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Leopard 1 - Variants

West German efforts undertaken to modernize the Leopard-1 tank at the beginning of the 1970's resulted in improved versions. The Leopard main battle tank, subsequently known as the Leopard 1, was produced in six lots. The vehicles of the fifth lot carried the suffixes 1A2 and 1A3, and were considerably improved in several respects. At the same time, the tanks from Lots 1 through 4 were upgraded to form the 1A1 version. Rheinmetall developed an entirely new turret for the 1A3, as well as a gun stabilization system for the 105 mm gun and coaxial MG 3 machinegun. The sixth and final lot of 250 vehicles rolled off the assembly line at the end of March 1976.

The need for an increase in armor protection was revealed during the study in Germany of the experience of the Arab-Israeli war of 1973. It was then that the German tank builders realized that they were in a hurry, “burying” the armor protection. As it turned out, tanks were still the main enemy of tanks, and the security of combat vehicles in these conditions turned out to be no less important than armament and mobility. At the same time, the massive and successful use of ATGMs by the Egyptians during tank battles in the Sinai Peninsula forced them to more actively look for means of protection against them. Screens, dynamic protection began to be installed on combat vehicles, multi-layer and spaced armor were actively used.

• Leopard-1A1 (1845 tanks). Mounted on the Leopard-lAl tanks were an armament stabilization system in two planes, thermal-insulated barrel casing for the gun, new rubber-metal tracks, anti-shaped-charge side plates, and equipment toallow underwater operation. Since 1967, the vehicle was produced in a modernized version of the Leopard 1A1, and all previously produced tanks were brought up to its level. During the modernization, a two-plane stabilizer from the American company Cadillac-Gage, a heat-insulating cover for the gun barrel, rubber-metal side screens, D640A tracks with removable rubber pads, and an automatic engine shutdown system were installed. In addition, the vehicle began to be equipped with underwater driving equipment, which made it possible to overcome water obstacles up to 4 m deep along the bottom. The combat weight of the tank increased to 41.5 tons.
• Leopard-1A1A1 (1845 tanks). The first and most global was the modernization associated with strengthening the armor protection of the Leopard 1A1 tanks. All 1845 vehicles of this version were equipped with additional armor protection for the turret from Blohm und Voss. Screens with a thickness of 20-30 mm were installed on the booms at some distance from the tower. As a result, it was possible to obtain spaced armor, approximately equivalent to that used in the turrets of the A3 and A4 modifications. The combat weight of the tank, which received the Leopard 1A1A1 index, was 42.4 tons.
• Leopard-1A2 (232 tanks). In contrast to the previous model, the armor of this tank's cast turret was reinforced. The tank had a more effective filter ventilation system and the night vision illumination devices for commander and driver-mechanic were replaced with a non-illuminated variety. "Leopards" of the fifth series, released in 1973, received the designation A2. On 232 tanks of this modification, the turret armor was strengthened; installed non-illuminated night vision devices for the driver and commander; more efficient engine air cleaner; improved FVU. On the last 110 tanks of the fifth series, which left the factory floors in 1973-1974, a welded turret with spaced armor and a new wedge-shaped gun mantlet were installed, which made it possible to increase the protection of the Leopard in the frontal projection to the level of protection of the American M60A1 tank.
• Leopard-1 A3 (110 tanks delivered). In addition to the improvements enumerated above, this version has a welded turret with spaced armor protection.
• Leopard-lA4 (250 tanks). This version has the same turret as the previous model. It differs chiefly by virtue of a new fire control system which includes electronic ballistics computer, combined (day and night) commander's panoramic sight with stabilized line of sight, and stereoscopic rangefinder. The tanks of the Leopard 1A4 modification, which made up the sixth serial batch, received a combined SLA, which included a PERI-R12 commander's combined day / night panoramic periscope sight with a stabilized aiming line, an EMES-12A1 optical stereoscopic rangefinder sight (without a laser part) and an electronic ballistic computer FLER-H. For the Bundeswehr, 250 combat vehicles of this modification were manufactured. This completed the production of Leopard tanks for the German army.
• Leopard-lA5. By 1988 West Germany was presently modernizing its Leopard-1 Al tanks, converting them to the Leopard-1A5 version. Plans then called for delivery of 1300 of these to the Bundeswehr prior to 1992. The main effort consisted of outfitting the tank with more modern fire control system components. The combat vehicles were equipped with a PZB 200 thermal imaging surveillance and aiming system and a new SEM 80/90 radio station. In 1986, the Leopard 1A5 modification was developed, into which 1225 tanks of the first five series were converted until 1992 in order to extend their service life until the beginning of the 21st century. These machines were equipped with an EMES-18 FCS and a gunner's sight with a built-in laser rangefinder and a thermal imaging channel, and an improved gun stabilizer was installed.

A family of armored vehicles intended for various purposes was developed based on the Leopard-1 tank. These include the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft system, Roland self-propelled guided missile system, Standard armored recovery vehicle, Biber armored bridgelayer, and Pioneer-Panzer-2 combat engineer tank.