Gengriz The Dark Side

NATO (& others) Cold War

Tanks

Leopard 2A5

STRV-103 S-Tank

Leopard 2A5

The Leopard 2 is the current MBT fielded by many European nations, plus Canada. Danish and Canadian vehicles were deployed in Afghanistan, where they proved highly successful, despite the tank- unfriendly terrain and tactical situation. The vehicle has also been supplied to Ukraine, where it is currently being used in combat with invading Russian forces The Leopard 2 arose from a joint US-West German project to build a state of the art tank. Although this project folded, the 2 sides went on to build the Abrams and Leopard instead. The German tank is well suited to European operating conditions and until the 2nd Gulf War was widely considered to be the best MBT available. However, the outstanding combat performance in Iraq of the Abrams and more unexpectedly, the British Challenger 2, mean that the "Top MBT" title is now less clear. This is the Revell 1/72 model.

Stridsvagn Strv-103B Main Battle Tank

The Stridsvagn (Battle Chariot) 103 was a truly radical AFV design, introduced by the Swedish Army in the mid 1960s to replace their Centurion MBTs. Optimised for defensive combat operations, the tank had an exceptionally low profile and compact overall dimensions, due to its lack of a main gun turret. A sensitive hydraulic suspension and steering system allowed the fixed hull-mounted 105mm gun to be aimed by traversing, raising or lowering the entire tank hull. Powered by a Rolls Royce K60 diesel for normal travel, with an auxiliary Boeing gas turbine providing extra dash power when needed, its ammunition auto-loader allowed a crew of only two, with a third rearward facing driver permitting the tank to proceed at equal speed in either direction. A large integral flotation screen allowed it to cross rivers and lakes, whilst toughened steel bar armour on the sides and front was fitted to defeat contemporary armour defeating ammunition. S-tanks saw several updates and remained in front-line service until the late 1990s, when they were finally replaced by the Strv-122 Leopard 2. This is a Trumpeter 1/72 Kit Return to Dark Side AFVs index page Return to Gengriz Modelling Index Page

Gengriz The Dark Side

NATO (& others) Cold

War Tanks

Leopard 2A5

STRV-103 S-Tank

Leopard 2A5

The Leopard 2 is the current MBT fielded by many European nations, plus Canada. Danish and Canadian vehicles were deployed in Afghanistan, where they proved highly successful, despite the tank-unfriendly terrain and tactical situation. The vehicle has also been supplied to Ukraine, where it is currently being used in combat with invading Russian forces The Leopard 2 arose from a joint US-West German project to build a state of the art tank. Although this project folded, the 2 sides went on to build the Abrams and Leopard instead. The German tank is well suited to European operating conditions and until the 2nd Gulf War was widely considered to be the best MBT available. However, the outstanding combat performance in Iraq of the Abrams and more unexpectedly, the British Challenger 2, mean that the "Top MBT" title is now less clear. This is the Revell 1/72 model.

Stridsvagn Strv-103B Main Battle Tank

The Stridsvagn (Battle Chariot) 103 was a truly radical AFV design, introduced by the Swedish Army in the mid 1960s to replace their Centurion MBTs. Optimised for defensive combat operations, the tank had an exceptionally low profile and compact overall dimensions, due to its lack of a main gun turret. A sensitive hydraulic suspension and steering system allowed the fixed hull- mounted 105mm gun to be aimed by traversing, raising or lowering the entire tank hull. Powered by a Rolls Royce K60 diesel for normal travel, with an auxiliary Boeing gas turbine providing extra dash power when needed, its ammunition auto- loader allowed a crew of only two, with a third rearward facing driver permitting the tank to proceed at equal speed in either direction. A large integral flotation screen allowed it to cross rivers and lakes, whilst toughened steel bar armour on the sides and front was fitted to defeat contemporary armour defeating ammunition. S-tanks saw several updates and remained in front-line service until the late 1990s, when they were finally replaced by the Strv- 122 Leopard 2. This is a Trumpeter 1/72 Kit Return to Dark Side AFVs index page Return to Gengriz Modelling Index Page