed: 77 km/h (AB), 69 km/h (RB)
Arcade Battle

• Engine Power: 2,502 hp @ 2,600 rpm
• Power-to-Weight Ratio: 35.87 hp/ton
• Maximum Inclination: 43°

Realistic Battle

• Engine Power: 1,500 hp @ 2,600 rpm
• Power-to-Weight Ratio: 21.51 hp/ton
• Maximum Inclination: 41°

Modules and improvements

History of creation and combat usage

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 the Rh120 L/44, 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 MG3A1 and another mounted on the commander's hatch .

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.

See also

• Leopard 2A5 - In-game version

External links

• [Devblog] Leopard 2A5: Shield of the West