Main battle tanks (MBTs) have proven to play a significant role in Russia’s ongoing invasion.
For nearly seventeen months, various Soviet, Russian, and Western-made armored vehicles have been showcased in Ukraine.
Initially, Moscow relied upon its more modernized tanks like the T-80 but has since turned to its antiquated storage of Soviet-era tanks to aid its front lines.
While Ukraine also uses some legacy Soviet MBTs, the country has recently acquired delivers of advanced Western tanks, including the American M1A1 Abrams, the British Challenger, and the German Leopard 2. Now Kyiv’s counter-offensive is well underway, these modern tanks have been more active in aiding the country’s efforts to recapture territory. While these Western MBTs are technically superior to their Soviet counterparts, they are not totally impervious to anti-tank and other projectile attacks.
Video shows the destruction of a Leopard 2
Earlier this month, the first attack that resulted in the destruction of a Leopard 2 MBT was documented.
In a video released by the open-source intelligence Twitter handle Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons), a Ukrainian Leopard 2A4 appears to be taken out in an attack near Novopokrovka, Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
In the first few seconds of the video, the Leopard tank – along with several other vehicles – erupts in flames followed by grey smoke when targeted.
A previous incident, also in Zaporizhzhia, resulted in the loss of several more Leopard 2A6 tanks and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. Ukrainian forces have also reportedly lost a couple of Leopard 2s from the terrain and enemy fire.
Don’t believe everything the Kremlin divulges
The Kremlin has previously claimed other successful barrages that resulted in the destruction of Leopard MBTs; however, many of those reports have proven false.
In early June, Russian state-media outlets divulged that troops had taken out 52 Ukrainian tanks in three days of fighting. In a video released by several outlets, the alleged destruction of a Leopard tank is shown. Russia’s Defense Ministry also claimed that several Western-supplied tanks had been included in the 52 count. However, analysts quickly refuted the video’s claims, noting that the “tanks” featured in the footage strongly resembled American-made John Deere tractors and harvesters. Due to stories like this, it is difficult to verify the actual figures surrounding tank losses in the war. Both Kyiv and Moscow skew numbers, which is why independent verification is necessary.
Additional Western MBTs will join Ukraine’s forces
Industry experts largely agree that at least one Leopard 2 has been destroyed in Ukraine’s counter-offensive this month. As the war wages on, expect additional tank losses on both sides, including Western MBTs like the Leopard. Earlier this week, a Russian soldier who reportedly took out a Leopard in battle was awarded with roughly $12,000 from a private foundation, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry. Obviously, the Kremlin is concerned about the influx of superior Western tanks that will continue to hit Ukraine’s front lines well into the Fall. In addition to the 85 Leopard 2s, Ukraine’s allies have already vowed to deliver, a couple dozen M1 Abrams and more than 130 Leopard 1s are set to ship to Kyiv in the upcoming months.
An Overview of the Leopard 2
The Leopard family of MBTs remains one of the most widely used tanks across the globe. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states especially utilize the formidable German tank, which is why these variants are so plentiful in Europe. The Leopard 2 was developed by the manufacturer Krauss-Maffei in the 1970s to replace the aging first Leopard iteration. Almost immediately upon introduction to service in 1979, the tank became the preferred armored vehicle for Warsaw Pact countries. With more advanced armament and improved mobility, the Leopard 2 was a powerhouse compared to near-peer MBTs. The Leopard 2 is equipped with a 120-mm smoothbore gun and two 7.62mm machine guns. An MTU MB 873 12-cylinder, water-cooled diesel engine powers the Leopard 2, which produces 1,500 horsepower.
Specs & capabilities
A Rheinmetall Rh-120 120-mm smoothbore gun is the focal point of the Leopard 2. As explained by Popular Mechanics, “The Rh-120 is highly accurate while shooting on the move due to a two-axis stabilization system that counteracts the tank’s movement against the position of the Rh-120 gun barrel. Older tanks need to come to a halt to fire accurately at enemy targets, an action that collectively slows an attacking force’s momentum. The Leopard 2’s stabilization system allows the main gun to remain oriented against a target even while the tank is maneuvering over rough terrain. This gives the Leopard 2 a high level of accuracy while shooting on the move, or a spill-free delivery of a stein filled with beer.”
#Ukraine: For the first time, a Ukrainian Leopard 2A4 tank was destroyed by the Russian army during the recent Ukrainian attack near Novopokrovka, #Zaporizhzhia Oblast. pic.twitter.com/AwBWbId9sw
— ???????? Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) June 8, 2023
As the counter-offensive continues, the Kremlin will emphasize every Western MBT destroyed. The inevitable loss of additional Leopards, or even Abrams and Challengers, does not necessarily portray a superior Russian armored corps. Ultimately, these Western MBTs should perform very well against Soviet counterparts on the battlefield.
Maya Carlin, a Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.
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