Italeri Leopard 2A4 (1/35) 6559

SUPER DECALS SHEET FOR 5 VERSIONS – COLOR INSTRUCTIONS SHEET – NEW GLUABLE RUBBER TRACKSEntered into service between the late ’70s and early’ 80s the Leopard 2 is considered one of the best armored vehicles in the world. It has been developed to offer the German Bundeswehr a powerful and modern Main Battle Tank able to replace the Leopards 1. The main armament is the 120mm. Rheinmetall L/55 smoothbore gun. Despite is heavy armor, the Leopard 2 is able to reach a significant speed of 65 km/h and it has a good performance on every kind of terrains. From the first versions, the MBT has been constantly improved and updated. The Leopard 2 A4, one of the most widespread version, is adopting an advance fire control system and modern hi-tech materials able to increase the protection capability. A part Germany, the Leopard 2 was able to achieve a good commercial success in many countries as Holland, Turkey, Austria, Greece and many othersThe Leopard 2A4 is a German-made main battle tank designed and manufactured by the Company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, the successor of the main battle tank Leopard 1. The version Leopard 2A4 constitutes the basis of todays Leopard-family. In 1977, the German Army selected Krauss-Maffei as prime contractor for series production of the Leopard 2 and placed an order, with options, for 1,800 MBTs, 990 of which were to be built by Krauss-Maffei and the remaining 810 by Rheinmetall. The first preproduction Leopard 2 MBT was delivered to the German Army late in 1978 for training. The first production Leopard 2 was handed over by Krauss-Maffei in October 1979 in Munich. Six tanks were delivered in 1979, 100 in 1980, 220 in 1981 and by 1982 production was running at 300 a year. The Leopard 2 is in service with Austria, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain and Turkey, with a total of 3,200 vehicles.Main Variants- Leopard 2: first version of the vehicle- Leopard 2A1: A number of minor modifications and the installation of the gunner’s thermal sight, new ammunition racks.- Leopard 2A2: New thermal sight, deflector plate for the periscope and a large coverplate to protect the existing NBC protection system.- Leopard 2A3: The main change was the addition of the SEM80/90 digital radio sets (also being fitted to the Leopard 1 at the same time), and the ammunition reloading hatches being welded shut.- Leopard 2A4: The most widespread version of the Leopard 2 family, the 2A4 models included more substantial changes, including an automated fire and explosion suppression system, an all-digital fire control system able to handle new ammunition types, and improved turret with flat titanium/tungsten armour.- Leopard 2A5: The A5 introduced wedge-shaped, spaced add-on armour to the turret front and the frontal area of the sides. There were also some improvements in the main armour composition. The tank interior received spall liners to reduce fragments if the armour is penetrated. The frontal “heavy” third of the side skirts was replaced with a new, stronger type.- Leopard 2A6: Includes the addition of the Rheinmetall 120 mm L55 smoothbore gun and a number of other changes. The Leopard 2A6M is a version of the 2A6 with enhanced mine protection under the chassis, and a number of internal enhancements to improve crew survivability.- Leopard 2PSO: designed especially for urban warfare, which had been encountered in peacekeeping operations with increasing frequency. Therefore the Leopard 2 PSO is equipped with more effective all-around protection, a secondary weapons station, improved reconnaissance ability, a bulldozer blade, a shorter gun barrel, non-lethal armament, close-range surveillance ability (through camera systems), a searchlight and further changes to improve its perseverance and mobility.- Leopard 2A6EX: A further development of the Leopard 2A6, the private venture Leopard 2A6 EX has been developed for the export market and has a number of additional improvements including an auxiliary power unit, air conditioning unit, and improved armour protection.- Leopard 2A7: is designed to operate in low intensity conflicts as well as in high intensity conflicts. The tank’s protection has been increased by modular armour; the frontal protection has been improved with a duel-kit on the turret and hull front, while 360 protection against RPGs and mine protection increase the survivability of the tank in urban operations. It can fire programmable HE munitions and the turret mounted MG3 has been replaced with a stabilized FLW 200 remotely controlled weapon station. The mobility, sustainability and situational awareness have also been improved.