Berlin decided. The Russians won't be happy. Ukraine gets more tanks
The German government has shipped another aid package to Ukraine, which is one of the largest since the start of the persisting conflict. The shipment included a wide variety of vehicles, military equipment, and ammunition, such as the much-needed 155 mm artillery shells.
The Ukrainian military portal, Defence Express, highlights that this shipment from Berlin includes additional tanks. Specifically, it consists of 10 Leopard tanks in the 1A5 version, part of a promised batch of over 100 similar machines being prepared in collaboration with Denmark and the Netherlands.
German Leopard 1A5 Tanks in Ukraine
Considering this latest delivery, it has been feasible so far to recycle and restore 30 Leopard 1A5 tanks. However, Defence Express reminds us that some unexpected issues relating to significant defects were identified during the second batch transfer. It remains uncertain whether these issues have been rectified.
The Leopard 1A5 tanks, developed in the early 1990s, outperform many older tanks used by the Russians in terms of offensive capabilities. They use the EMES 18 fire control system with thermal sight, built on the EMES 15 system from the first variants of the newer Leopard 2 tank. Besides the L7A3 105 mm cannon, the crew can also utilize two MG3 machine guns with a 7.62 mm caliber.
Detailing the Latest Aid Package for Ukraine
- 10 Leopard 1A5 tanks
- 14 Bandvagn 206 vehicles
- 1 WiSENT 1 MC engineering vehicle
- 4 HX81 saddle tractors
- 16 Mercedes-Benz Zetros
- 5 Bronco ATTC ambulances
- 3 border protection vehicles
- 13 MAN TGS trucks
- 10 Vector drones
- 14 ground observation radars
- 1,020 units of 155 mm caliber ammunition
- 10,000 pairs of protective glasses
- 1.33 million pieces of firearm ammunition
The Bandvagn 206 is a 4.5-ton articulated military vehicle. Designed for rough terrains, deep snow, and marshes, it functions as an armored transporter or ambulance. This Swedish-made vehicle will likely be invaluable to Ukrainians during the ongoing autumn-winter season.
The 155 mm caliber ammunition is used in many howitzers dispatched to the front by NATO countries. These include the Polish Crabs, which Ukrainians hold in high regard, German PzH 2000s, and French CAESARs.
However, Defence Express emphasizes that the 1,020 units of ammunition only meet the Ukrainian army's daily needs for this type of weaponry. According to the portal, this underlines the growing challenges Western countries face in supplying ammunition.
