Status: 18.12.2023, 21:16 PM
By: Christoph Gschoßmann
CommentsPrint Share
In Ukraine, the newly formed 5th Armored Brigade is supposed to stop the invaders. 100 German Leopard tanks are probably under one command.
Kyiv – Ukraine is hoping for its new fifth armored brigade in the defensive war against Russia – and it will probably consist of over 100 German Leopards. According to a report by Forbes, referring to a video from Militaryland, the newly formed fifth armored brigade, which will use only Leopard 1A5s, could include over half of the nearly 200 vehicles supplied by Germany in the fight against Russia in the Ukraine war.
100 German Leopard tanks in Ukraine: New armored brigade in the fight against Russia
Militaryland is an aggregator of open-source information with a focus on the Ukrainian Armed Forces and published the video on X, formerly Twitter. In it, you can see how Ukrainian soldiers training on Leopard tanks in Germany this fall claim to be part of the fifth armored brigade.
The Leopard 1A5 and the U.S.-made M-1 have been arriving in Ukraine since the fall, making them the latest Western-style tanks to hit the front lines in the Ukraine war. Officially, the 5th Armored Brigade is stationed in Kryvyi Rih in southern Ukraine. In reality, according to Forbes, the brigade barely existed until it finally began training new recruits a few months ago. The tanks in Ukraine are distributed among the hundred or so ground combat brigades. Typically, there are a dozen to 30 per brigade. In the tank brigades, on the other hand, there are significantly more tanks together under one command.
Ukraine war: Thin armor as a disadvantage of the Leopard 1A5 tanks
Crews praise the 40-ton 1A5's excellent maneuverability and fast fire control for its accurate 105-millimeter main gun. One disadvantage is its armor, which is only 70 millimeters thick. The 44th Mechanized Brigade almost lost a Leopard 1A5 in the Ukraine war late last month after one of the tanks apparently ran over a mine, lost its mobility and then came under fire from Russian artillery. According to reports, the army recovered the damaged tank in order to repair it.
There are plans by the Ukrainians to arm the Leopards. "The problems of armor reinforcement are already being solved by Ukrainian engineers," Ukrainian ICTV reported. This apparently means adding layers of explosive reaction armor. "As far as I know, there are plans to install additional dynamic protection," a tanker told ICTV. An ERA layer could double the Leopard 1's protection against high-explosive projectiles.
Damaged Leopard 2 tanks of Ukraine to be repaired in Lithuania
After all, some of the Leopard 2 tanks damaged in the war are already being repaired – in Lithuania. The refurbished battle tanks are expected to return to the battlefield in the Baltic EU and NATO country soon. "Lithuania consistently supports Ukraine's fight for independence, sending not only military aid, but also helping to repair Leopard tanks," Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas stressed.
0
Read also
0
Accidental mistake: Russia's air defense is probably firing at its own fighter jet
READ2
Would a hit be a miracle? Ukraine experts tear apart France's new sniper rifle
READ
"For Moscow": Ukrainians unveil new drone - and announce attacks on Russia
READ
Farmers' demonstration in Berlin: Protests "the likes of which the country has never seen before" – Aiwanger rails against "good-for-nothings"
READ
Russia violates NATO airspace: Air Force launches alert
READ
Fancy a voyage of discovery?
My Area
The tanks were repaired in a maintenance center built by the two German armaments companies Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall. They were presented and tested at the Lithuanian military training area Gaiziunai - they are expected to be transported back to Ukraine at the beginning of January. "What can I say? A powerful tank," Anusauskas said on Friday after a short test drive.
A Ukrainian soldier in front of a Leopard main battle tank. (Archive photo) © Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/dpa
The maintenance center, where the self-propelled howitzers supplied by Germany to Ukraine were previously serviced, is geared towards the Leopard variants 2A5 and 2A6. It is almost the only hub in Europe for this, Dietz said. On the other hand, the Leopard variant 2A4, for example, is being repaired in a tank workshop in Poland. After a long period of hesitation, Germany handed over Leopard 2 A6 tanks to Ukraine in March. A ring-swapping trick also played a role.
Arms deliveries from the USA: Ukraine fears for congressional decision
So far, however, the most important supplier of weapons in the war has not been Germany, but the United States. Ukraine is currently worried about whether this will remain the case. The U.S. Senate postponed its winter recess due to further negotiations on the continuation of Ukraine aid. "The Senate will return on Monday," Democratic House Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday. This would give the parties involved in the negotiations time to reach an agreement.
Actually, the senators should have agreed on a text by Thursday evening before the work was to be interrupted because of the holidays. Democrats and Republicans are currently arguing about further aid to Ukraine. US President Joe Biden had asked the US Congress in October for new aid for Kyiv. The Democrats support the $61 billion (€55 billion) package, while the opposition Republicans oppose it.
Tanks for the Ukraine war: Denmark assures Ukraine of new military aid in the fight against Russia
At least Denmark wants to support Ukraine with new, comprehensive military aid. Her government will present a new military donation package worth almost one billion euros to the Danish parliament on Thursday, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced at a press conference in Oslo on Wednesday.
In addition to other Nordic heads of state and government, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was also present. If the package is approved by parliament, it will contain things that Ukraine needs at the moment, Frederiksen continued. "Including ammunition, tanks, drones and other equipment that is important for the ongoing fighting." (CGSC with dpa and AFP)