Hello everyone,
This suggestion concerns the entire Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 series of German MBTs across BR 9.0- 12.0.
While these tanks are extremely enjoyable to play and historically advanced, they currently suffer from very inconsistent survivability compared to their peers (Abrams, T-series,
Leclerc, Ariete).
- The issue1. The issue
Even small penetrations frequently cause instant ammo detonations or total crew knock-outs.
The Leopard 2 family’s turret and hull compartments are modeled as if unprotected, though real tanks have ammunition isolation and blow-off panels comparable to the M1 and Challenger series.
The Leopard 1 line also lacks the realistic spall liners and crew protection that would make its survivability slightly more consistent at BR 9.0-9.3.
This results in a “glass-cannon” feeling across all tiers - rewarding precision, but punishing even the slightest mistake more severely than equivalent vehicles.2. Suggested adjustments
Option A - Ammunition rack safety simulation
Reduce the probability of immediate ammo detonation for all Leopard 2 models by ~25-30%.
Instead, prioritize partial damage (fire, module loss, crew) before catastrophic kill, simulating the real-life blow-off design.
Option B - Turret and frontal armor refinement
Slightly increase effective protection (≈ +20 mm RHAeq) for composite areas on early models (2A4/2PT),
Add refined volumetric modeling for later models (2A5-2A7V) to better reflect their turret wedges.Option C - Optional add-on armor modification
Offer an applique / side-skirt upgrade as a researchable modification, giving a minor protection bonus against HEAT-FS and APFSDS (at small mobility cost).
- Why this is balanced
These changes would not make the Leopards immune, only reduce instant kills from single penetrations.
Russian and U.S. MBTs already benefit from ERA layers, blow-off panels, or more generous volumetric angling.
The goal is consistency and realism - not a “buff”, but to ensure equal tactical response time after being hit4. Supporting evidence
Public documentation on Leopard 2A4 and later models confirms ammunition blow-off panels similar in concept to those on the M1 Abrams.
In-game server statistics (e.g., Thunderskill, in-client performance data) show Leopard 2A4-A6 have lower survival rates than direct peers at the same BR.
Field manuals and Bundeswehr data indicate internal blast protection that is not yet reflected in the current damage model.5. Summary
Small improvements to ammo safety and composite modeling for all Leopard 1/2 variants (BR 9.0-12.0) would:
Make survivability more realistic and predictable,
Improve player experience without unbalancing gameplay,
Reflect real-world design intent of the Leopard family - mobility + precision + crew protection.
Thank you for considering this suggestion! This is not about making Germany overpowered, but about achieving consistency and realism across all modern MBTs.Balance Proposal] Survivability consistency for Leopard 1 & 2 series (BR 9.0 - 12.0