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Meng Model 1:35 - German Main Battle Tank Leopard 1A5

MNGTS-015

Meng Model 1:35 - German Main Battle Tank Leopard 1A5 - Plastic model kit #TS-015

The Leopard 1 is a main battle tank which was developed in West Germany and entered production in 1965. The project was commissioned by the Bundeswehr in order to replace the M47 and M48 Patton tanks, already outdated by that time. The project had started as a collaborative program between West Germany, France and Italy, however the partnership ended when the first prototypes were built - Italy and France decided to focus on their own technologies. The German model was designed by Porsche. In total, over 4,000 Leopard battle tanks have been produced, excluding prototypes and anti-aircraft vehicles.

By 1980, several modifications of the Leopard 1 had been issued, however the series required further upgrade. The next version was the Leopard 1A5 equipped with the EMES 18 fire control system and highly effective night/bad-weather vision system. The turret was reconstructed in order to store equipment and ammunition into its rear. The tank was armed with new APFSDS (armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding-sabot) rounds. 

The Leopard 1A5 entered service in 1987. Similar upgrades were implemented on almost all Leopard units that were in use at that time, and today the Leopard 1A5 is considered the "standard" version of the series.


Collections: All, German, Modern, Vehicles

Category: Meng Model Tanks

Type: Tanks




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