German Leopard 1A4 Main Battle Tank
In 1972 the Bundeswehr ordered the sixth production batch (6. Baulos) of 250 Leopard 1A4 main battle tanks. These new vehicles were deployed in the 10. Panzerdivision which had previously received Leopard 1A3 of the fifth production batch. The Leopard 1A4 was very similar to the previous variant, the only noticeable difference being the armoured gun sight in front of the commander’s hatch. The Leopard 1A3 had a persicope on the turret roof instead.
Available Scale Model Kits
- Leopard 1A4 Main Battle Tank, 1:35 Italeri 224
- Leopard 1A4 Main Battle Tank, 1:35 Tamiya 35112
- Leopard 1A4 Main Battle Tank, 1:72 ESCI 8302
- Leopard 1A4 Main Battle Tank, 1:72 Italeri 7070
- Leopard 1A4 Conversion Kit for Revell Leopard 1A5, 1:72 ModellTrans MT72136
- Leopard 1A4 Main Battle Tank, 1:87 H0 ROCO 275
- Leopard 1A4 Main Battle Tank, 1:87 WTD 36
- Leopard 1A4 Main Battle Tank, 1:100 Roskopf 32
- Leopard 1A4 Main Battle Tank, 1:285 GHQ Models N72
- Leopard 1A4 Main Battle Tank, 1:300 Heroics & Ros GM03
Technical Specifications
- Kampfpanzer Leopard 1A4
- Motor: MTU Mercedes-Benz 838 CaM 500 Multi-Fuel Engine with 610 kW (830 hp)
- Transmission: Planet Drive
- Speed: 62 km/h on Roads
- Driving Range: 600 km on Roads
- Length Overall: 9540 mm
- Length: 7090 mm
- Width: 3250 mm
- Height: 2800 mm
- Track: 2700 mm
- Ground Clearance: 450 mm
- Track Width: 550 mm
- Climbing Ability: 60 %
- Lateral Inclination: 30 %
- Trench Crossing Ability: 3 m
- Step Climbing Ability: 1.5 m
- Weight: 41000 kg
- Military Load Class: MLC 42
- Armament:
- 105 mm Panzerkanone L7 A2
- co-axial 7.62 mm Machine Gun
- 7.62 mm AA Machine Gun
- Smoke grenade dischargers
- Crew: Commander, Driver, Gunner and Loader
- Production: 250 units of 6. Baulos (1972)
Bibliography
- Anweiler, Karl: Rad- und Kettenfahrzeuge der Bundeswehr.
- Blume, Peter: Die Panzertruppe der Bundeswehr 1956–heute (Illertissen 1996)
- Gau, Lutz-Reiner: Deutsche Militärfahrzeuge. Bundeswehr und NVA.
Historical Employment
- 10. Panzerdivision of the Bundeswehr
Leopard 1A4 main battle tanks were only used by the 10. Panzerdivision of the Bundeswehr, and they were later replaced by Leopard 2 main battle tanks.