How Will Ukrainian Leopard Tanks Perform Against Russia?

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January 13, 2023

How Will Ukrainian Leopard Tanks Perform Against Russia?

Video Summary

The long-awaited arrival of Western tanks is finally on the horizon for Ukraine, with Poland claiming to deliver a small batch of Leopard 2A4s. While there’s still some back-and-forth, it seems likely to happen. But will these tanks make a significant difference on the battlefield? The performance of these older tanks, circa 1985-1992, is a concern. For instance, the Turkish military has used these A4s in Syria, where they were frequently destroyed by older Soviet-made tanks like the T-72s. In fact, some A4s were even breaching their own turrets, as seen in Syrian and Ukrainian conflicts.

The Leopard 2A4s lack the titanium and composite armor found in newer models, leaving their armor vulnerable to kinetic penetration. Additionally, they only have partial coverage on the side armor, leaving crew compartments exposed. The ammunition, specifically the DM-33 APFSDS, is also limited, with a penetration depth of around 480mm at 2km, failing to reliably penetrate the T-72Bs, even without ERA.

The performance of these older rounds is further compromised by their propellants, which are more likely to combust, putting the tank’s turret at risk of catastrophic failure. On a positive note, the Leopard 2A4s do have thermal imaging capabilities, essential for situational awareness and night fighting. This advantage is somewhat offset by the fact that newer Russian tanks like the T-90M also possess thermal imaging.

In urban combat, the reverse speed of 30km/h becomes crucial, as seen with the limited 4km/h reverse speed of the T-90M and T-72. The T-80BVM, with its 10km/h reverse speed, has fared better. However, doctrine, training, and maintenance are crucial, and Ukraine’s armored doctrine is centered around their T-64BVs and T-80BVs, not Western tanks.

To make the Leopard 2A4s useful, Ukraine would need to overcome significant challenges, including training new crews and maintaining these complex Western tanks. With an already impressive 400+ tank loss toll, Russia has been actively refurbishing and replacing losses. Ukraine, on the other hand, would need to send Crews back to NATO countries for training or rely on expedited training procedures. Spare parts and ammunition supply issues would also arise. Therefore, while the Leopard 2A4s may not be a game-changer against modern Russian tanks, they could still be useful against older Russian equipment, like T-62Ms and Soviet-era vehicles.