Ukrainian tank crews hail Leopard 2A4's stealth combat edge
Members of the Ukrainian army's 33rd Mechanized Brigade shared their impressions of using Leopard 2A4 tanks. They also detailed an unusual camouflage they applied to one of these German machines, thereby increasing its effectiveness on the battlefield.
The opinion of the Ukrainian tank crews about Leopard 2A4 tanks was presented by the ArmyInform service. These tanks, although produced in the 1980s, are among the most frequently delivered Western tanks to Ukraine. On the front lines in Ukraine, they prove to be some of the best machines in this category, offering significantly greater capabilities than many Soviet-era tanks used by both sides in the ongoing war.
Ukrainians praise German tanks
Members of the 33rd Mechanized Brigade compared the Leopard 2A4 to the T-64 tank. In their opinion, it's like comparing a BMW to a Zhiguli (old Soviet cars); the Leopards have a significant advantage over tanks produced during the USSR era.
The Leopard 2A4 is noticeably larger and heavier, but at the same time, it has a much more powerful engine (1500 HP), making it faster (with a maximum speed of up to 43 mph) and more maneuverable. Ukrainians emphasize that despite such a powerful engine, the German tanks are quiet. They believe that from a distance of about 55-75 yards, they can be mistaken for agricultural equipment, and from a distance of about 130-165 yards, they are already hard to hear.
Unusual camouflage of the Leopard 2A4 tank
When additional camouflage is applied, the Leopard 2A4 becomes difficult for the enemy to detect. One of these tanks used by the 33rd Mechanized Brigade, named "Shaggy" due to its distinctive camouflage for operations in forested areas, is said to be undetectable from a distance of 35-45 yards when in clearings.
This is how Russians destroy Ukrainian tanks
Ukrainians also pointed out the weapon that poses the greatest threat to Leopard 2A4 tanks and their crews. In their opinion, these are kamikaze drones. It’s not just larger models like the Lancet but also often very simple, small FPV drones (first-person view).
"If it weren't for these FPV drones, we would have long since torn down the star from the Kremlin with a Leopard. Mines, drops, grenade launchers—all of this can be survived, avoided, or outmaneuvered. But when an FPV 'pushes' at 110 mph, how can you escape it?" said a Ukrainian tank commander.
According to Ukrainian soldiers, an important feature of the Leopard 2A4 tank, which is missing in Soviet-era tanks, is the complete isolation of the main ammo storage. Additionally, the German machine allows continued driving (for a few miles) in a special emergency mode, even if enemy ammunition hits the engine compartment, thus enabling an escape to a safe location.
