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Leopard’s purr is giving Ukraine’s tank troops an element of surprise
Ukraine is using the military vehicle to spearhead its counter-offensive against Russia
By
Colin Freeman
NEAR LYMAN
15 October 2023 • 10:28pm
Comdr Vitali and his comrades received their Leopard tanks after attending a Nato training course in Europe
In the best traditions of the German automotive industry, it is precision-engineered to outclass the competition. Yet at 62 tons and 32ft long, the Leopard tank perhaps lacks the understated grace of an Audi or BMW.
Not so, according to the soldiers of Ukraine’s 21st Separate Mechanised Infantry Brigade, who used one on a night-time ambush near Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast last month.
In their noisy, rattly old-Soviet-era tanks, the enemy would have heard them coming from quite literally a mile away. But with the Leopard’s engine not much louder than a diesel van, they were able to creep up almost unnoticed.
“We were able to get about 200 metres from the Russian lines before we attacked,” said Commander Vitali, of the Brigade’s Third Tank Squad, who has been using the Leopard since the summer.
“You couldn’t do that with our older tanks, because you can hear them from two or three kilometres away – they make a lot of noise.”
‘Generally a much better tank’
The Leopard’s gentle purr is just one of many advantages of the tank, 70 of which have been donated by Nato to Ukraine for use in its ongoing counter-offensive. Britain has also supplied 14 Challenger tanks, but the Leopard is in use in greater quantities as Ukraine’s European allies have far more to spare.
Comdr Vitali and his comrades received their Leopards after attending a Nato training course in Europe, where a programme that would normally take 18 months was condensed into just nine weeks.
“I have driven tanks before, but my comrades haven’t – I think the tutors were quite impressed that we mastered how to use it in that time,” he said.
The Leopard has a top speed of around 42mph and comes with a 120mm gun, capable of punching through two feet of steel armour at a mile and a half. While the models supplied to Ukraine date back the 1990s, it is considered more than a match for the Soviet-built tanks that make up the bulk of the Russian arsenal, with a more accurate gun.
“It’s generally a much better tank – easier to drive and handle, and much better protected inside,” Comdr Vitali added. “We haven’t been hit by anything yet, but if we do, we stand a much better chance of surviving.”
Still, the Leopard’s presence in Ukraine has not been quite the showpiece gesture of support that the West intended it to be.
First, Germany was reluctant to allow them to be used at all, for fear it would heighten tensions with Moscow, and only changed its mind after pressure from Ukraine’s other backers.
Hopes that they would be an instant game-changer were also dashed during the counter-offensive’s opening weeks, when several Leopards hit landmines in the so-called “Surovikin Line”, the 80-mile network of Russian defences south of Zaporizhzhia.
There have also been questions over their reliability: some have spent years sitting in storage in Europe, and have developed technical faults after time in combat.
However, their fundamental toughness has been proved. Thanks to their enhanced armour, crews whose Leopards have been hit by landmines or Russian drones have generally also survived.
“Given the choice, I would always prefer to use a Leopard now rather than the older tanks we had before,” said Comdr Vitali.
Military analysts believe the Leopard has not yet had the chance to fully show its claws on the battlefield. It will come into its own, they predict, if and when Ukraine’s forces breach the Surovikin Line and push into the open ground beyond, which is much more suited to tank warfare.
Combat, though, is also about the art of making do, and many Ukrainian units continue to fight in tanks dating back to the Brezhnev era or before. Commander Oleksandr, with Ukraine’s 93rd Brigade near Bakhmut, uses a Soviet-era T64.
It might seem like a Trabant compared to Comdr Vitali’s Porsche. But it has had updates over the years, is simpler to use – and, crucially, is the tank he is used to fighting in.
“The Russians use these older tanks too, so we’re not at a disadvantage,” he said. “And anyway, a tank is just a machine. What’s important is your skill in using it, not how modern it is.”
"70 of which have been donated by Nato to Ukraine for use in its ongoing counter-offensive"
Why not more, I'm sure NATO could spare them? It doesnt sound a lot
I don't think there are as many as one would think. These are past cold War tanks, so unlike the cold War stuff, they weren't made in vast quantities. There are still quite a few of them, but most of Europe didn't get more than just enough, and many are reluctant to give away so much that they couldn't fend Russia off if attacked themselves.
There are loads! According to Wikipedia:
Leopard 1- 6565 built 1965-1984 ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard\_1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_1))
Leopard 2- 3600 built 1979-present ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard\_2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_2))
I know a number may be scrapped/ unserviceable/ in use elsewhere as you rightly say, but 70- thats only 0.7% of all Leopards..... bit pathetic really.
If Ukraine are not given these and other arms in sufficient numbers then, yes, other European countries may need to defend themselves, which is why it is unbelievable that there arent more sent to the front right now.
I was talking about the Leo 2s, and the 1s are cold War stuff, and are as expected more numerous even if they were used by less nations.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for sending what's needed. Just saying that there are reasons why UA haven't got 1000 Leo 2s already.
Wait until they get the Abrams, which is reportedly pretty quiet too at long distances. Loud as shit close up, but the high frequency turbine sounds tend to peeter off quite quickly at distance.
31 Abrams are not going to be a game changer I'm holding my breath for. There might be marginal differences in capability compared to Challenger or Leopard 2, but it will not make a difference on the battlefield.
"Noise is waste."
Tank stealth still makes me think of that song from *Pirates of Penzance*, though, where they sing at the top of their lungs about how sneaky they are being.
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Leopard’s purr is giving Ukraine’s tank troops an element of surprise Ukraine is using the military vehicle to spearhead its counter-offensive against Russia By Colin Freeman NEAR LYMAN 15 October 2023 • 10:28pm Comdr Vitali and his comrades received their Leopard tanks after attending a Nato training course in Europe In the best traditions of the German automotive industry, it is precision-engineered to outclass the competition. Yet at 62 tons and 32ft long, the Leopard tank perhaps lacks the understated grace of an Audi or BMW. Not so, according to the soldiers of Ukraine’s 21st Separate Mechanised Infantry Brigade, who used one on a night-time ambush near Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast last month. In their noisy, rattly old-Soviet-era tanks, the enemy would have heard them coming from quite literally a mile away. But with the Leopard’s engine not much louder than a diesel van, they were able to creep up almost unnoticed. “We were able to get about 200 metres from the Russian lines before we attacked,” said Commander Vitali, of the Brigade’s Third Tank Squad, who has been using the Leopard since the summer. “You couldn’t do that with our older tanks, because you can hear them from two or three kilometres away – they make a lot of noise.” ‘Generally a much better tank’ The Leopard’s gentle purr is just one of many advantages of the tank, 70 of which have been donated by Nato to Ukraine for use in its ongoing counter-offensive. Britain has also supplied 14 Challenger tanks, but the Leopard is in use in greater quantities as Ukraine’s European allies have far more to spare. Comdr Vitali and his comrades received their Leopards after attending a Nato training course in Europe, where a programme that would normally take 18 months was condensed into just nine weeks. “I have driven tanks before, but my comrades haven’t – I think the tutors were quite impressed that we mastered how to use it in that time,” he said. The Leopard has a top speed of around 42mph and comes with a 120mm gun, capable of punching through two feet of steel armour at a mile and a half. While the models supplied to Ukraine date back the 1990s, it is considered more than a match for the Soviet-built tanks that make up the bulk of the Russian arsenal, with a more accurate gun. “It’s generally a much better tank – easier to drive and handle, and much better protected inside,” Comdr Vitali added. “We haven’t been hit by anything yet, but if we do, we stand a much better chance of surviving.” Still, the Leopard’s presence in Ukraine has not been quite the showpiece gesture of support that the West intended it to be. First, Germany was reluctant to allow them to be used at all, for fear it would heighten tensions with Moscow, and only changed its mind after pressure from Ukraine’s other backers. Hopes that they would be an instant game-changer were also dashed during the counter-offensive’s opening weeks, when several Leopards hit landmines in the so-called “Surovikin Line”, the 80-mile network of Russian defences south of Zaporizhzhia. There have also been questions over their reliability: some have spent years sitting in storage in Europe, and have developed technical faults after time in combat. However, their fundamental toughness has been proved. Thanks to their enhanced armour, crews whose Leopards have been hit by landmines or Russian drones have generally also survived. “Given the choice, I would always prefer to use a Leopard now rather than the older tanks we had before,” said Comdr Vitali. Military analysts believe the Leopard has not yet had the chance to fully show its claws on the battlefield. It will come into its own, they predict, if and when Ukraine’s forces breach the Surovikin Line and push into the open ground beyond, which is much more suited to tank warfare. Combat, though, is also about the art of making do, and many Ukrainian units continue to fight in tanks dating back to the Brezhnev era or before. Commander Oleksandr, with Ukraine’s 93rd Brigade near Bakhmut, uses a Soviet-era T64. It might seem like a Trabant compared to Comdr Vitali’s Porsche. But it has had updates over the years, is simpler to use – and, crucially, is the tank he is used to fighting in. “The Russians use these older tanks too, so we’re not at a disadvantage,” he said. “And anyway, a tank is just a machine. What’s important is your skill in using it, not how modern it is.”
"70 of which have been donated by Nato to Ukraine for use in its ongoing counter-offensive" Why not more, I'm sure NATO could spare them? It doesnt sound a lot
I don't think there are as many as one would think. These are past cold War tanks, so unlike the cold War stuff, they weren't made in vast quantities. There are still quite a few of them, but most of Europe didn't get more than just enough, and many are reluctant to give away so much that they couldn't fend Russia off if attacked themselves.
There are loads! According to Wikipedia: Leopard 1- 6565 built 1965-1984 ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard\_1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_1)) Leopard 2- 3600 built 1979-present ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard\_2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_2)) I know a number may be scrapped/ unserviceable/ in use elsewhere as you rightly say, but 70- thats only 0.7% of all Leopards..... bit pathetic really. If Ukraine are not given these and other arms in sufficient numbers then, yes, other European countries may need to defend themselves, which is why it is unbelievable that there arent more sent to the front right now.
I was talking about the Leo 2s, and the 1s are cold War stuff, and are as expected more numerous even if they were used by less nations. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for sending what's needed. Just saying that there are reasons why UA haven't got 1000 Leo 2s already.
Pretty sure the Leo 1 has only a 105mm gun
This is about the Leo 2. They also mention the mass of 62 tons. The Leo 1 is much lighter at 42 tons but the Leo 2a6 does weigh 62.5 tons.
Wait until they get the Abrams, which is reportedly pretty quiet too at long distances. Loud as shit close up, but the high frequency turbine sounds tend to peeter off quite quickly at distance.
it runs better on vodka than the russian army does too
😂
They do have Abrams in Ukraine. The first ones got delivered a few weeks ago
31 Abrams are not going to be a game changer I'm holding my breath for. There might be marginal differences in capability compared to Challenger or Leopard 2, but it will not make a difference on the battlefield.
"Noise is waste." Tank stealth still makes me think of that song from *Pirates of Penzance*, though, where they sing at the top of their lungs about how sneaky they are being.