Leopard 1A5 Coming to Defend Ukraine: Is It Bucket of Tar In a Barrel of Honey? - Technology Org | By The Digital Insider
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine officially adopted three models of the Leopard main battle tank – the 1A5, the 2A5 and the 2A6 are now officially part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is a major reinforcement for the Ukrainian forces trying to regain control of their territory.
However, a war observer Oleksandr Kovalenko has some criticism of the jubilation that is greeting these tanks. In particular, he doesn’t like the Leopard 1A5 being mentioned in the same line with the Leopard 2A5 and the 2A6.
The 1A5 version is the most common version of the first generation of the Leopard main battle tank. Image credit: Ministério da Defesa via Wikimedia (CC BY 2.0)
The website of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine announced: “The fact that the ministry is accepting these tanks into service shows our long-term intention to have modern high-tech weapons.” Of course, as you probably know, Leopard tanks are being donated by a number of different countries. The older Leopard 1A5 tanks are coming from Germany, Denmark and Belgium.
Ukraine has around 20 active Leopard 1A5 tanks with over 180 more waiting for delivery. All of these tanks will be serviced and possibly refurbished by their manufacturer Rheinmetall before entering action, but the Leopard 1A5 is still much older and not as good as the later Leopard 2 models.
“Modern and high-tech weapons? Leopard 1A5?”, Kovalenko asks sarcastically. In fact, the Leopard 1A5 is a product from the early 1980s. The basic version of the Leopard 1 has been in service since 1965. The 1A5 version is younger, but in its architecture and shortcomings, it is the same tank. The Leopard 2 is superior in every way, so the Leopard 1A5 is practically non-existent in modern NATO forces.
Kovalenko also stumbled upon another strange statement from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine – “Leopard tanks of the 2A6, 2A5 and 1A5 modifications are designed to break through fortified enemy positions, destroy enemy firing positions, equipment and soldiers, and quickly organize defensive lines.”
Kovalenko asks, “what defensive lines can the Leopard 1A5 break through?” By modern standards, this is a poorly armoured tank with an older 105 mm rifled gun.
“Overall, it would seem that everything is fine, because the Leopard 2A6 and Leopard 2A5 are excellent machines, but the Leopard 1A5 is like a bucket of tar in this barrel of honey,” said Kovalenko.
“We can only hope that this tank will receive at least some additional protection in the hands of our craftsmen, although the problem is not only in armour,” concluded Kovalenko.
It seems that the biggest issue to the military expert was not the tank itself, but the fact that the Ministry of Defense mentions it next to the incomparably better Leopard 2A5s and 2A6s. The 1A5 could be useful – after all, it is still newer than many of the Russian tanks on the same battlefield – but it will have to be used in a different way. The success of the Leopard 1A5 in Ukraine depends on the tactics used.
Written by Povilas M.
Sources: Александр Коваленко Telegram, Wikipedia
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