During the development of Leopard 2, about seventeen different hulls (PT series) and turrets (T series) were built. At least two of the hulls (numbered PT11 and PT17) were fitted with hydropneumatic suspension and only six roadwheels. I managed to find only one small picture of such hull. Please, doeas anybody have more of them? Or more photos of some other interesting prototypes of Leopard 2? Many thanks for any answer.
There are several photos of a Leopard 2 prototype with additional 20mm automatic gun, which is usually labeled "PT11", but in fact, it is T11 turret combined with a different hull (the hulls and turrets were designed as "interchangeable"). The hull seen at the photos has got seven roadwheels, thus, it is not the PT11.
In July 2014 I was able to visit Försvarsfordons museum Arsenalen in Strägnäs, Sweden. Number one reason for me to visit this museum was that I had heard
panzerplace.eu
PT10 hull with T17 turret, located in Saumur, France
In this post, we’ll have a look at yet another Leopard 2 prototype. This vehicle can be found in the collection of the Musée de Blindés in Saumur, France. In
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PT16 hull with T14 turret (automatic loading system), located in Koblenz, Germany
Наличие опытных образцов бронетанковой техники в немецких музеях является вполне нормальным явлением. Особенно это касается танков семейства Leopard, прототипов дожило столько, что их раздали еще и по другим музеям мира. Разумеется, есть такой прототип и в WTS Koblenz. Там стоит вообще очень…
Germany Leopard 2 Prototype Leopard 2 Prototype Leopard 2 Prototype PT-16 chassis with PT-14 tower with automatic charger On 1 August 1963, two years before the launch of the Leopard 1, the US and the Federal Republic of Germany concluded a government agreement to co-operate on the development of...
forum.warthunder.com
Unknown hull with T11 turret (the one with 20mm auxiliary cannon) and PT14 hull with T13 turret, located in Munster, Germany
In a recent post I showed you a Leopard 2 prototype and explained how the turret of this tank was a very special one since it could mount an overhead weapon
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Leopard 2AV (PT19 and PT20 hulls, T19, T20 and T21 turrets), tests in the USA
Leopard 2-AV Prototype 1976 Leopard 2AV Prototype 20 with Turret number 21with 120mm cannon L / 44 Rheinmetall smoothbore Leopard 2AV is undoubtedly the most important German tank in the Cold War. December 11, 1974 a memorandum was signed between the US and Germany for a new MBT (after the Americ...
The installation of the US Honeywell AGT1500 in the Leopard 2 was tested by MaK. The AGT-1500 was borrowed from the United States and required deep modifications of the Leopard 2's chassis. However driving tests at the WTD 41 revealed a number of drawbacks such as high fuel consumption and the lacking performance of the transmission including the brakes. This project was thus terminated.
Hello dear tank friends, I bought a new prototype today, and I will receive it by post in the next few days! Does anyone know which prototype it is? 2AV?
Well, the EMES-15 was chosen for the Leopard 2 primarily because it was the seemingly cheapest option (there were also probably some trade offset considerations with the United States, not to mention the US Common Modules issue). From what I understand it is a pretty maintenance intensive system, which among other things likely contributed to the eroding of the planned cost savings in going with the EMES-15, so I wouldn't be surprised if its replacement with the, superior in German eyes, EMES-13 system had been mooted for the AV variant. Ultimately though, the AV was a bust (they tried replacing the EMES-15 and associated systems with a very barebones fire control system indeed), and the Hughes/Krupp-Atlas-Elektronik EMES-15 was proceeded with. Interestingly though, some sources claim that the EMES-15 was originally only developed with the 2AV in mind.
EDIT: There was also the EMES-13A1 with a built-in laser rangefinder that could be 'upgraded' to EMES-13 standard, but I am not sure if that was formally proposed for the Leopard 2AV.
Hello dear tank friends, the Leopard 2AV arrived today and I have to tell you that the model is made of cast steel, I had to ask my friend if it would help me because you can't carry it alone! The chains are made of rubber, the driver's seat can be opened.
So now I have more time to write! The latest catch of the Leopard 2A4A0 prototype has not only prepared a huge gift for my collection, but also a gap in the model has been closed in terms of military history. Dear friends, you do not believe how happy I am to own these models.
Both Leopard 2 and Abrams have huge turrets.
What percentage of that volume is devoted to crew spaces?
What percentage is devoted to spaced armor?
What percentage of volume is devoted to military equipment (e.g. smoke dischargers)?
Hi banken, my second post was a photo from the book. Other photo that was mention relates to a low profile turret development of the Leopard 2 with a two man turret.
This was a new turret designed by Wegmann in 1978 that reduced turret height by 30% that was to be combined with the Euro Pak engine which cut the hull length by a road wheel (1m). These volume reductions enabled a new mark of Leopard 2 to be built with much increased armour thickness but staying under 60 tonnes combat weight. Main gun depression to -10 degrees was to be allowed by a rising flap on the turret roof.
Source: Battle Tanks for the Bundeswehr: Modern German Tank Development, 1956-2000 by Rolf Hilmes, ARMOR — January-February 2001
I'm not sure if this is the right thread for this, but here is the "Demo II" prototype of the Leopard 2A6EX. It had the hull modifications necessary for the Europowerpack. Source: page 282, 'Leopard 2 entwicklung und einzats in der bundeswehr' - Frank Lobitz.
The installation of the US Honeywell AGT1500 in the Leopard 2 was tested by MaK. The AGT-1500 was borrowed from the United States and required deep modifications of the Leopard 2's chassis. However driving tests at the WTD 41 revealed a number of drawbacks such as high fuel consumption and the lacking performance of the transmission including the brakes. This project was thus terminated.
Needs more details. Was that the complete Abrams engine and transmission, or was it the AGT1500 bolted to the Leopard 2 transmission?
Also, in general a turbine engine doesn't do any engine braking like you can do with a piston engine, so you have to use the physical brakes instead. You know, like how you can take your foot off the throttle and the car will either slow down or not gain speed when going down hill? That's engine braking.
Both Leopard 2 and Abrams have huge turrets.
What percentage of that volume is devoted to crew spaces?
What percentage is devoted to spaced armor?
What percentage of volume is devoted to military equipment (e.g. smoke dischargers)?
First, smoke dischargers don’t take up crew volume. They’re mounted outside, and the cabling is run in such a way that it it unobtrusive.
There’s no hard math I’ve found on the crew volumes, but a few diagrams can show a relative comparison. The data are VERY dated, but are useful for comparison.
Leopard 2
Abrams (different perspective)
Leaked or MSU, this is a basis for discussion.
The turrets are rudely the same width: 3.7m (Leopard 2) and 3.66m (Abrams). The interesting feature readily visible from the outside is the collection of weld seams. On the “Swedish” diagram. The small pentagon around the hatches and going forward defines a volume for crew/ Go roughly straight down and you can “visualize” that. I know that this is a box inside the turret about 2,45m wide 1,93m long, and ~ 1,85m tall. This is about 8,75m^3 of usable (Crew) volume. Insert a gun breech, FCS components, radios, NBC kit, and your volume shrinks a bit.
The armor volume along the sides of the Abrams is clever, in that armor arrays are fitted by removing the weld seems and opening a (Pandora’s) box into which the composite are assembled. The box is resealed/welded, and you have a new protection value. In the M1A2 SEP v4, the turret side armor increased its front-to-back dimension about 15cm. The turret cheeks/nose moved forward about 6-8 cm. Minituarization and relocation of equipment inside allowed that box to be enlarged inside.
The Leopard (as shown in the Russian estimate above has ~310mm of side armor width , and ~860mm front armor depth (f-to-r). These are not eRHA values.A comparison using 1/35 scale drawings says the interior box is literally nearly identical: 2,45m by 1,82m. I guesstimate that the Germansa like 2m as their internal height, but that was. Not the case for the 1A4. I banged my helmeted head against the roof, so maybe 1,83m high.
I have been inside a Leo1A4, and it was cramped. Its outside height was 2,6m overall. Compare that to the height of 2,48m for the Leo 2A4. I have estimated (SWAG) the usable turret volume of the Leopard 2A4 is ~8.16m^3.
All this is back-of-the envelope stuff, pretty academic. I am an armor archaeologist at the US Army Armor & Cavalry Collection, and we have opportunities to clamber over AFVs from 1916 to 2025, including that M1A2 SEPv4. My estimates for that are based on spending 3h or so on and in the MBT. It’s been a much longer time since I was in a Leopard.
The turrets are rudely the same width: 3.7m (Leopard 2) and 3.66m (Abrams). The interesting feature readily visible from the outside is the collection of weld seams. On the “Swedish” diagram. The small pentagon around the hatches and going forward defines a volume for crew/ Go roughly straight down and you can “visualize” that. I know that this is a box inside the turret about 2,45m wide 1,93m long, and ~ 1,85m tall. This is about 8,75m^3 of usable (Crew) volume. Insert a gun breech, FCS components, radios, NBC kit, and your volume shrinks a bit.
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