Leopard 2K Keiler

During April I have a plan to make 3 vehicles in a single months, only this be able to be posted on time.

KPz 70<======>Leopard 2K<=======>(yet to be revealed)

ORIGINS

The pricey, overweight, over-engineered Kpz 70 program was cancelled yet West Germany still need to replace their Leopards. West Germany decided to made their own armored vehicle without US help.

The first idea was to upgrade the existing Leopards under a program name of vergoldeter Leopard (Gilded Leopard) using as many techonlogies from KPz 70, such as autoloader and remote roof autocannon. But also add othet features such as co-axial autocannon and an independent periscope for commander. This project never came to fruition and none built.

the Experimentalentwicklung (experimental development) was created after the cancellation of Gilded Leopard. Funding was available and 2 prototypes were made with the aim to improve Leopard 1 in many aspects.
The resulted vehicles were nicknamed Keiler (Tusker).

Meanwhile, another project aimed to improve the failed KPz 70. The idea was to use as many components from it as possible as the vehicle was still have a potential. It has modified KPz 70 hull and turret, and eleminating driver inside the turret. This project nicknamed Eber (Boar). Only a wooden mock up was made.

Eber mock up

Another design shows more original KPz 70 with driver inside the hull, this design perhaps a further development of KPz 70 that was not designated as Eber.

The Eber was not continued, instead the Keiler was. Name of the design was renamed to Leopard 2, and original Kampfpanzer Leopard retroactively named Leopard 1. There were 2 designs, one is Leopard 2K, equipped with 105 mm L7 and later the gun that Germans were always wanted to use, the Rh-120 L/44. Then there's Leopard 2FK, same design but with XM150E5 152 mm from KPz 70, but this design was not choosen. 17 prototypes of Leopard 2K were ordered, hulls designated from PT1 to PT17 with PT12 skipped for some reason and 17 turrets designated from T1 to T17.

Design

Armament

RH-120 L/44

Since the KPz 70 program running, West Germany wanted to use Rh-120 for their new tank, but it was never realized. Original main weapon for Leopard 2K was the Royal Ordnance L7 105 mm, but it still the same gun as older Leopard 1 — the gun cannot defeat Soviet armors. So they replaced it with the smoothbore Rh-120 L/44 firing APFSDS and HEAT, a great firepower upgrade over L7, but not as complicated as 152 mm XM150E5 on KPz 70/MBT-70. The gun reloaded by a loader instead of an autloader to reduce complexity and helping for vehicle maintenance. Each vehicle carried 41 ammunition, 11 inside turret bustle (ready rack) and other 30 inside hull. The gun could elevate from -9° to +20°

MG 3

Standard 7.62 mm co-axial machine gun for tanks of Germany.

Mk 20 Rh-202

As the design taking as many component from KPz 70 as possible, the remote Rh-202 was choosen as its roof weapon. The weapon was exclusive to T11 turret prototype. This was absent in other prototypes and later was removed in future Leopard 2 variants. The gun could elevate from -9° to +45 and has traverse of 360°.

Mobility

The 7 roadwheels were taken from KPz 70 and return rollers were from Leopard 1. The vehicle powered by an MB 872 providing 1500 hp (1,100 kW) powering the vehicle to 73 kph. Suspension was taken from KPz 70, but not every hull recieved adjustable suspension height. The transmission was also electric, giving the same reverse top speed as forward top speed.

Protection

Smiliar to KPz 70, Leopard 2 prototypes features spaced armor at front glacis, turret front and turret sides, with new addition of spaced armor in hull sides above tracks.
Turret was made by welded instead of cast that found on KPz 70. There are also 4 smoke dispensers on each turret side.

In-game features, systems, and controls

Finally a craft with a better interior details than my previous crafts as its a direct prototype of a tank with plenty of interior images. The mesh inside turret and alot of ammunition stored makes alot of part count in the craft, surpassing my MBT-70 by 100 parts. But overall the craft is less complicated than MBT-70 I made

Fabric cover above gun barrel can produce some gaps and perhaps buggy.

Driver also has rotator attached steering wheel.

Has little dialouges in German when launched.

I messed up the driver seat gah

Controls

Mobility

Pitch forward and reverse (both 17 m/s top speed)
Roll for left and right
Yaw for turret and autocannon traverse

Slider

Slider 1 for cannon and autocannon elevation

Activation Groups

AG 1 Engine (has a German dialogue text)
AG 2 Hatches (has a German dialogue text)
AG 3 Mirrors
AG 4 Headlights

FOR MORE EXPLANATIONS, HELPS AND OR INFOS COMMENT DOWN BELOW