Leopard AS1 Main Battle Tank, Two Wells, South Australia
Posted by: 
bucketeer
S 34° 35.714 E 138° 30.970
54H E 272209 N 6169037
This Leopard tank is permanently on display in a park adjacent to the Two Wells War Memorial
Waymark Code: WMKKH7
Location: South Australia, Australia
Date Posted: 04/27/2014
Views: 13
In 1977, the first of 90 Leopard AS 1 Main Battle Tanks entered service with the Royal Australian Armoured Corps, as the replacement for the Centurion Tank, which had given service since 1952.
In February 1977 the Armoured Centre conducted a demonstration of capabilities of the new tank, this was the first public occasion that the now famous spectacle of a Leopard emerging from a completely submerged location under water was used. In July 1977, the Armoured Centre hosted a media presentation, where a 42 tonne Leopard tank was demonstrated to become airborne after a high speed downhill run. After a few years this demonstration of Leopard capabilities was discontinued due to the severe strain placed on suspension components.
The Leopard AS1 utilises the Leopard 1 hull and the fabricated steel turret of the 1A3 series. The vehicles were manufactured by Krauss Maffei and the MBTs carry the factory hull numbers 17001 to 17091. In Australian service, the MBTs carry the Army Registration Numbers (ARN) 27706 to 27781, and 29386 to 29399.
The vehicle is powered by a Daimler Benz V10 diesel engine developing 610 kW, which drives though a ZF automatic gearbox with four forward and two reverse gears. The power pack is a tropicalized version of the standard unit allowing operation at 50ºC ambient temperature. Speeds of up to 62 km/hr can be attained. Standard torsion bar suspension with seven roadwheel stations and four track support rollers (return rollers) each side provide the tanks excellent cross country mobility. The driver sits on the right side of the hull, and has a floor escape hatch as well as his swinging roof hatch.
The turret is of all welded construction with spaced armour, providing increased protection. A British designed 105mm L7A3 gun with thermal jacket and fume extractor is the main armament of the Leopard AS1. The Tank Fire Control System (TFCS), comprises a laser rangefinder, seven ballistic sensors and a fire control computer. The sensors provide data to the computer on air temperature and pressure, charge temperature, barrel wear, cross wind and vehicle cant. The cross wind sensor is mounted on the forward part of the turret roof, surrounded by a round wire cage for protection. The commander has a panoramic sight, mounted on the turret roof forward of his cupola. Two 7.62 mm machine guns are carried - one is co-axial with the main armament, the other can be mounted either on the commander's or loaders cupola, and in both positions it can be used in an anti-aircraft role. The gunner and commander sit on the right side of the turret, with the loader occupying the left side
In 2007 59 Abram M1A1 Tanks replaced the Leopard as the Australian Army’s MBT
TECHNICAL DATA
Crew 4 comprising Commander, Gunner Loader/Operator and Driver
Weight (combat laden) 42 400 kg
Length 9.54 metres (gun forward)
Width 3.37 metres
Height 2.62 metres (top of sight)
Ground Clearance 0.44 metres
Main Armament 105mm L7A3 QF gun
Ammunition 59 rounds ( 17 in turret and 42 in hull)
Machine Guns 7.62mm MG2A1 Co-axial
7.62mm MG3 externally on cupola
Smoke Dischargers Four 76mm on each side of turret
Engine Daimler Benz MB838 V10 cylinder Four stroke diesel
610 kW (830hp) at 2200 rpm
Gearbox ZF 4 HP 250 with four forward speeds and two reverse speeds
Fuel Capacity 950 litres
Maximum speed 62 km/hr
Range 500 km
Maximum Vertical obstacle 0.91 metres
Maximum trench 3 metres
Maximum fording depth unprepared 1.2 metres
Maximum fording depth prepared 4 metres
Location restrictions:
Publicly accessible 24/7
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