The Ukrainian army presents remarkably detailed photos of the Leopard 1 tanks delivered from Germany. One weak point stands out.
Kiev – Brad Pitt knew exactly where the one major weak point of battle tanks lies. In the film with the martial title “Fury”, the Hollywood star played an American tank commander in World War II.
Weapons deliveries in the Ukraine war: Leopard 1 tank from Germany with weak point
In a memorable scene, Pitt, known in the film as Sergeant Don “Wardaddy” Collier, ordered his crew to shoot down the rear of a supposedly overpowering German Wehrmacht “Tiger”. According to the script, they ultimately succeeded. Up until today’s war in Ukraine, the rear of the tank is considered to be a significant weak point. This also applies to arms deliveries from Germany to Kiev.
To be more precise, it is about the Leopard 1 tanks that Berlin is currently providing to Ukraine. And which the Ukrainian army has now put on display for social media in a powerful way. Including the vulnerability described. Clearly visible to the Moscow regime of Kremlin autocrat Vladimir Putin in Russia.
Ukrainian Leopard 1 tank: weak armor against the Russian army
Because: The Leopard 1 tanks, which were once produced in Germany, have an armour of just 25 millimetres on the rear of the hull. That is nothing by today’s standards. It is also made of old-fashioned, cast solid armour steel. Without additional spaced armour or reactive armour mounted on top, this is considered to be extremely vulnerable to shaped charge projectiles. For example, to the grenades of the Soviet RPG-7, which Putin’s army still uses in large numbers today. Or to the armour-piercing guided missiles of the Russian 9K135 Kornet, some of which have already proven to be disastrous against Kiev’s more modern Leopard 2 tanks.
The turrets of the “Leos” 1A5, which Germany supplies in large numbers from stored industrial stocks, do have 70 millimeters of spaced-apart armor. But even that is not much. By comparison: comparatively modern Leopard 2A5s have composite armor of up to 930 millimeters on the turret front. These are huge differences. In the case of the Leopard 2A4, of which Ukraine has received several dozen from various NATO countries such as Sweden, Poland and Spain, the armor on the turret front is said to be up to 690 millimeters.
Weapons for Ukraine: Dozens of Leopard 1 tanks come from Germany
The Ukrainian army had its mechanics attach reactive armor plates to the front of the hull, the sides of the hull and the sides of the turret of the Leopard 1A5 tanks it delivered. These explosive-coated plates are intended to neutralize incoming anti-tank missiles and insidious kamikaze drones by means of a counter-explosion on impact. However, this reactive armor is also missing from the rear of the turret of the improved Leopards. The additional protective measures include foldable “hoods” made of wire mesh on the roofs of the tank turrets, which can be flexibly extended depending on the operational scenario and are intended to protect against these very FPV drones.
According to official Ukrainian information, the “Leos” are to be deployed primarily in the newly formed 5th Armoured Brigade, which has apparently been acting rather cautiously so far, while the 3rd Assault Brigade, for example, always appears at the front where things are really hot. According to the list of military support services on the Website of the traffic light federal government (SPD, Greens and FDP), Germany has so far (as of September 19, 2024) provided the Ukrainian land forces with 80 Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks.
5th Armored Brigade of Ukraine: Equipped with Leopard 1 tanks from Germany
According to the Bundeswehr’s understanding, a tank brigade consists of two battle tank battalions and two infantry fighting vehicle battalions. According to ZDF, each battalion usually has 46 tanks. That would mean around 90 battle tanks and 90 infantry fighting vehicles for transporting infantry (foot soldiers) into battle. From the Ukrainian perspective, this probably means the 5th Brigade with the “Leos”. As the open source intelligence website Oryx According to the Ukrainian Army’s website, the Ukrainian army has so far (as of September 19) allegedly lost three Leopard 1A5s in the fighting against Putin’s invading troops. (pm)
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