The Leopard 2 came about from the joint West German-US Battle Tank 70 program, which was abandoned after costs rose above what the West German government was willing to spend. However, out of the ashes arose a phoenix, the outstanding Leopard 2 main battle tank. The first prototypes developed by Krauss-Maffei were delivered for testing in 1972. The 1973 Yom Kippur War between Israel and Egypt highlighted the importance of armoured protection, and the Leopard 2 developed into a much more heavily armoured vehicle than its predecessor the Leopard 1. Its composite armour, incorporating layers of different material with various protective characteristics, improved its protection against a variety of anti-tank warheads, while allowing it to retain the extraordinary speed of it predecessor.

Initially the prototypes were fitted with 105mm guns, but a new more powerful smooth-bore 120mm gun made by Rheinmetall was selected (the same gun that would eventually be fitted to the Americans M1 Abrams tank). Combined with a excellent fire-control system, stabilisation, a laser range-finder, and firing Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilised Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) penetrator rounds, the Leopard 2 has proved itself time and time again, the best tank in the NATO shooting competitions.

THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS:

• 5x Leopard 2 Tanks
• 1x Decal Sheet

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These miniatures are supplied unassembled and unpainted