As of: February 27, 2024, 5:56 p.m
By: Patrick Mayer
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A Ukrainian soldier describes where the German Leopard 2 tank is particularly vulnerable.
Meanwhile, nothing is progressing for the “Leos” 1 for Ukraine.
Slovyansk - During the war in Ukraine, you were long seen as a beacon of hope for the treacherously attacked country.
But in February 2024, the Leopard 2 main battle tanks from Germany appear disenchanted on the battlefield.
Leopard 2 tank from Germany: Ukraine soldier complains about a flaw
The Ukrainian army received at least 65 Leopard 2s from Germany, Poland, Canada, Sweden, Finland and Portugal.
Many of them are said to be in a repair hub in Lithuania today, far away from the front.
The Russian Lancet kamikaze drone in particular is causing problems, but also the fact that the “Leos” are said to be extremely maintenance-intensive.
A Ukrainian soldier has now reported a life-threatening vulnerability in the Leopard 2.
There is a gap between the turret and the hull that urgently needs to be closed, explained tank commander “Arfa” in an interview with the
Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ)
.
It is a flaw that has already been noticed in several “Leos” delivered to Ukraine.
A Ukrainian soldier stands on a German Leopard 2 tank not far from the Donbass front.
The impact of a grenade can be seen on the tower on the right.
© IMAGO / Funke Photo Services
Weapons deliveries for Ukraine: Leopard tanks have defects
While the Ukrainians are to receive 35 state-of-the-art CV 90 infantry fighting vehicles from Sweden, the 30 older Leopard 1 tanks that have been delivered so far also apparently have the same defects as the newer "Leos" 2. Significantly: Ukrainian soldiers recently told the "heute journal". ZDF showed a Leopard 1 that was missing a lot.
Downright devastating: In an image sequence in the article you can see how the “Leo” 1 stands there completely blank when the crew turns the turret of the 42.5-ton colossus, including the 120 mm smoothbore cannon, backwards.
Because: Then the huge gap described above opens up between the tower and the hull at the point in question, where the tower is rotated in battle with the troops from Russia and during the journey.
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Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 in Ukraine: weak point between turret and hull
In both examples there are no protections against anti-tank guided weapons and grenades like the old RPG-7 anti-tank rifle.
This was developed in the Soviet Union in the 1960s.
However, it proved effective on both sides in the Ukraine war.
Tank driver “Arfa” noted in an interview with the
SZ
that the American Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, on the other hand, had been additionally armored.
Specifically: A number of photos show how reactive armor was added to both the Bradleys and the M1 Abrams US main battle tanks that were delivered.
Tiles or plates that have an explosive layer are attached to the body of armored vehicles.
When a projectile hits, for example the shaped charge of an anti-tank weapon, the reactive armor is intended to render the grenade harmless by means of a counter-explosion.
This photo shows the vulnerability of the Leopard 2 tanks in Ukraine.
If you ride with the smoothbore gun on the stern, there is a huge gap between the turret and the hull.
© IMAGO / Funke Photo Services
Tanks for Ukraine: Bradleys and M1 Abrams have additional armor
The comparatively large explosive boxes on the Bradleys and M1 Abrams are called “Abrams Reactive Armor Tile” (ARAT).
The modular system can be installed by hand.
The boxes with the explosives in them are apparently simply pushed onto pre-assembled rails on the tank hull.
The “Leos” lack such a device.
Apparently the same Leopard 2 that was mentioned at the beginning had reactive armor at least on the front sides of the hull in photos from the end of January (see above) - but that was it.
However, such protective measures were completely missing
in the photos from the
SZ interview.
“The effect was noticeable immediately.
There were almost no more casualties.
The crew survives.
And the tank can continue to drive,” said “Arfa,” referring to the appropriate protective measures on the US tanks.
They are intended to limit the losses among Ukrainian soldiers, while President Volodymyr Zelensky recently estimated that there were 31,000 women and men killed.
Meanwhile, the army is eagerly awaiting the promised Leopard 1 from Germany.
The arms company Rheinmetall processes these from former industrial and Bundeswehr stocks.
The effect was noticeable immediately.
There were almost no more casualties.
The crew survives.
And the tank can continue driving.
Tank commander “Arfa” in conversation with the SZ
Leopard 1 tank from Germany: Ukrainian army is eagerly waiting
According to the traffic light federal government's list of military support services, 30 copies had been delivered as of February 27th.
The Federal Ministry of Defense actually wanted to provide around 80 units by the end of 2023.
And so, according to Ukrainian military bloggers, the remaining Western battle tanks are being passed back and forth between the sectors of the front that are under heavy pressure.
According to SZ,
“Arfa” and its crew of four men are fighting
near the city of Slovyansk (around 110,000 inhabitants) in the east of the battered country.
Here the invading army of Kremlin autocrat Vladimir Putin is trying to advance on four axes between Kupyansk and Kreminna - probably also in the direction of the large city of Kharkiv.
“Arfa” and his Leopard colleagues are trying to prevent this.
Despite all the flaws.
(pm)