Danish Army
Specific: Denmark procured 120
Leopard 1A3 MBT´s
in June 1974 with first delivery February 24th 1976 and
the last to be delivered in August 1978. Value of this
order was 518 mill. DKr. The Danish Leopards were very
similar to the German A3 with the exception of a
periscope wipe system, and the deletion of the round
close-defence weapon blanking plate on the top turret.
Also the turret was prepared during manufacture for a
integrated fire-control system.
All were fitted dozer attachment channels on the lower
front hull. Normally one tank in each platoon is
permanently fitted with a dozer blade. When in use the
headlights have to be re-located on the dozers actuation
box.
Additionally 110 used Leopards (100 A3 and 10 A4) were
ordered from Germany in 1989 and delivered from 1992 to
1994.
This lead to to the retirement of the Centurion
MBT, and the swap
from M41 DK-1 to Leopard MBT´s in the reconnaissance
squadrons.
All 230 units have been brought up to Leopard
1A5 DK standard by
Falck Schmidt, Odense and Wegmann, Kassel
(turret) from 1990 - 1994.
With the Defence Agreement 2005 - 2009 made in
2004, it was decided that the Leopard 1 MBT no longer
would be a part of the inventory of the Danish Army, and
it lost operational status in 2005.
Historical: The development of the Leopard 1
originates from the decision to replace the M47 and M48
tanks delivered to the German Bundeswehr by the Unites
States. The operational requirement was finalised in
1957, and the design programme commenced with France and
Germany signing an agreement to develop a common tank.
The 2 countries were joined by Italy in 1958. The first
prototype vehicle was ready in 1961.
50 prototypes were ordered for trials and produced by
MaK, Luther & Jordan and Jung-Jugenthal. After trials
France left the programme in 1965 and carried out the
development of their AMX-30 tank. Italy decided to go for
the American M60 tank.
The Leopard 1, based on a design by Porsche, was first
produced in 1965 by Krauss-Maffei AG for the German Ministry of
Defence. The initially full-scale production run included
1.500 tanks. The Leopard 1 was produced in six batches
("Lots"), and Krupp MaK in Kiel became
co-producer.
A modernisation programme was started in 1970 in order to
improve the fore control system, full stabilisation and
thermal sleeve for the gun, side-skirts new tracks a new
snorkel and passive night image intensification. The
designation was now Leopard 1 A1.
The development continued up to A5-level, which included
a new fire control system, new ammunition and a
strengthened torsion bar suspension system.
More than 4.700 units have been delivered to Australia
(90), Belgium (334), Brazil, Canada (114), Chile,
Denmark, Germany (2.437), Greece (106), Italy (920), the
Netherlands (468), Norway (78), Turkey (77) and others.
Production ceased in late 1979, but was reopened to meet
new orders from Greece and Turkey.
Also produced by OTO Melara in Italy for the Italian
Army.
Length: 9.54 m (372 inches (including main
armament)).
Width: 3.25 m (126 inches).
Height: 2.64 m (103 inches).
Weight: 42.400 kg (93.280 lb.).
Armour: 25 - 70 mm (1.1 - 2.8 inches).
Engine: V10-cylinder MTU MB 838 Ca M500, 37.400 cm3
(2.281 cubic inches), liquid cooled.
Horsepower: 830 hp at 2.200 rpm.
Transmission: 4-speed ZF Hydromedia 4 HP 250
gearbox with torque converter.
Transfer case: N/A.
Electrical system: 24 volt, negative ground.
Brakes: N/A.
Fording depth:
without preparation: 2.25 m (88 inches).
with deep water fording kit: 4.0 m (156 inches).
Fuel type: Multi-fuel.
Fuel capacity: 980 liter (215 gallons).
Range: 600 km (373 miles).
Crew: 4.
Armament: Armed with a 105 mm gun (L7A3
by Royal Ordnance in Nottingham) and 2 7.62 mm
machine-guns. 55 rounds of 105 mm ammunition is carried,
13 in the turret and 42 in the hull. 4 smoke dischargers
on each side of the turret.
Additional: Standard equipment includes
B171 II night vision devices, EMES12A1 laser range
finder, NBC-system
and a crew heater.
All Danish Leopard 1 were fitted with a dozer attachment
channels on the lower front hull from the factory, and
thus can be fitted with a dozer blade from
Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann. The dozer blade can be attached or
removed in approx. 10 minutes and can be locked in the
raised position for travelling. All control elements are
packaged into a watertight unit, so that the dozer blade
can be used during fording operations.
Other members of the family are:
- Leopard 1A5 DK (37 kb),
- Leopard 1 ARV (Bergepanzer Leopard) (14 ea.) (30 kb),
- Leopard 1 AVLB (Biber) (10 ea.) (25
kb) and
- Leopard 1A3 Drivers Training
Vehicle (6 ea.) (20
kb).
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