Upgrade

The suspension system of this time's Leopard 1 3.0 upgrade has better shock absorption performance than the previous Leopard 1 2.0

Historical Background of Leopard 1 Main Battle Tank

Post-WWII Context

After World War II, Germany's tank industry was dismantled, forcing the country to rely on U.S.-supplied M47 and M48 tanks during the early Cold War era18. By the late 1950s, NATO tensions prompted West Germany to seek a domestically developed tank to replace outdated American models

Development Timeline

1956–1964?: West Germany collaborated with France and Italy on a joint tank project (later dissolved due to design disagreements), leading Germany to independently initiate the Leopard 1 program under Krauss-Maffei13.
?1963?: Krauss-Maffei was selected as the primary contractor, with the first prototype completed in 19651.
?1965–1984?: Over 4,700 units were produced, with variants licensed to Italy (Otto Melara) and exported globally

Design Philosophy

The Leopard 1 prioritized mobility and firepower over heavy armor, featuring a British L7 105mm rifled gun and a 830-horsepower engine enabling speeds up to 65 km/h16. Its design reflected lessons from NATO's focus on rapid maneuverability against Soviet armored forces

?Legacy

Although phased out of German service by the 21st century, upgraded Leopard 1 variants remain operational in multiple countries35. It paved the way for the advanced Leopard 2 series

Leopard 1 Main Battle Tank Performance Data

General Specifications

Weight?: 40 tons (combat weight) / 38.7 tons (dry weight)8
?Crew?: 4 personnel68
?Length?: 9.54 meters (gun forward) / 8.17 meters (gun rearward)8
?Width?: 3.41 meters (with side skirts) / 3.25 meters (without skirts)8
?Height?: 2.62 meters (to periscope) / 2.38 meters (to turret top)8
?Ground Clearance?: 0.44 meters

Mobility

Engine?: MTU MB838CaM-500 4-stroke turbocharged diesel engine (610 kW / 830 hp)68
?Transmission?: ZF 4HP250 hydromechanical gearbox (4 forward / 2 reverse gears)8
?Maximum Speed?:
65 km/h (road)68
40 km/h (off-road)8
?Operational Range?:
600 km (road) / 450 km (off-road)8
?Obstacle Crossing?:
Vertical step: 1.15 meters8
Trench width: 3 meters8
Gradient: 60% climb / 30% side slope

Protection

Armor?:
?Hull?:
Front: 70 mm homogeneous steel38
Sides: 25–35 mm8
Rear: 25 mm8
?Turret?:
Mantlet: 60 mm8
Front/Sides: 52–60 mm8
?Additional Protection?:
Fording Depth: 1.2 m (unprepared) / 2.25 m (with snorkel)38
Submersion Depth: 4 m (with preparation)

Legacy and Upgrades

Global Service?: Exported to over a dozen countries, with licensed production in Italy (Otto Melara)3
?Modernization?: Variants like the Leopard 1HEL feature upgraded fire control and armor