Article

2019-11-10 The Grand Turk

Turkey's Leopard 2 Tanks Are Getting Crushed in Syria

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Posted by 3dc 2019-11-10 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11129 views ] Top
File under: Sublime Porte

#1 The Leopard II tank I would rank as one of the top five tanks now in service

1) The M1A2 Abrams
2) British Challenger II
3) French LeClerc
4) German Leopard II
5) Italian C1 Ariete

All tanks can be killed with the right shot.

The Leopard was designed and built to be used as part of mobile warfare forces, not to be used as a big gun to carry to a general fight, and not designed to be used as a pillbox.

Whomever is giving the Turks advice is giving them bad advice. The Leopard II is one helluva fine tank if used properly.

The writer of the article failed to mention the use of Chobbam armor in the three other tanks mentioned, as being resistant to HEAT style rounds used in RPGs, but only at the frontal armor, not on the sides, top, or rear.

The bells and whistles on the Leopard II including advanced fire control, are useful in firing on the run accurately, but are expensive duds if not used properly.

Fielded against Hadji, they're not so good.

It is worth mentioned here that even the Abrams has been killed in Yemen by being fielded against jihadis, their mines and their RPGs.

I s'pect the tanks are being used because Erdogan's loyal rank and file don't want to be used as light infantry, which if fielded will destroy Hadji.

It also is worth noting that up until the Russians entered the picture, Turkey was being used as a means for rest and recuperation for wounded ISIS Bad Guys.

Posted by badanov 2019-11-10 00:29|| 2019-11-10 00:29|| Front Page Top

#2 The M1 Abrams had a significant makeover because of urban combat in Iraq" M1 Tactical Urban Survival Kit (TUSK)

Posted by magpie 2019-11-10 00:36|| 2019-11-10 00:36|| Front Page Top

#3 ^Tank Urban Survival Kit^. Still, urban warfare historically has been very hard on tanks.

Posted by magpie 2019-11-10 00:38|| 2019-11-10 00:38|| Front Page Top

#4 Tank Urban Survival Kit^. Still, urban warfare historically has been very hard on tanks.

See Grozniy, 1995

Posted by badanov 2019-11-10 00:48|| 2019-11-10 00:48|| Front Page Top

#5 Merkava isn't in the list and it is probably the best one with APS

Posted by Spanky Whuter1088 2019-11-10 01:23|| 2019-11-10 01:23|| Front Page Top

#6 #5 Because IDF paid the price in Lebanon II.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-11-10 02:57|| 2019-11-10 02:57|| Front Page Top

#7 Hi Badanov! Just noticed your nic.

Posted by Whiskey Mike 2019-11-10 07:20|| 2019-11-10 07:20|| Front Page Top

#8 Both the M1A2 SEPv3 and the Merkava have been upgraded due to experience in the fighting that Turkey is in. The Leopard 2 has not. High losses should be expected until (or if) the Turks can relearn the lessons the Americans and Israelis paid in blood for.

Posted by DarthVader 2019-11-10 08:31|| 2019-11-10 08:31|| Front Page Top

#9 Leopard 2s are Gulenist.

Posted by Frank G 2019-11-10 09:09|| 2019-11-10 09:09|| Front Page Top

#10 Here are multiple M1A2 Abrams (yes they are upgraded, US SEP [System Enhancement Program] Equivalent) being destroyed by a variant of 70s Soviet ATGM. This isn't a "monkey model" like the T-72s Soviets gave to their clients. This is a specifically made M1A2S from the SEP made by General Dynamics specifically for the US's largest ally and biggest spender of the entire region. Saudi Arabia has the third largest military spending worldwide, larger than Russia's entire defense budget.

Tank gets hit

fire comes out of the crew compartment And driver hatch

Commenters: ah just blowout panels - everything is fine in there.

Posted by Herb McCoy 2019-11-10 10:03|| 2019-11-10 10:03|| Front Page Top

#11 Video should start here, not the beginning, forgot to check the timecode box.

Posted by Herb McCoy 2019-11-10 10:04|| 2019-11-10 10:04|| Front Page Top

#12 This isn't a "monkey model" like the T-72s Soviets gave to their clients.

It is. Only US models have depleted uranium armor. Just as, AFAIK, only US models use depleted armor perpetrators.

The problem for the Turks is they have Leopard 2A4s. They are under armored in an ATGM world and the Germans won't help the Turks upgrade. Most other users have upgraded to 2A6 or 2A7.

Posted by Speatle Tojo5556 2019-11-10 15:41|| 2019-11-10 15:41|| Front Page Top

#13 depleted ~~armor~~ uranium perpetrators

Posted by Speatle Tojo5556 2019-11-10 15:46|| 2019-11-10 15:46|| Front Page Top

#14 well it is the 2A4 being hit

this is a cold war era tank

Posted by lord garth 2019-11-10 16:32|| 2019-11-10 16:32|| Front Page Top

#15 Why do I think those vids were bookmarked in Herb's Spank Bank?

Posted by Frank G 2019-11-10 17:31|| 2019-11-10 17:31|| Front Page Top

#16 Explosions are hot!

Posted by SteveS 2019-11-10 18:16|| 2019-11-10 18:16|| Front Page Top

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