Project Keiler/Eber

Anderman

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I´m looking for pictures/drawing and general information about the projekts Keiler and Eber which later lead to the Leopard 2 MBT.
Could also be called Projekt 1851.

Thanks :)
 
A long time and no replies! I think the reason is that what there is in terms of hardware is the Leopard development programme, the name of which changed over a period depending on who was involved with it. I've got vague references to a 'new tank' to follow the Leopard, Project Keiler in various reference books from the 1970's. Jane's Armour and Artillery 1983-4 under Leopard 2 says (a bit shortened)
Once production of Leopard 1 was under way Porsche was awarded a [further development] contract which expired in 1967. By then MBT-70 agreement did not allow national tank development.
West Germany did develop new components for Leopard 1, some of which were to provide a basis for a new tank. In 1968 Krauss Maffei got a DM25million contract to build 2 prototypes. This resembled late production Leopard 1A3/1A4 and had new fire control system, new engine and transmission and a 105mm gun, 7.62mm co-axial mg and a remote controlled 7.62mm co-axial AA mg
In 1969 it was clear MBT-70 would not get past prototype stage. Efforts were made to adapt certain MBT-70 components to a new German tank. The development study was known as Eber (boar). There was also a study based on the previous two prototypes for a new tank called the Keiler (wild boar)
In 1970 the MBT-70 was cancelled and W Germany decided to develop a new tank called the Leopard 2.
In other brief references at the time to Keiler, a 120mm gun is sometimes mentioned, but never more than a couple of lines. The Jane's above is the most I've ever seen.
 
I'd just posted that last post and turned to look for Leopard 1A6. I didn't find it, but Waffensystem Leopard 1 und Leopard 2 by W.J. Spielberger has quite a bit on Keiler and Eber, including photos of drawings and a wooden mockup.
 

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I'd just posted that last post and turned to look for Leopard 1A6. I didn't find it, but Waffensystem Leopard 1 und Leopard 2 by W.J. Spielberger has quite a bit on Keiler and Eber, including photos of drawings and a wooden mockup.
It is a Leoprd IIFK on Spielbergers picture. Also not EBER, not Keiler.
 
I found some more pics on a discord server, and I thought I’d share them. Here they are:
 

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  • KPz_Keiler_Prototype.jpeg
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