M1A1 Abrams, Leopard 2, Challenger 2 vs. Russian Armor: How are western tanks going to help Ukraine?
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Ukraine has been requesting Western armour since the beginning of the conflict in order to repel Russian forces. Ukrainian commanders believe that 300 Western main battle tanks (MBTs) will be sufficient to assist their troops in evicting all Russian forces from their territory in the coming months.
Ideally, they’d love to see supplies of French Leclerc, German Leopard 2, British Challenger 2, and American M1A1 Abrams. So, what’s so great about these behemoths of war? Let’s take a look…
- Leclerc: The Leclerc is a French main battle tank designed and produced by Nexter (formerly Giat Industries). It features a 120mm smoothbore gun, a 12.7mm machine gun, and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. The tank is powered by a 1,500-horsepower turbocharged diesel engine and features advanced armor protection, including a modular composite armor system and reactive armor tiles. However, the Leclerc is known for having a relatively small fuel capacity and limited range.
- Leopard 2: The Leopard 2 is a German main battle tank designed and produced by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. It features a 120mm smoothbore gun, a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, and a 12.7mm heavy machine gun. The tank is powered by a 1,500-horsepower turbocharged diesel engine and features advanced armor protection, including a composite armor system and explosive reactive armor tiles. The Leopard 2 is also known for its reliability and ease of maintenance.
- Challenger 2: The Challenger 2 is a British main battle tank designed and produced by BAE Systems Land & Armaments. It features a 120mm rifled gun, a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, and a 7.62mm pintle-mounted machine gun. The tank is powered by a 1,200 horsepower diesel engine and features advanced armor protection, including a Dorchester composite armor system and explosive reactive armor tiles. The Challenger 2 is also known for its long range and high accuracy.
- M1A1 Abrams: The M1A1 Abrams is an American main battle tank that was designed and produced by General Dynamics Land Systems. It features a 120mm smoothbore gun, a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, and a 12.7mm heavy machine gun. The tank is powered by a 1,500-horsepower gas turbine engine and features advanced armor protection, including a Chobham composite armor system and explosive reactive armor tiles. The M1A1 Abrams is also known for its mobility and high speed.
All four of these tanks are highly advanced and capable vehicles, with varying strengths and weaknesses. They have all seen combat in various conflicts around the world, and have proven to be effective in a variety of situations. For example, the Leclerc is known for its speed and maneuverability, while the Challenger 2 is known for its heavy armor and long range.
The Leopard 2 and M1A1 Abrams are both highly capable tanks with advanced fire control and targeting systems, but the Leopard 2 is known for its ease of maintenance and the M1A1 Abrams is known for its mobility.
All four tanks have advanced armor protection systems and are considered to be among the most capable main battle tanks in the world. For these reasons, a shipment of any one of them would be a serious boon to Ukraine in the coming days, months, and, possibly, years.