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During the 1950s West Germany, France and Italy were equipped with American tanks, mostly M47s. These were approaching obsolescence and so the three nations agreed to draw up a specification for a new European tank. This specification appeared in 1957 and the defence ministries in France and West Germany then authorised the construction of prototypes. In France these were produced by the state-owned Atelier de Construction d’Issy les Moulineaux (AMX). In Germany they were produced by two consortia; Group A led by Porsche KG, and Group B under the Warnecke office of Ruhrstahl. Rheinmetall and Wegmann were given the contract to develop a turret design common to the two German vehicles. Four German prototypes of the new vehicle, known as Kampfpanzer Standard, were delivered for trials in 1961, two from Group A in January and two from Group B in September. Following trilateral trials late in that year a number of changes were made to the specification. A further twenty-six Group A vehicles were ordered, with turrets designed by Wegmann, along with six from Group B, with turrets by Rheinmetall. At this point the French decided to develop their own gun whilst, following further trials at Trier and Meppen, the Group B design was abandoned after only two more vehicles had been completed. During 1963 the Germans decided to choose a purely German design and authorised production of the Group A design from July of that year. The first examples of this tank, now known as Leopard, left the production line in September. Meanwhile France went its own way, culminating in production of the AMX30, whilst Italy first decided to build the American M60 under licence and then to buy the Leopard.
Group A Prototypes
The first two examples of the Group A vehicle to be built were designated ‘Series I’ prototypes and were distinguished by having the driver’s position on the left side of the hull. They also appear to have had vertical exhaust grills covering just half the height of the engine compartment superstructure sides. One turret had a Rheinmetall 105mm gun and rangefinder, the other the British L7 105mm gun and 0.50in ranging machine gun. The ‘Series II’ prototype vehicles had the driver’s compartment moved to the right side of the hull to make way for ammunition stowage for the gun. This simplified the stowage since the main armament, now standardised on the British L7 series 105mm gun, was loaded from the left. The ‘12.7mm’ ranging MG was retained, and the exhaust grills now extended the full height of the engine compartment sides. Numerous improvements incorporated into these vehicles included increased armour protection, a ten cylinder diesel engine coupled to a new transmission, a modified fire control system and improved suspension. Twenty-six were produced at about the time the Group B design was abandoned. They were sent to a special trials unit, Panzerlehrbataillon 93, at the Munsterlager Panzertruppenshule 2 in the autumn of 1962. The ranging MG was abandoned after these trials. The next prototypes were pre-production examples with many improvements. They were known as ‘Series III’ vehicles and fifty were ordered. They reverted to the use of a rangefinder instead of a ranging machine gun and had modified turret stowage racks. They also now had horizontal rather than vertical louvers in the exhaust grills and had a prominent infra-red searchlight fixed at the top centre of the gun mantlet.
Model Id: | 680 | Manufacture: | Porsche AG, Stuttgart (Prime contractor - multiple manufacturers)
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1) Defence College of Management and Technology, Shrivenham, Britain
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Unique ID: |
298
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Serial Number: |
L02.
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Registration: |
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
“7217” painted on front right mud flap. “AFVW” (‘AFV Wing’) insignia painted on forward turret sides. Bundeswehr crosses painted on turret sides.
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Its number “L02” indicates that it was built by Luther & Jordan of Braunschweig who built seventeen examples; “7217” was the number assigned to it while being tested at MVEE (source: Bovington Museum Vehicle Record). It is shown cut away through the centre of the hull, turret and engine bay, and has key internal components colour coded. It has uniformed mannequins in the driver, gunner, loader and commander crew positions.
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2) National Armor and Cavalry Museum, Fort Benning, USA
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Unique ID: |
308
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Serial Number: |
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Registration: |
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
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This Leopard was moved by transporter from Fort Knox to Fort Benning on 5 November 2010.
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3) The Tank Museum - Public Areas, Bovington, Britain
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Unique ID: |
297
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Serial Number: |
J03.
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Registration: |
“Y-209859” (German) painted on glacis. Also “02 SP 60” (British).
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
“7218” painted on front right mud flap. “L03” painted on glacis plate. Standard unit code number “91872110”. German crosses painted on hull sides.
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This Leopard is displayed on a section of bridge from a bridgelayer tank. It was manufactured in 1962. Its number “L03” indicates that it was built by Luther & Jordan of Braunschweig who built seventeen examples; “7218” was the number assigned to it while being tested at MVEE. In the summer of 1989 it was fitted with the Royal Ordnance 105mm Improved Weapons System gun for a trial fit but it was subsequently returned to its original condition with the 105mm L7. The tank was also painted in a version of the German Fleckentarnanstrich camouflage scheme later adopted as the standard NATO pattern by some countries. (Source: Museum Vehicle Record).
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Production Vehicles
Production examples of the Leopard are distinguished by a number of changes, including having the searchlight moved to the left side of the gun mantlet. This was done to avoid back-scatter of light into the sights. During production a number of small changes were made, for example on later vehicles the exhaust grills with their horizontal louvers no longer had any vertical bars. The first production vehicle was handed over to the Federal German Army in September 1965 and since then the type has been adopted by at least nine other countries. It was a very successful design built in large numbers, more than 4000 including exports, and has formed the basis for a family of specialised vehicles. Italy not only imported 200 Leopards but also produced 720 under licence. These were manufactured by OTO Melara and differ from the original design in having a different intercom system, aiming optics and secondary armament (MG 42/59 machine-guns). OTO Melara has since produced a tank for export, the OF 40, which is a development of the Leopard design. Further German development of the Leopard design, known as Leopard 1 since the advent of the Leopard 2, has produced many variants. Leopard 1A1 has a stabiliser for the main armament, bazooka plates (with a distinctive scalloped edge), a thermal sleeve for the gun, a bow vane for deep wading, new tracks with replacement rubber pads, and a modified deep wading kit. Leopard 1A1A1 has additional armour plates bolted on to the turret sides and mantlet while 1A1A2 also has a PZB 200 night sight. The 1A1, 1A1A1 and 1A1A2 were rebuilds of original production vehicles but a number of vehicles of new designs were produced from the early 1970’s. Leopard 1A2 has a stronger cast steel turret, improved NBC (Nuclear, Bacteriological and Chemical) protection, and night vision equipment. The 1A3 variant has a new spaced-armour turret while the 1A4 also has new fire control equipment. The 1A5 is a further rebuild of older vehicles with a new fire control system. The Leopard 1 has been exported to many countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway and Turkey. Almost every country that has ordered some has specified modifications to suit its own specific needs. For example, the Netherlands acquired 468 Leopard 1s from 1968. These Leopard 1 (NL) vehicles had different radios, smoke dischargers and exhaust covers. Also, the 7.62mm MG was replaced by a 12.7mm Browning at the commander’s station. At a later date they were all fitted with an American Honeywell gun stabilisation system, modified optical sights and a new driver’s periscope. More recently, they have been rebuilt by 574 Tankwerkplaats at Leusden with appliqué armour, similar to that used on the 1A1A1 and supplied by Blohm and Voss of Germany. They also have new track skirts and a Dutch configuration fire control system, and have been redesignated Leopard 1-V for Verbeterd (Improved). A published report of a Leopard in the Russian collection at Kubinka has not been confirmed.
Leopard 1A1
4) The Tank Museum - Reserve Collection, Bovington, Britain
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Unique ID: |
1960
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Serial Number: |
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Registration: |
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
German crosses painted on turret sides. Painted overall in a green, brown and black camouflage scheme.
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New entry. This is a Leopard 1A1A2. It is in running order and was one of three Leopards that took part in Tankfest 2009. It is currently in storage but was previously displayed in the Tamiya Hall.
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5) Fort IX Czerniaków, Mokotów, Poland
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Unique ID: |
401
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Serial Number: |
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Registration: |
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
“827” painted in black on right turret side. Bundeswehr crosses painted on turret sides. Painted overall in a pale green, black and brown camouflage scheme.
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New entry. This Leopard originally came from the museum at Dresden. It is believed to be a Leopard 1A1A4. It was at the Muzeum Wolska Polskiego from about 2004-2006. It is in running order.
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6) Generalfeldmarschall-Rommel-Kaserne, Augustdorf, Germany
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Unique ID: |
1673
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Serial Number: |
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Registration: |
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
Bundeswehr crosses painted on turret sides. Painted overall in a green, black and brown camouflage scheme.
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This Leopard 1A1A1 is displayed on a low sloped ramp.
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Leopard 1A3
Leopard C1
Leopard 1A3 fitted with the Belgian SABCA computerised fire-control system. The Canadian order comprised 114 MBTs, six bridgelayers and eight armoured recovery vehicles.
7) Base Borden Military Museum, Canadian Forces Base Borden, Canada
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Unique ID: |
2407
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Serial Number: |
15092: “15092” stamped into lower right glacis.
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Registration: |
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Name: |
“MILNER” painted on turret sides.
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Other Identification: |
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This Leopard has a prominent plate fixed to the glacis (this states that it has a potentially hazardous Chemical Agent Resistant Coating and gives appropriate safety instructions).
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8) Garrison Petawawa Military Museums, Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, Canada
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Unique ID: |
2582
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Serial Number: |
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Registration: |
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
White edged black maple leaf painted on turret sides.
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This Leopard C1 has a hull upgraded for a C2 but with a C1 turret swapped. It is believed this turret was used as a gunnery simulator at the Armour School in Gagetown and was not sent off to Australia or used in Canada as a target. (Source: Trackjam Models).
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Leopard 1A4
9) Schweizerische Militärmuseum, Full, Switzerland
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Unique ID: |
833
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Serial Number: |
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Registration: |
“Y-947809” painted on nose and left rear hull.
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
“0024605” previously visible painted on left side of nose. Bundeswehr crosses painted on turret sides.
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New entry.
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10) Canadian War Museum, LeBreton Flats, Canada
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Unique ID: |
2489
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Serial Number: |
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Registration: |
73-12422 (source: Tango24B/Forums.army.ca)
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
Maple leaf emblem painted on turret sides. Painted overall in a green, black and brown camouflage scheme.
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This was a Leopard 1A3 (not a C1) with modifications for the EMES 18 sight and muzzle reference system. It was obtained by DND somewhere around 1993-1995. It has had the open stowage basket added to the rear of the turret; this modification was seen on later C1s when the MEXAS mounts were added in about 1996. The tank had as its first holding unit Valcartier in 1993 and then with DND in 1995. It is suspected that it may have been a trial tank used to determine if upgrading the C1 with the EMES 18 was feasible at the time or to wait until the 1A5 turrets came available for the C2 development. The only German Leopard 1A3 known to have been modified with the EMES 18 sight was a German trial tank sent to Thailand for hot weather testing in the 1980s but it is not known if it is the same tank. It is known that this tank was moved to Gagetown in 1997 and then to 202 Wksp in 2001, and then disposed of out of 25 CFSD in 2003. The tank was at one time inside the Museum but currently is believed to be stowed outside awaiting some new batteries to get it fired up again. (Source: Tango24B/Forums.army.ca). According to ‘Lance Wiebe’: “I had 422 to play with for a couple of years while I was the IG Tm WO. The story that I was given on the tank was that it was a test 1A3 that was never issued to the German Army, but was used as a test bed at Krauss Maffei. At one point in its career, it was modified with the EMES 18 and a relaxed view PERI sight; similar to the Leo 2A5/6. It was (supposedly) the predecessor to the Danish update when they took their Leo 1A3 and installed the EMES 18. It also was (again, supposedly) the first Leopard 1 with the turret electric drive that became the norm for the TED upgrade, as opposed to the more experimental types that trialled before it came along. When you jump on top, you can still see where they mounted the relaxed viewer PERI. I have no idea what type they mounted, but it was toward the rear of the turret, similar to the Leo 2A5/6. I was told it was given to us at the time, because we gave KM a tank in trade that we bought during the Leopard C2 project. It took a lot of work, but I finally received permission to play with it on the ranges to determine a good boresight/zeroing range. It was a good excuse to play with the EMES! The problem was that the barrel had something like 4800 EFC's on it. At any rate, after numerous inspections, it was cleared to fire. I first tried zeroing at 1500, with TP. I had about a 25cm grouping, which was tighter than any C1 that I had when I had the K19 gunnery Leopards. I was really impressed with the EMES! Of course, the thermal and the stabilized sight was fantastic as well.” (Source: Forums.army.ca). According to the transfer paperwork from KMW to the Canadian Military this Leopard is classified as a 1A4 (source: A. Sewards/AFVNDB).
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Leopard 1A5
Leopard 1-V
Leopard 1V is an 1A1A4 with an EMES 12A3 AFSL-2 FCS. Used by Netherlands, identified by Dutch smoke dischargers high up towards back of turret sides.
11) Stichting Nationaal Militair Museum, Soesterberg, The Netherlands
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Unique ID: |
2335
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Serial Number: |
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Registration: |
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
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New entry.
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12) Regiment Huzaren van Sytzama, Oirschot, The Netherlands
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Unique ID: |
2184
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Serial Number: |
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Registration: |
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
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This Leopard is used for recovery training (source: L. Delsing).
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13) Regiment Huzaren van Sytzama, Oirschot, The Netherlands
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Unique ID: |
2185
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Serial Number: |
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Registration: |
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
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This Leopard is preserved at Building 250 (source: L. Delsing).
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14) Cavaleriemuseum, Bernhardkazerne, The Netherlands
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Unique ID: |
2183
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Serial Number: |
12227 (source: L. Delsing).
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Registration: |
KU-92-26 (Dutch): “KU-92-26” painted on nose.
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Name: |
“PRINS ALEXANDER” painted on turret sides.
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Other Identification: |
“41C” painted on right glacis and left hull rear. “A20” painted on left glacis and right hull rear. “NL” painted on glacis and side stowage boxes. Dutch flag painted on glacis and hull rear.
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This Leopard was previously at Legerplaats Seedorf in Germany. The marking “41C” indicates 41st Tank Battalion and “A20” indicates A Squadron, 2nd Platoon, platoon commanders’s tank. (Source: L. Delsing/AFVNDB).
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15) Cavaleriemuseum, Bernhardkazerne, The Netherlands
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Unique ID: |
2322
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Serial Number: |
12237 (source: L. Delsing).
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Registration: |
KU-92-40 (Dutch): “KU 92 40” painted on nose and hull rear.
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
“A[()]59” painted on right glacis and left hull rear. “A 43” painted on left glacis and right hull rear. “NL” painted on centre glacis and side stowage boxes. Dutch flag painted on glacis and hull rear. Unit insignia and “175 JAAR” painted in orange on rear stowage box.
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This Leopard is painted in the colours of A Squadron, 59th Tank Battalion (A59). The marking “A43” indicates A Squadron, 4th platoon, 3rd tank – the deputy platoon commander’s tank. (Source: L. Delsing).
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16) Cavaleriemuseum, Bernhardkazerne, The Netherlands
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Unique ID: |
2334
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Serial Number: |
12259 (source: L. Delsing).
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Registration: |
KU-92-58 (Dutch): “KU92-58” painted on nose and hull rear.
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Name: |
“B-ARCO” (previously “Balthasar”) painted on turret sides.
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Other Identification: |
“B3” painted on left glacis and right hull rear. Unit markings painted on mantlet sides and right side stowage box. “NL” painted on side stowage boxes and glacis. Painted overall in a green, brown and black camouflage scheme.
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New entry. This Leopard was previously at the Du Moulin barracks at Soesterberg. Then it was moved to Legerplaats Seedorf, Germany. It is painted in the markings of B Company, 101 Tank Battalion, tactical number “B03”. It is painted in a three colour camouflage scheme though the Dutch did not use this scheme on Leopards. The name is pronounced “Barco” which is short for a Bacardi rum – cola mix. (Source: L. Delsing/AFVNDB).
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17) Cornfield Firing Range, Vliehors, The Netherlands
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Unique ID: |
318
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Serial Number: |
Chassis number “12337”.
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Registration: |
KU-93-35: “KU 93-35” painted on nose.
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
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This Leopard was transferred to be used as a hard target at the Vlieland range (source: L. Delsing).
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18) Cavaleriemuseum, Bernhardkazerne, The Netherlands
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Unique ID: |
319
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Serial Number: |
12339 (source: L. Delsing).
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Registration: |
KU-93-37 (Dutch): “KU-93-37” painted on nose and hull rear.
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
“B 36” painted on left of glacis and right hull rear. “104 CV” and Dutch flag painted on right of glacis and left hull rear. “NL” painted on centre of glacis and on side stowage boxes.
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This Leopard is painted in the colours of 104th Recce Battalion. The marking “B36” indicates B Squadron, tactical number 36. It is in running order and took part in the ‘Hello Goodbye’ event to mark the closure of the Soesterberg Air Base on 13 June 2009. It also took part in the Museumdag 2010 event at Amersdoorf on 10 April 2010.
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19) Liberty Park Oorlogsmuseum, Overloon, The Netherlands
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Unique ID: |
1707
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Serial Number: |
12340: “NL12340” stamped into right of glacis (source: M. Krauss/AFVNDB).
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Registration: |
KU-93-38: “KU-93-38” painted on nose and hull rear.
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
“MDNL5?” stamped into left of glacis (source: M. Krauss/AFVNDB). “12E” painted on turret rear stowage rack. “NL” painted on glacis and side stowage boxes. Various insignia painted on glacis and hull rear.
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This Leopard is a 1A1A1 (1-V); it is displayed with a mannequin in the commander’s cupola. The marking “12E” indicates A-eskadron (squadron), 2e peloton (platoon), and E (platoon sergeant’s) tank respectively. Originally Dutch Leopards were Leopard 1A1 Baulos (batch) 4; 1-V (verbeterd, improved) was a version with extra armour and some specific Dutch modifications. This example came from Zwijndrecht and is in excellent condition. (Source: L. Delsing).
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20) Cavaleriemuseum, Bernhardkazerne, The Netherlands
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Unique ID: |
2349
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Serial Number: |
12370 (source: L. Delsing).
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Registration: |
KU-93-68 (Dutch): “KU-93-68” painted on nose.
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
“NL” painted on glacis.
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New entry. This Leopard was first reported in December 2007 (source: L. Delsing/AFVNDB). It is stored under a tarpaulin with its turret reversed.
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21) Cavaleriemuseum, Bernhardkazerne, The Netherlands
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Unique ID: |
2350
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Serial Number: |
12396 (source: L. Delsing).
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Registration: |
KU-93-94 (Dutch, source: L. Delsing).
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
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New entry. This Leopard was first reported in July 2010 (source: L. Delsing/AFVNDB).
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Leopard C2
22) Royal Military College of Canada, Canadian Forces Base Kingston, Canada
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Unique ID: |
2568
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Serial Number: |
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Registration: |
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
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This Leopard is displayed on a concrete pad. It has a plaque that reads “LEOPARD C2 DONUM ALUMNORUM ANNI MCMLXXV” (‘Gift of Alumni of the year 1975’).
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23) Canadian War Museum, LeBreton Flats, Canada
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Unique ID: |
2465
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Serial Number: |
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Registration: |
78-85049 (source: CHAFVR).
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
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24) The Tank Museum - Public Areas, Bovington, Britain
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Unique ID: |
1981
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Serial Number: |
18054: chassis 0076B: turret
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Registration: |
78-85095: “78-85095” painted on left hull rear.
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
“23C” painted on turret and hull rear. “CARC” painted on hull rear. Black maple leaf painted on rangefinder blanking plates. Painted overall green.
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New entry.
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25) The Tank Museum - Reserve Collection, Bovington, Britain
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Unique ID: |
1982
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Serial Number: |
18016 (chassis) 0020A (turret).
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Registration: |
78-85137: “78-85137” painted on left hull rear.
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
“23A” painted on hull sides and rear. “137” painted on thermal sleeve near muzzle. White-edged black maple leaf painted on rangedfinder blanking plates. Hull painted in a green, brown and black camouflage (previously overall green), turret painted overall green.
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New entry.
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