Leopard 2K:
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Name clarification
The Leopard 2 developement started with two concept studies, the Leopard 2K (Kanone) and the Leopard 2FK (Flugkörper). Development of the Leopard 2FK was stopped early on, while the Leopard 2K entered the prototype phase. The hulls and turrets were each given their own desighnations. Hulls were named PT1 - PT20 (PT12 was never built) and turrets T1 - T21. The Leopard 2K we have ingame has T11, as this was the only turret equipped with the Rh202 20mm machine cannon. The turrets and hulls were tested in all sorts of combinations and it is not known which hull T11 was ultimately mounted on. Considering this, I think the tank should be renamed to Leopard 2K (T11).
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Missing stabilizer for the 20mm Fla machine cannon (fixed in “Sons of Attila”)
One of T11’s unique features was the 20mm machine cannon for anti-aircraft defence and use against ground targets. This gun was controlled from inside the turret and independently stabilised. It is missing the stabilizer ingame.
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Missing retractable night vision optics
T11 and T16 were equipped with the NZG200 made by Eltro-Zeiss. This night vision optic was positioned at the back of the turret, together with an infrared/white-light searchlight. Both of these were retractable and are missing on the Leopard 2k ingame. The NZG200 was installed in a rotatable head and featured a thermal imager.
T11 with its optics fully extended
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Missing APU
PT1 to PT18 were equipped with an auxiliary power unit built by either MWM or Krupp. APUs are not modelled on any tank at the moment but I hope this tank receives one if they ever get added. -
Missing assisted loading mechanism
T11, like all first generation prototype turrets armed with the Rh120, featured an assisted loading mechanism.
PT16/T14 mod.:
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Missing assisted loading mechanism
The modified T14 featured a fully automatic loading system fed by a protected ammunition stowage in the back of the turret. Additionally, it had an assisted loading mechanism, where the loader had to move the shell into a conveyor. The second system is missing ingame.
T14 mod.'s loading systems illustrated by the WTS Koblenz -
Missing night vision optics
There exists at least one image of the T14 mod. being equipped with the same NZG200 as T11 and T16. It was positioned at the back of the turret.
NZG200 or PNZG mounted on T14 mod.
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Missing composite armour
The prototype turret T14 was modified in 1973 and fitted with the electro-optical rangefinder EMES 13 as well as composite armour for the first time. This change in protection concept was caused by insights from the Yom-Kippur war and US requirements. The Leopard 1 no longer having to be retrofitted with the new technologies also allowed for a new turret design. The newly available composite armour significantly increased the protection and lead to the boxy turret shape, which the rangefinder was easily integrated into. The areas that were fitted with composite armour can be easily identified by the welds on the turret and breech. It currently has only spaced armour.
Description by the WTS
Welds where composite armour was inserted -
Missing APU
See Leopard 2K
Leopard 2AV:
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Name clarification (fixed)
The Leopard 2AV we have ingame has a 105mm rifled gun and the EMES 15 with a laser rangefinder. This combination was only present on the PT19/T19, which was sent to the USA to be trialled against the XM-1 prototypes made by General Motors and Chrysler. As three prototypes were called Leopard 2AV (Austere Version), this tank should be renamed to Leopard 2AV (PT19/T19).
PT19/T19 before being transported to the US -
Missing optional Rh120 L/44
PT19/T19 was intended to mount the 120mm Rh120 L/44 smoothbore gun. For the US-trials it had instead been fitted with the L7 105mm rifled gun to be compared to the XM-1, which used the same gun. However, it was switched to the 120mm while still in the US to show it was possible.
PT19/T19 mounting the Rh120
Leopard 2A4 and PzBtl 123:
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Incorrect smoke dischargers
The Leopard 2A4 in War Thunder seems to be a vehicle from the 5th production lot, as it is missing the heavy side skirts and the ammunition loading hatch on the left side of the turret is welded shut. Vehicles of the 5th batch and onwards had reinforced smoke dischargers on the right side of the turret. On previous batches, the two railings were connected with a simple bracket. In War Thunder, the two railings are not connected at all.
Leopard 2A4FIN
Illustration by Frank Lobitz -
Incorrect gunner’s thermal sight resolution
The WBG-X has been the Leopard 2s primary night vision device from 1982 in the Leopard 2A1 until it was replaced by the ATTICA-GL on the Leopard 2A7V in 2019. It uses a license produced version of the Commonmodule sensor made by Texas Instruments, which was also adopted on the M1 Abrams and Challenger 1. This sensor is commonly used to generate a 640x480 pixels image. Ingame the WBG-X (Wärmebildgerät), like all first generation thermal sights, has a resolution of 500x300 pixels. -
Incorrect anti-slip coatings
- Missing external central warning light
On vehicles from the 5th production lot and onwards, the central warning light was moved to the outside of the hull, in front of the driver’s hatch. This way it was easier to see for the driver while the hatches were closed. It is missing ingame.
Leopard 2A4 of the Deutsches Panzermuseum Munster
Leopard 2A5:
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Ahistorical gunner’s thermal sight resolution
See Leopard 2A4 -
Underperfoming heavy side skirts
During the KWS 2, 6th to 8th batch 2A4 hulls were used for the Leopard 2A5 upgrade. The 6th and 7th batch vehicles had heavy side skirts in C-Technology, while the vehicles of the 8th batch had heavy and light side skirts in D-Technology. In War Thunder the heavy side skirts in B-Technology of 5th batch Leopard 2A4 offer 60mm of protection against KE. The heavy side skirts in either C- or D-Technology of the Leopard 2A5 offer the same amount of protection, although they should use improved composites.
Heavy side skirts in B-Technology
Heavy side skirts in C- or D-Technology -
Incorrect material for the light side skirts
The Leopard 2A5 ingame is equipped with second generation light side skirts. These were introduced on the 8th production lot of the 2A4 and came in D-Technology. This means they should be classified as composite screens instead of High hardness rolled armour.
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Incorrect light side skirts generation
Early Leopard 2A5s still used light side skirts of the second generation with recessed screws, although they were meant to receive third generation light side skirts with surface-mounted screws. In my opinion, the 2A5 should receive third generation light side skirts in War Thunder to show the vehicle as it was meant to look.
Illustration by Frank Lobitz
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Incorrect smoke discharger layout
The smoke discharger clusters present a similar situation as the light side skirts. Early vehicles still used the old layout with 4 smoke dischargers in the upper row and 4 in the lower row. The production Leopard 2A5s used the new layout with 6 smoke dischargers in the upper row and 2 in the lower row.
Illustration by Frank Lobitz -
Incorrect cover on the glacis plate
From the 1st to 5th production lot of the Leopard 2A4 the access hatch for the hull composites was initially simply bolted on and then welded shut during the 5th production lot. From the 6th batch and onwards the cover was welded directly.
Illustration by Frank Lobitz
How it looks on the 2A5 in War Thunder -
Missing anti-slip coatings on the glacis
The Leopard 2A5 is missing anti-slip coatings, while it should have the late variants.
How it looks on the 2A5 in War Thunder
Leopard 2A6: -
Ahistorical gunner’s thermal sight resolution
See Leopard 2A5 -
Underperfoming heavy side skirts
See Leopard 2A5 -
Incorrect material for the light side skirts
See Leopard 2A5 -
Incorrect light side skirts generation
See Leopard 2A5 -
Incorrect smoke discharger layout
See Leopard 2A5 -
Incorrect cover on the glacis plate
See Leopard 2A5 -
Missing anti-slip coatings on the glacis
See Leopard 2A5
Leopard 2 PSO:
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Underperforming hull armour
The Leopard 2 PSO uses the hull of the 2A6EX Demo 2, which is based on the TVM max. This tank was equipped with both internal and add-on D-Tech composites. Ingame, the PSO uses C-Tech internal composites like the 2A6 and 2A5.
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Missing hull spall liners
The TVM max greatly increased crew survivability by featuring Aramid spall liners in both the turret and hull. The hull of the TVM max ultimately ended up being used for the PSO. The Leopard 2 PSO is completely missing the hull spall liner ingame.
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Inaccurate hull ammorack
The Leopard 2 PSO was equipped with the mine protection kit first seen on the Leopard 2A6M. This kit, among other changes, removed the lowest row of ammunition in the hull ammorack. Currently, the PSO still has the standard 5 rows.
The PSO ingame -
Incorret FLW 200 thermal generation
The FLW 200, which was mounted on top of the turret, was equipped with the LAZ 400 fire-control unit made by Rheinmetall. This sytem used the SAPHIR 2.6 third generation thermal sensor to ensure full capability at night. Ingame, the FLW 200 has a first generation thermal sight.
The SAPHIR thermal sensor -
Missing engine silencers
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Incorrect light side skirts material
See Leopard 2A5
Leopard 2A7V
- Underperforming hull armour
The 2A7V finally upgraded the weak hull armour of the Leopard 2. Usage of most modern D-Tech composites made protection on par with the turret possible. Ingame, the 2A7V’s hull armour still performs worse than the Strv 122’s even though both internal and add-on modules are significantly more modern.
- Underperforming acceleration
Thanks to the installation of the new P25000 HD final drives, the 2A7V achieves the same 0-30km/h acceleration as the much lighter Leopard 2A4. However, this slightly lowers the top speed. Ingame, the 2A7V accelerates the slowest of all Leopard 2s.
- Incorrect light side skirts material
See Leopard 2A5
Fun fact, they were changed from structural steel to HHRA, which is still incorrect. Additionally, they changed the light side skirts on the 2A6FIN to HHRA as well. This tank still uses first generation light side skirts though, which were made of structural steel.
My sources are Gesamtwerk Leopard 2 by Frank Lobitz, Waffensysteme Leopard 1 und Leopard 2 by Walter J. Spielberger, Europäische Sicherheit & Technik and Leopard 2, sein Werden und seine Leistung by Paul Werner Krapke.
