Leopard AS1

[NICORCC]

Ladies and gentlemen hello !

Today I will suggest a tank that we already know well in the game but in a different enough version to deserve to be implemented in my opinion.

The Leopard AS1 in Australian service

Australia owned 90 Leopard 1A3 tanks (“Leopard AS1”) originally purchased and entered service in 1977 along with 5 Bridge-layers and 8 Armoured Recovery Vehicles. Retired in 2007 and replaced with 59 M1A1 Abrams from the USA.

History

Spoiler

The Kampfpanzer Leopard, or Leopard 1, was designed by Porsche, manufactured by Krauss-Maffei in West Germany, and entered service in 1965. Its moderate armor—effective only against small-caliber automatic cannons and heavy machine guns—allowed for a high power-to-weight ratio. Combined with a modern suspension and transmission, this gave the Leopard a level of mobility and off-road performance comparable to that of the French AMX-30 and the Swedish Strv 103, and far superior to the Soviet and American models of the era.
The Leopard’s primary armament consists of a German-licensed version of the British 105mm Royal Ordnance L7 rifled gun. A total of 4,744 main battle tanks were built, across all variants.
The Leopard quickly established itself as the standard tank for many European armies and eventually served as the main battle tank in over a dozen countries worldwide.
While many have been retired from service in various nations, the primary current operators are Greece (520 vehicles), Turkey (397), Brazil (378), and Chile (202). Most of these vehicles have undergone upgrades—specifically to their armor, firepower, and sensor systems—to ensure they remain capable of countering modern threats.

The in-australian service Leopard AS1 never saw battle, but they never sat idle. For over 30 years, they were the backbone of Australia’s armoured muscle – thundering through training grounds, sharpening defence strategies, and always ready to roll. In 1999, they were on standby during the crisis in East Timor, showing they were always mission‑ready.

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Leopard AS1 Features

The Leopard AS1 is basically a Leopard 1A2, equipped with a newly designed welded turret by Blohm & Voss, featuring spaced armor. This version is not currently in the game. The turret’s spaced armor and shape are similar to those of the Leopard 2K already in the game. Which provides an additional 1.5 m³ of internal turret volume, resulting in greater crew comfort and a faster reload time for the main armament.—except that this is a Leopard 1. This turret change gave rise to the A3 version, and subsequently the AS1 version—a tropicalized variant of the A3 (featuring improved cooling and air-conditioning systems, which have no effect in-game).

The Australian vehicles received upgrades throughout their service life, paralleling those applied to the 1A2 models: the Leopard 1A3A1, featuring improved night sights; the Leopard 1A3A2, equipped with new radios; and the Leopard 1A3A3, which incorporated both.

Regardless, the Australian designation “AS1” never changed.

Object	Description
Engine	MTU MB 838 Ca-M500, 820ch
Transmission	ZF 4HP-250 4speed 65kph forward & 2 speed reverse 25kph
Road range	600 km
Internal fuel capacity	1200 litre
Hull length	6.24 m (9.57 m with the barrel)
Hull width	3.37 m
Height	2,76 m
Weight	43.5 tons (the bit of overweight may be due to tropicalization)
Armament	German license-built British Royal Ordnance L7 105 mm rifled gun
Ammunition	DM12 ; DM512 ; DM23 ; DM33
Auxiliary armament	2x roof monted 7.62mm MG3A1 machine gun under loader’s & comander control; 1x coaxial 7.62 AN-F1 machine gun, main gun aiming slaved
Gunner Optics	TZF 1A telescopic sight; EMES 12A1 stereoscopic optical rangefinder; electro-hydraulic two-axis gun stabilization system (WNA-H3) enabling firing while on the move; analog ballistic computer integrated with the optical rangefinder and environmental sensors
Commander Optics	TRP 2A independent observation periscope

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More pictures & details

Show

A better view of the pair of MG3A1, as well as the spare wheel and velcro bands to attach the camo nets.

Some whiteprints

During an exercise in Australia

Here we can see the camo net attachments

Here it is fitted with a mine clearance plow

A rare pic of an AS1 with it’s full baracuda kit

Walkaround

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Conclusion & place in-game

While it is certainly not a as modern version as the latests 1A5s, it still boasts the advantage of a modern fire-control system and a welded turret featuring spaced armor with a highly sloped frontal profile, which provides a slightly greater degree of survivability.

I believe it would make an excellent tank for the British 9.3 lineup, offering a truly unique Leopard 1 variant to the whole game—especially since neither the 1A3 nor the 1A4 are currently in the game. Furthermore, it would provide a medium tank with more than decent mobility compared to the existing British 9.3 counterparts.

I am convinced it would fit well “folded” behind the Olifant Mk2, much like the Olifant Mk1 is positioned behind the Vickers Mk.3.

And why not also include an anti-mine plow as an modification option?

Feel free to explain your choice, especially if you click “no”

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Would you like to see this Leopard AS1 in-game?

• Yes
• No

Sources

https://www.australianfrontlinemachinery.com.au/leopard-as1-rolls-into-the-uk/
Leopard 1 - Wikipedia
94 photos of Leopard AS1 Main Battle Tank – Fotoref
Leopard 1 Main Battle Tank
A rare pic of an Australian AS1 Leopard tank with it's "Barracuda&quot | Defence Forum & Military Photos - DefenceTalk
Index of /walkaround_galleries/LEOPARD AS1 MBT 27771 AUS ARMY AAAM 2022 - WALKAROUND GALLERY

[Thomas_Belgium]

+1, but are you sure about the rounds?

@NICORCC

DM12 ; DM512 ; DM23 ; DM33

iirc, Australia mostly imported British rounds for their L7 guns, like L52A2 APDS-T, L52A2B1 APDS-T and L39A2 smoke. Although these are just examples.

[CharAznable3]

+1 the partial Australia sub tree will enjoy this vehicle I never knew they got a Leopard.

We really need a Australian outback map!

[ScimitarsCurse]

GIGANTIC +1 FOR THIS. the leopard 1a3 really should be in the game by now.

Perfect timing for a suggestion on the AS1. Im going to be photographing one in a couple of weeks; I’ll share the photographs here for you to add them to the suggestion.

@NICORCC

I believe it would make an excellent tank for the British 9.3 lineup

While i do think such a vehicle is worthy of 9.3, its close enough to the leopard A1A1 in general characteristics relevant to gameplay (excluding ammunition) for it to be an 8.7 addition initially before getting catapulted up in BR like the chieftain 900 did.

[WalletWorrier]

Laser rangefinder, better armour, better ammunition. It’s a 1A5 with slightly better armour and no thermals. At least 9.0 material. 9.3? Maybe. Depends also on if the ammunition list is accurate

[StormRyder13]

+1 for Aussie Leo. Would be a great addition to the Australian subtree and any of their lineups.

(mostly as hope for CANZAC is effectively dead; otherwise, there too)

[StyerF88]

+1 for C/ANZAC

[ScimitarsCurse]

@WalletWorrier

Laser rangefinder

AS1/1a3 uses a stereoscopic rangefinder same as a1a1

@NICORCC

stereoscopic optical rangefinder

@WalletWorrier

better armour

negligable tbh. this is leopards were talking about

@WalletWorrier

better ammunition.

balancing decision for gaijin so who knows what ammo we would actually get in game. We dont know for sure where a gap would be best filled by this until after the BR changes but i dont see it getting the same darts as 1a5 and being there without thermals or TLS.

If 1a5 is to stay at 9.3 i think 9.0 is fair as it shouldnt be higher than a superior tank. That being said i see it becoming a personal favourite and having a very good winrate there

[WalletWorrier]

Perhaps I’m wrong, this is only information that came up when researching the German 1A3. But I believe the AS1s were fitted with a SABCA FCS including a laser rangefinder and ballistic computer.

Turret armour isn’t increased that much but it does provide protection against 30 and 35mm autocannon, which the cast turrets do not

[ScimitarsCurse]

maybe at some point, that may be what the 1a3a1 modifications included as there were improved night sights, that usually includes laser rangefinding.

Ill get back to you on it next month after i get my hands on one. Expect a fair few photos of an AS1 inside and out in this thread if all goes to plan

[Thomas_Belgium]

@WalletWorrier

But I believe the AS1s were fitted with a SABCA FCS including a laser rangefinder and ballistic computer.

Correct, if what I’m seeing is correct, it should be this one:

But I haven’t looked into Australian connections before.

[WalletWorrier]

Anyways +1. The welded Leos look so much better than the cast ones. I’d love to see this in an independent Can/Aus/NZ tree, it’d pair very well with the C1. Also hope the ammunition and LRF questions get answered!

[dzej900]

Britain asked for it

[MaximumSomething]

@ScimitarsCurse

AS1/1a3 uses a stereoscopic rangefinder same as a1a1

No, the AS1 came from the factory with no LHS range finder port at all and the Laser in the RHS port.

[GTP_Paulie-psn]

I read a number of news articles from the early 2000s that talked about an upgrade from APDS to APFSDS being planned for the AS1, and I’m thinking it never happened because the AS1 was canned entirely shortly after for the Abrams.
Some trial fitments did occur of a thermal sight around the same time, and whether or not APFSDS was trialed is not something I can answer. So the base AS1 in service would only have APDS, and the ammunition suite is basically the same as the Vickers Mk.3. It also does indeed have a LRF as some have already mentioned.

Edit: Australian Army magazine article dated 2000 talking about planned APFSDS upgrade.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/267577950/29995763

No title - Army Magazine (National : 1989 - 2002) - 1 Sep 2000

And article about trial fitment of thermal sight. I believe there is another photo out there of it fitted to the turret.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/267225339?searchTerm=leopard%20tank%20ltts

[MaximumSomething]

Now an RSL display piece

In place

The view

[lxtav]

@GTP_Paulie-psn

, and whether or not APFSDS was trialed is not something I can answer.

I’m 99% certain Australia used L64 on the AS.1s (or at least had them in stock for some other 105?) from as early as the 1980s

iirc it would be sit between DM23/33 in performance so still pretty decent at 9.3

Spoiler

[Sebbo_the_Plebbo]

It wouldn’t surprise me if the Australians bought L64 for the AS1, but I think the Forecast International source has been debunked as somewhat nonsensical (generally speaking FI can be very iffy).

It’s also important to remember that through their entire service life the AS1s never once fired a shot in combat, so the need may just not have been there for new ammo. The plan may well have been emergency procurement if the need arose.

[Zulizia]

@Thomas_Belgium

but are you sure about the rounds?

I mean not like that matters much, the gun can get either in reality.

[MaximumSomething]

That’s been brought up before and the problems with it are many. to summarise, while it has been cut off in the image you posted it is dated 2011 which is years after the AS1 was retired, Australia stopped making 105mm tank ammunition around 1993. It brings up the most recent product, the TC800, which hasn’t been made since around 1992. So it was maybe 19 years? out of date when it was published at best and was probably rubbish even then.

From what I’ve seen, Australia was assembling 105mm ammo at St. Marys, Lithgow SAF made the APDS Practice projectiles, ADI the TC800 canister.