Tamiya WEST GERMAN LEOPARD A-4 TANK (1/35)
1:35 West German Leopard A4 Tank Kt
The Leopard tank with a combat weight of 40 tons, main armament of a 105 mm gun, and a maximum road speed of 65km/h is rated as one of the strongest tanks in the world with excellent firepower, protection, and mobility. As a main battle tank, it is being used in seven countries including West Germany, Holland, Italy, and Belgium.
The West German Leopard A-4 tank, also known as the Leopard 1A4, is a variant of the Leopard 1 main battle tank. Developed in the 1960s, the Leopard 1 series was designed to be a highly mobile and well-armed tank for the German Bundeswehr. Here are some key features and specifications of the Leopard 1A4:
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Development and Production: The Leopard 1A4 was developed by Krauss-Maffei and entered service in the late 1970s. It was part of the continuous improvement program for the Leopard 1 series.
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Armament: The primary armament of the Leopard 1A4 is a 105mm L7A3 rifled gun, which is known for its accuracy and effectiveness. It also has two 7.62mm MG3 machine guns, one coaxial and one mounted on the turret roof.
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Protection: The Leopard 1A4 has improved armor compared to earlier models. While not as heavily armored as later tanks like the Leopard 2, it still provides reasonable protection against small arms fire and shell splinters.
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Mobility: The tank is powered by a MTU MB 838 CaM 500 diesel engine, producing 830 horsepower. This gives the Leopard 1A4 a top speed of around 65 km/h (40 mph) and a range of approximately 600 km (373 miles).
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Fire Control System: One of the significant upgrades in the Leopard 1A4 is the introduction of a more advanced fire control system, including a computerized ballistic calculator and a laser rangefinder, which enhances its targeting accuracy.
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Crew: The tank has a crew of four: a commander, gunner, loader, and driver.
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Operational History: The Leopard 1A4, along with other variants of the Leopard 1, was widely used by NATO countries and saw service in various international operations. It was appreciated for its reliability, ease of maintenance, and performance.
The Leopard 1A4, while now retired from front-line service in most countries, played a crucial role in the evolution of modern main battle tanks and set the stage for the development of the more advanced Leopard 2 series.
