In the most effective traditions of the German automotive business, it’s precision-engineered to outclass the competitors. But at 62 tons and 32ft long, the Leopard tank maybe lacks the understated grace of an Audi or BMW.
Not so, in line with the troopers of Ukraine’s twenty first Separate Mechanised Infantry Brigade, who used one on a night-time ambush close to Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast final month.
Of their noisy, rattly old-Soviet-era tanks, the enemy would have heard them coming from fairly actually a mile away. However with the Leopard’s engine not a lot louder than a diesel van, they have been in a position to creep up nearly unnoticed.
“We have been in a position to get about 200 metres from the Russian strains earlier than we attacked,” mentioned Commander Vitali, of the Brigade’s Third Tank Squad, who has been utilizing the Leopard because the summer time.
“You couldn’t try this with our older tanks, as a result of you possibly can hear them from two or three kilometres away – they make plenty of noise.”
‘Usually a significantly better tank’
The Leopard’s mild purr is simply one of many advantages of the tank, 70 of which have been donated by Nato to Ukraine to be used in its ongoing counter-offensive. Britain has additionally provided 14 Challenger tanks, however the Leopard is in use in larger portions as Ukraine’s European allies have way more to spare.
Comdr Vitali and his comrades acquired their Leopards after attending a Nato coaching course in Europe, the place a programme that will usually take 18 months was condensed into simply 9 weeks.
“I’ve pushed tanks earlier than, however my comrades haven’t – I believe the tutors have been fairly impressed that we mastered find out how to use it in that time,” he mentioned.
The Leopard has a high velocity of round 42mph and comes with a 120mm gun, able to punching by two toes of metal armour at a mile and a half. Whereas the fashions provided to Ukraine date again the Nineteen Nineties, it’s thought-about greater than a match for the Soviet-built tanks that make up the majority of the Russian arsenal, with a extra correct gun.
“It’s usually a significantly better tank – simpler to drive and deal with, and significantly better protected inside,” Comdr Vitali added. “We haven’t been hit by something but, but when we do, we stand a significantly better likelihood of surviving.”
Nonetheless, the Leopard’s presence in Ukraine has not been fairly the showpiece gesture of help that the West supposed it to be.
First, Germany was reluctant to permit them for use in any respect, for concern it might heighten tensions with Moscow, and solely modified its thoughts after stress from Ukraine’s different backers.
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Hopes that they’d be an on the spot game-changer have been additionally dashed through the counter-offensive’s opening weeks, when a number of Leopards hit landmines within the so-called “Surovikin Line”, the 80-mile community of Russian defences south of Zaporizhzhia.
There have additionally been questions over their reliability: some have spent years sitting in storage in Europe, and have developed technical faults after time in fight.
Nonetheless, their elementary toughness has been proved. Due to their enhanced armour, crews whose Leopards have been hit by landmines or Russian drones have usually additionally survived.
“Given the selection, I might at all times want to make use of a Leopard now moderately than the older tanks we had earlier than,” mentioned Comdr Vitali.
Army analysts consider the Leopard has not but had the possibility to fully show its claws on the battlefield. It is going to come into its personal, they predict, if and when Ukraine’s forces breach the Surovikin Line and push into the open floor past, which is rather more suited to tank warfare.
Fight, although, can also be concerning the artwork of constructing do, and plenty of Ukrainian items proceed to struggle in tanks courting again to the Brezhnev period or earlier than. Commander Oleksandr, with Ukraine’s 93rd Brigade close to Bakhmut, makes use of a Soviet-era T64.
It would appear to be a Trabant in comparison with Comdr Vitali’s Porsche. However it has had updates through the years, is easier to make use of – and, crucially, is the tank he’s used to combating in.
“The Russians use these older tanks too, so we’re not at an obstacle,” he mentioned. “And anyway, a tank is only a machine. What’s vital is your talent in utilizing it, not how trendy it’s.”
