German Leopard 1A5 at the 2015 Military Day in Uffenheim on 7 June 2015. By Wikimedia user Rainer Lippert.
Germany has issued a permit to export Leopard 1 main battle tanks to Ukraine, Steffen Hebestrei, a spokesman for the German government, told reporters on February 3.
The decision was first reported by Süddeutsche Zeitung, who said in a report that the delivery of Leopard 1 tanks from the industrial stocks could be made as soon as the tanks are repaired. According to the German newspaper, Rheinmetall and Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft want to refurbish “dozens” of Leopards 1s and could supply them to Ukraine if Kiev was willing to buy them.
Another report by Der Spiegel magazine said the German government decision concerned only 29 Leopard 1s, which were in storage at a military manufacturer.
The Leopard 1, which first entered service in the 1960s, is the forerunner of the more advanced Leopard 2. The tank is armed with a 105 mm Royal Ordnance L7A3 L/52 rifled gun.
The Süddeutsche Zeitung report noted that there are still problems in obtaining the required 105 mm ammunition for the tank. Although Brazil has large stocks of the ammunition, the government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has so far refused to pass it on to Ukraine.
Developed in an era when high-explosive anti-tank warheads were thought to make conventional heavy armor of limited value, the Leopard 1 design focused on effective firepower and mobility instead of heavy protection. The tank features moderate armor, only effective against low caliber autocannons and heavy machine guns. This makes it vulnerable to most, if not all second and third generation anti-tank weapons.
The newer versions of the Leopard 1 are equipped with a day\night capable targeting systems, comparable to the ones installed in early Leopard 2 versions.
Germany became one of the main military backers of the Kiev regime after the start of the Russian special military operation around a year ago.
Last month, the German government decided to send 14 modern Leopard 2 tanks from Bundeswehr stocks to Ukraine. Kiev forces will reportedly receive more Leopard 2s from Poland, Norway, Finland, Spain, Portugal and several other NATO states.
The decision to supply Ukraine with Leopard 1 tanks is meant to make up for some of Kiev forces losses in equipment, as well as to prepare for a large-scale offensive against the Russian military in Spring.
