Outdated yet resilient: Ukrainian troops praise Leopard tanks
Ukrainian soldiers from the 155th Mechanized Brigade shared their opinion on the German Leopard 2A4 tanks. Although these machines have long passed their prime, the war with Russia shows they still exhibit many strengths and advantages over post-Soviet designs.
Among the NATO tanks delivered to Ukraine, the German Leopards are some of the most numerous. However, only a small portion of them are the advanced Leopard 2A6, which are the latest NATO tanks on the front. More frequently, the Leopard 2A4 tanks engage in battles with the Russians. These tanks, produced at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, are described as the pinnacle of tank development from the Cold War period.
Ukrainians evaluated the Leopard 2A4 tanks
A conversation with Ukrainian tank crews from the 155th Mechanized Brigade was published by the Army TV channel. The greatest advantages of the Leopard 2A4, according to Ukrainian soldiers, are its mobility (maneuverability and speed) and its smoothbore 120 mm cannon.
In the Ukrainians’ opinion, the German tank's weaponry provides sufficient firepower and accuracy, giving it an edge over the guns in many post-Soviet tanks. An important factor in this context is the Leopard 2A4's EMES 15 fire control system with thermal imaging.
German tanks in Ukraine
Meanwhile, the Leopard 2A4 offers a higher level of protection than most post-Soviet tanks, but falls short against newer designs. As a result, Ukrainians are opting to use additional protective measures in the form of Kontakt-1 reactive armor blocks.
This solution is not only used by the 155th Mechanized Brigade; similar modifications have also been seen in other front-line reports from Ukraine. A significant advantage of the Leopard 2A4, according to the Ukrainians, is the complete isolation of the main ammunition storage, which significantly enhances crew safety.
All controls inside the Leopard 2A4 are labeled in German, which initially confused the Ukrainians. However, they say training conducted in France and Poland allowed them to quickly master all the necessary skills.
