Leopard 2 or M1 Abrams? The two types of main battle tanks, the first German and the second American, are the focus of attention as Western military leaders met in Ramstein today to decide on new arms deliveries to Ukraine in the face of an expected new Russian offensive by spring. But the focus is primarily on the leopards, with strong pressure on Berlin to also have third countries that bought them from Berlin in the past send them to Kyiv.
Leopard and Abrams are both “Main Battle Tanks” (MBT). They are quite similar, but have some differences, in addition to the fact that the Leopards are already in Europe and therefore closer to the theater of war, where it will also be easier to send spare parts. Both types of tanks, which were jointly developed during the Cold War, are similar in terms of armor, maneuverability and firepower and are “particularly balanced,” says Ralf Raths, director of the tank museum in Münster.
One of the main differences, which is important from a logistical point of view, is consumption. The Leopard 2 consume 530 liters of diesel per 100 km and have a 1500 hp diesel engine. The M1 Abrams is equipped with a 1500 hp multi-fuel turbine engine and consumes 700 liters of fuel per 100 km. Protagonist of the war in the desert in Iraq, the American tank is heavier (74 tons) than the German one (64), and both are equipped with a 120mm gun. The Abrams has a top speed of 68 km/h, slightly more than the Leopard (63 km/h).
Another factor to consider is the number of tanks. Germany has just over 300 Leopard 2s: 225 of the A5/A6 series and 59 of the A7/A7V series, with a further 55 Leopard 2 A4s in depots. The Bundeswehr expects 104 Leopard 2 A7Vs over the next three years. The old tanks are to be phased out or given to other countries, including the A4 model or the Leopard 1. According to Europa Today, German Krauss-Maffei Wegmann has built over 3500 Leopard tanks since production began in 1978, capable of targeting targets at a distance of 5 km, belong to various NATO countries, which could deliver them to Kyiv after receiving the OK from Berlin.
According to Military Balance, the report of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the United States has over 6,000 Abrams tanks, including 650 M1A1s and 2,000 M1A2s of various versions, and an inventory of 3,450 tanks of both models.