Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank How it Works with modular Space Armour Leopard 2A6 Loepard 2A4 

For those interested i will deepdive into the purpose, design and use of the added spaced armor present on a6 variants and variants after. When this spaced armor was designed it was designed with specific care to both the design of Russian apfsds and the design of Russian tanks as these are interlinked. We start with the Russian shells and their limitations which lead to the design choice of the Leopard 2's added armor. Modern Russian tanks use autoloaders, specifically a carousel, this autoloader design along with the compact design of Russian tanks comes at a very niche cost. Because of Russian tanks compact interior, having an autoloader that was loading the entire shell in one stage became impossible, instead the solution (as with many other tanks) became to separate the ammunition into two stages, the propellant and the shell itself. This allowed the autoloader to fit and work within the tanks confinement, however as size is an issue the length of the penetrator rod CANNOT be increased further without making the autoloading impossible. It is because of this that the Russians moved to a larger gun on the T14 Armata. Now how is this important? Well the penetrating power of a modern APFSDS Directly correlates to the length of the rod, as such the Russians are locked into a limiting roof regarding their shells penetrating power as all of their modern tanks use guns with a calibre of 125mm. Now how does this tie back to the design of the Leopard 2's added armor? The design is quite ingenious in it's simplicity. Since it was known that the Russians had locked themselves into this dilemma of rod length German tank designers knew the upper limits of rod length that could be acheived with the Russian guns. The added armor was then designed so that the space between the original composite armor and the new added armor was longer than the longest rod length possible to acheive with the Russian main 125mm gun. This means that no matter which apfsds the Russians use the same result is acheived. When the rod penetrates the spaced armor it is ensured that the rod will have space within the gap to rotate off axis, meaning the rod will NOT impact with it's penetrator in line with it's velocity vector. This in turn nullifies almost all of the penetrating power of the rod making the front of the Leopard 2 turret impervious to any possible Russian ammunition UNLESS the Russians change the main gun of their tanks. Thanks for coming to my TED talk!

I was a Leopard 2A4 and 2A5 tank commander in the 90s. Its hard to find exact information on tanks, if you havent served in one. Range of the main gun is a lot more than 2km. The multipurpose round has around that range, maybe a bit more, but its slow and flies in a curved arc, while the kinetic round (really, why do English use these annyoing abreviations? In German its just MZ and KE rounds) is fast and flies witha lmost no curve and is accurate way past the 3km. Cant remember exactly what max range is for it in combat, on shooting ranges it was limited though. While the coax MG indeed has the 1.2km max range. At that range it looks as if the rounds fall from the sky onto the target like tracer rain. The hull ammo storage is indeed not protected and not usable during combat. The turret storage you didnt mention, that one is blast protected, and the only ammunition the crew can use during combat. Thats only 15 rounds (or so). Sounds very little. But then again, the Leopard is supposed to one shot kill any target, so in theory each Leopard 2 wipes out a full other MBT platoon before they have to reload. (or hide somewhere safe and get the rounds from the hull up into the turret) Biggest Con for Leopard 2 - it still doesnt have any active protection. No missile detection, no laser warner, no nuttin.

I am always excited to watch such videos. Great edits.

Thank you,for the enjoyable animation, the depth of research, and top-notch delivery! I'm a more knowledgeable PC Warrior since finding your channel!

Excellent description and artwork/graphics! Thanks!

This channel keeps getting better and better! Thank you guys and gals for making these brilliant videos for the public to see. The production values and editing of your videos are sublime!

Great content and phenomenal graphics. This video was just incredible visually. Very, very nice work!

Very informative: 9/10 recommend to anyone who's looking for how a Leopard 2 works

Great video with very high production values. Appreciate hearing the pros and cons. And most appreciate using a HUMAN VOICE!! Well done.

4:28 I want to correct you here. The fins of the APFSDS round are not meant to give it rotation, it is to provide aerodynamic stability to the round, hence the name "Fin Stabilized". Rotating a long, thin rod will only makes it aerodynamically unstable, even with the fins added, which is why it is best fired from a smoothbore gun. Rifled tank guns use APFSDS with slip obturator on the sabot to cancel out the gun rifling.

I'm guessing the narrator struggled in English class.

You're animations makes understanding so easier for defence noobs like me.

I absolutely love your content and the videos are brilliantly done! Thanks a lot for your amazing work and keep up with it. :)

Great Animation. Good Job

The model of the „Tiger“ you have shown at the beginning has quite a „Panther“ turret. At 2:26 you show a 2A4 Evolution and called it a „2a5“. The 2a5 looks pretty much the same as the „2a6“ but with an shorter barrel. But great Animation and explanation👍

Fantastic video!

спасибо за видео товарищи, для меня, как оператора Ланцета, это было довольно информативное видео :)

Lancet seems to do the job on these pretty well.

The fins on the apfsds ammunition actually prevent spin on the projectile. Unlike regular bullets, apfsds rounds will not spin they will tumble end over end if fired out of a rifled gun. That is why tank cannons use smoothbore guns.

This channel is fantastic!! God bless you!

This channel is awesome, could watch hours of your content.

I was a Leopard 2 commander in the 90th. Sorry, you forgot the most important part of the Leopard2. The Leopard 2 simulators were already in the 90th light years ahead in technology. Took 3 month to teach a crew, only with little time on a real tank.

Мультики - это конечно хорошо. Вы покажите реальные бои, этого чудо оружия.

Ultimate informative video, salute to your hard work

these animations are top notch 👌brilliant content👍

This channel is truly amazing ❤️

Good work as always

Brilliant. Awesome video

Well done. Great animation and solid information.

Because of what you guys do I really want to learn how to use blender 3D and make such cool animations but I mostly busy with college and exams or lazy. I really hope that I start this May.

Great video. Good job!!

Thank you for the informative video

The turret wedges are not simply spaced armor, but modular system with multiple steps. It is a misconception that the spaced armor is „enough“ to destabilize a long-rod penetrator. I’ve seen it explained quite often in this comment section. I’m going to keep it short: - The front of the wedge has heavy-NxRA (non-explosive reactive armor) elements that work similarly to the heavy-ERA „RELIKT“ which is in Russian use. These basically expand into different directions when being in contact with the HEAT-jet/APFSDS. This causes directional stress that results in the penetrator being deformed and broken. - The destabilized remaining bits of the penetrator are lastly going to hit the main armor. These are nowhere close capable of penetrating it. The main internal armor has been upgraded several times, and reportedly, recently in the 2A7V too. It consists of ceramics, titanium, tungsten and multiple other high streng steel alloys and materials.

Very informative. Really enjoyed the content. Liked the unbiased positioning. Would like to see British challenger and the new panzer. Great job.

Cool content guys 🤙

Everytime this channel post new vid I'd always watch it first

Proud to have been a gunner in one of these beasts.

Engaging animation work. Keep it up.

great animation!

Finally 😁 Waited 6 days for this video.... Btw i was thought that video is on kf51 panther tank but I was wrong 🙂 & NXT video on Tata Kestrel armour fighting vehicle pls 🙏

Lancet - derived from brachiostomy in Russian. Branchiostoma is one of the few living genera of lancelets (order Amphioxus). It is the type genus of the family Branchiostoma. These small animals, vaguely resembling an eel or a snake, are close relatives of vertebrates. I love the Russian tradition of naming the deadliest types of weapons with the sweetest names.

Well done thanks.

Very nice video, keep it up

i was ´Panzersoldat´ on leopard2 in german army , respekt ! one of the best descriptions of the beast. greatings from germany !

I'm so glad you explained how a steering wheel works, had no idea

Those edits are mind boggling lol!! Love from india

Hahah wonderful all done with Blender ! Thats cool you mention it!

Very informative. I hope you can add the Israeli Merkava in the future.

An advantage of the Leopard compared to the Abrams is that infantry can easily take cover behind the Leopard, whereas the Abram's gas turbine is much hotter when the tank is moving (when it's stationary it's ok though - but following the tank at walking speed can already be quite exhausting). However, the Abrams exhaust will not melt your face or set you on fire - that's a myth.

High quality content

Very good video and description of the mbt specs. Top attack continue a cons in the Leo series. Remember what happened with the Turkish Leos in Syria. Thank you

the leo in Ukraine who became a village cat

In 4:28, APFSDS darts do not spin. Spinning is only effective for a shell with length/diameter ratio of approximately 6. With the ratio of 20, APFSDS will get unnecessary moments if it spins, thus they just use fins to stabilise the dart, thus the name.

Definitely very accurate on 9:21

wow in blender, fantastic work! Really nice video. Love German engineering!!! 2:15 Rheinmetall 3:49 Rheinmetall you misspelled :P

You should know that russian T-90s tank has got a laser irradiation sensors, and it means that if Leopard2 will try to determine a distance with laser rangefinder then T-90 will set an aerosol jam and the cannon of T-90 will be directed to Leopard2. There is no a silver bullet.

In the abrams the gunner presses a button and the computer lases the target and does all the elevation then the gunner fires immediately to give the least time for laser detectors to act laze and blaze.

great video

quality stuff

Uav lancet miss u

A very good unbiased summary most people do not include it's pros and cons tbh that's why some people think it's a bit invulnerable which is kind of not true any tank facing any modern digital ATGM will be at danger whether it is Russian or NATO. The development of Top exploding missiles makes every tanks frontal armor useless as it literally penetrates from the roof. Also thanks for explaining the limited vision some people ask why other leopard variants have optics on the wedge armor like the PL version well that's because the wedge armor actually reders the the places covered by it unable to put an extra sensor or optics which is why all the sensors and optics and sensors of the leopard are put on the roof on with a 360 rotating lens and sensors.

Good explanation

Very interesting 🧐

Leopard + Lancet =❤

I didn't realize until watching the video just how enormous the gun on the 2A6 looks compared to the older models, shame you didn't cover the newer Leo 2 tanks like the 2A7v

what you do, is was amazing, awesome, so deatailed

I love your detailed videos!!! Please do one of the K-2 Black Panther

Те самые "не горящие" танки? Невероятно!

Amazing job for bringing such unbiased and objective content ❤ There are so many channels which should take an example. And yes I talking about you, Infographics Show 🤮 Guys can make a video about the Pantsir S1? Here in Germany we would call this air defense system a "Eierlegende Wollmilchsau" (="egg laying whool producing pig" or basically the jack of all trades how you would say in English language). Tor-T2 is also unique for combining radar and launch platform into one vehicle. It would be amazing to see content about those systems.

good animation!

marvelous

Na WWII falaram também que os blindados alemães eram melhores do que os MBT da Rússia, mas todos nós sabemos que não sobrou pedra sobre pedra dos carros de combates alemães. Será que a história vai se repetir? Por que 80 anos depois, blindados alemães e russos voltam a se enfrentar em um campo de batalha, mas vamos ver se dessa vez a história será diferente para os alemães

The Leopard 2 is propelled by the MTU MB 873 Ka-501 engine, 90° V-block 12-cylinder, twin-turbocharged and intercooled, liquid-cooled diesel engine and very important with multi-fuel capability….. Diesel, gasolin, mixture of diesel and gasolin

Good originál video .

Thank u ❤

10 million dollar tank to be taken out by a 50k drone.. thats priceless lol 😂

0:46 Made me laugh so bad that's so cursed

Nice Video! Leopard 2A7 is the best 3rd generation Tank a good combination of armour,efficient diesel engine,soft and hard active protection systen(APS) and a reliable 120mm smoothbore gun. All of this makes it a good tank. USA🇺🇲 & it's allies are best and greatest! Greetings from Canada🇨🇦.

非常详细❤

Nice video

I like the fact that everyone just brags about their tanks, when in reality it easily be destroyed, 30 of those have been lost till now.

The Russians say leos burn well

babe wake up new aitelly upload

Keep going 👍

correction. the fins on an APFSDS are NOT there to make the round spin, rather they stops the round from spinning as a spinning movement would destabilize this kind of rodd shaped projectile

4:30 the 2a6/2a7 with its best apfsds, the dm53/dm63 round penetrates Up to 800 so probably around 700mm at least from 2000 Meters range, 450mm Penetration would be more realistic with older apfsds rounds Like dm33 or dm23

Awesome 👍

Very nice video ! Can you do a video for the Leclerc Tank ? Thanks !

Great video, thanks for the content!!! I hope for other videos with the tanks that are in service in the war in Ukraine and the comparisons between them! Good show!

is this the variant that just got destroyed in recent action?

Thanks for the information and interesting channel. I hope a video about b2 spirit and its engine.

Спасибо

why do tiger have a panther turret?

Nice video all shit should be done like your video, one picture saves 1000 of words. Thanks 😋👍

I like your videos.

Excellent animation super. Any idea to make video about LCH Prachand?

Can we see a video about the T90M ?

Awesome, please create video on tiger tank

Cool videos the only thing that I would like to see added is real footage i.e. footage of weapons tests & combat video if it's available. That would make ur videos A+

The leopards burned down😅