Article

2007-02-11 Great White North

Canada to buy German tanks for Afghanistan duty

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Posted by Steve White 2007-02-11 00:00|| || Front Page|| [7 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Correct me iff I'm wrong, but to my knowledge the LEOPARD 2A6 is untried in combat, unlike Brit, US, and French Leclerc MBT's.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2007-02-11 00:40|| 2007-02-11 00:40|| Front Page Top

#2 I get the impression that the Germans aren't using them, so why not sell them to the Canadians somewhat cheaply? Win/win -- the Canadians have a lowered cost of entry to proper troop transport (finally! Hurrah for the Conservatives in government!), and the Germans can use the cash to pay for ... *shrug* something military.

Posted by trailing wife 2007-02-11 01:34|| 2007-02-11 01:34|| Front Page Top

#3 The Canadians had previous been equipped with the original [post-war] German Leopard when they maintained forces in Germany during the '60s. They're probably comfortable with the business relationship. It's unlikely their supplier will play games with spare parts or upgrades that unfortunately the US has done with other foreign buyers in the past. Also unlikely that given a 'pressing need' that said spare parts and ungrades wouldn't be reserved by the seller for large scale commitments someplace else in the world by the US. I'm sure the Germans are interested in someone else 'field testing' their gear since their own government is unlikely to permitting it when it involves the home team.

Posted by Procopius2k 2007-02-11 08:40|| 2007-02-11 08:40|| Front Page Top

#4 #1 Correct me iff I'm wrong, but to my knowledge the LEOPARD 2A6 is untried in combat, unlike Brit, US, and French Leclerc MBT's.

The US M1 is a Leopard with a turbine engine.

Posted by Theash Flaviger8045 2007-02-11 09:06|| 2007-02-11 09:06|| Front Page Top

#5 The US M1 is a Leopard with a turbine engine.

Even if that were true (I think it isn't) engine can make a LOT of difference: in addition to spped ad accelaration (this shortens time going fromcover to cover), it dictates what ground is unpassable and what is not (and thus not need to be mined/defended). Also M1 turbine is far less noisier than traditional tank engines and gives some element of surprise.

Posted by JFM">JFM 2007-02-11 17:37|| 2007-02-11 17:37|| Front Page Top

#6 The M1 uses a German Rheinmetall 120mm L44 smoothbore cannon. The armor is a variant of British Chobham armor.

Posted by john 2007-02-11 19:06|| 2007-02-11 19:06|| Front Page Top

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