I'm looking for some pictures of the Leopard 1BE. This is the one based on the Leo 1 4th batch(a few 3rd) not the one with the 1A5 turret.

I've got the Osprey Leopard 1 and the Concord Leopard 1 & 2 books and they have a few pictures but I'm looking for a little more detail.

It's my understanding that some of these were sold to Brazil.

Thanks,
Paul

Paul,

You can find some good photos in Volume 3, Foreign Usage, or Michael Shackletons "Leopard 1 Trilogy" here is some info on the ex-Belgium Leopard 1BE, now the Brazilian Leopard 1A1.

Brazil bought 128 of the Leopards from Belgium.

Here's a synopsis of what the book says for colour and markings:

The tanks have been retained in the original Belgium colour scheme...plain old olive green.

Some tanks have a small Brazilian flag painted on the right side of the turret behind the rangefinder armoured housing. All of the tanks have the Brazilian Army emblem on both sides of the turret above the center hand rail. Below the emblem is small white letters denoting the unit.

The tanks are used by the 1st and 3rd Tank Regiments(Regimento de Carros de Combate) or RCC. They are also attached to their training units.

The 1st and 3rd RCC have their tanks named after the cities of the state that they are based in. Both are based in the state of Rio de Janerio. Examples are- Araruama, Cordeiro: 3rd RCC
Itagauai, Mangaratiba: 1st RCC
The names are painted in white on the right hull tool box and on the left hull tool box in between the first and second latches.

The serial numbers are in white on a black rectangle centered on the lower front hull.

It appears that as tanks make their way through overhaul that they will be repainted in the Brazilian yellowy-brown and green camouflage. One driver trainer Leopard is painted this way and to me the colours look very close to a dark tan(FS30219) and a dark green(FS34079).

There does not appear to be any modifications by Brazil.

I hope this helps you out a bit.

Argh, I just knew the Leopard Trilogy would be the answer. But at the current exchange rate, I'm reluctant to pay £30 for a book.

Thanks for the info.

Paul

Hellow Paul

You are lucky I found your topic. I'm a sergeant in the Belgian army. And lucky for you a Leopard 1A5BE tank commander.
So if you give me an email adress I 'll send you pics as much as you want :-)
I also made an conversion of a leopard 1A5 the german version. You can see pics on my website http://www.users.skynet.be/modelbouwsite

Greetz Roel

Roel,

I've been to your website. The Leopard looks nice as do the others.

Email is on the way. I was trying to figure out how to submit a posting to the Belgian community but luckily you found my post.

Thanks,
Paul

Hey Paul

I normaly look through all the topics but lucky I found yours. I'm glad to help nice to know somebody wants to buils a leopard 1A5 BE. It is not so well known the belgian version.
There is also a english version of my website coming online so watch out

Greetz Roel

Roel,

The email address from your website got bounced back. I have sent a PM with my email address and it is also on my profile.

I like Leopards so the Belgian version is not that unknown to me.

Paul

Hi all!
Here is some walkaround pics of the Brazilian Leo´s, as said, they were previously from Belgium stocks.
Follow the link:
http://www.portalmilitar.com.br/veiculos/walkaroundleopard.htm
Cheers

SGT Geutjens,

The 2/4 Reginment lancers looks like an honorable bunch of horse-soldiers.

While we have you on the subject, do you know of any books depicting Belgian armor during the 1980s? I am in general scouring the web for sources on NATO forces in this period, but it is much easier to have some titles.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Paul,

What exactly do you need?

I can get you pictures of the Leopard with Belgian registration 54500... being the very first Leopard ever in Belgian service.

I can get you pictures of another one, but that one is a bit of sad state...

Kris

Kris,

I got a good set of pictures from the ArmyRecognition group on Yahoo so about the only thing I could use more detail on is the grate/grill that is over the heater exhaust.

Thanks,
Paul

Ok, this sunday, I will take some pictures of the rear deck.

Kris

That would be fantastic as well but I must have used the wrong term. Is the vent between the two boxes on the side of the hull for the crew heater?

Paul

Just remembered I had this photo laying around from CAT '89.


I had to adjust the brightness but the paint color still looks correct to me.

Paul

Hey Paul

I got your PM. The exhaust on the drivers side of the vehicle in the middle is the exhaust of the heater.
But Which leopard would you like to make??? The modernized version the Leopard 1A5 BE or the one like on your picture at the CAT in the 80's???

Well, Roel answered your question. I've never noticed this exhaust, but then again I'm no Leopard expert. I prefer the Gepard or Biber (although they also will have the exhaust ).

I still see if I can get you a picture of it, but not from the modernised ones, you have to ask Roel nicely...

Kris