Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank
Development of the Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank (MBT) began in 1970. It was just a couple of years after a previous Leopard 1 entered service. In those days a clash between NATO and the Warsaw Pact was possible and the West German army needed a well protected tank, which would be superior to the models introduced in the Eastern Block. First prototypes of the Leopard 2 were completed in 1972. In 1977 Bundeswehr initially ordered 1 800 of these main battle tanks to supplement and replace the Leopard 1. A number of advanced technologies and design solutions of the Leopard 2 were taken over from the joint German-American MBT-70 program. The MBT-70 was a revolutionary design, however due to cost overruns, technical problems and different requirements West Germany withdrew from the program in 1969. However available advanced technologies were reused on the Leopard 2 and American M1 Abrams tanks. Fire control system, armament, ammunition, transmission and tracks of the Leopard 2 are similar to those of the US M1 Abrams main battle tank in order to simplify maintenance.
Credit to : Matsimus