Hi there,

I have just updated howitzer.dk with detail shots, of the Danish Leopard 2A5DK in desert camo - Especially the loaders hatch area, with the MG shield.







More photos on http://www.howitzer.dk/

Bjoern

Interesting. The Soft Mount looks very Norwegian. Do you know where it was produced Bjoern?

Erik

Hi Erik,

I have absolutely no idea! - But it could be Norwegian

Bjoern

Very interesting pictures. I have never seen this camouflage before.

Why is it in desert colours? I did not know that we were deploying Leo IIs abroad. Where is this one going? Afghanistan? Iraq?

Denmark have 4 or 5 these Leopard 2A5DK's on standby for deployment to Helmand/Afghanistan... There is a rumour that they will be on their way in August this year... But this is by no means certain!

Bjoern

Very interesting. Then I would go ahead and build one for sure. About time we got some real support to Afghanistan.

Thanks for sharing the information.

Just to get things right, and not forget, that the Canadians have deployed leopard 1's to Afghanistan...
I would consider them as "real support"!

Bjoern

Bjoern,

First, thanks for posting the images and and starting posts here and on Missing Lynx. They are terrific images.

Second, thanks for the clarification about the fact that Canadian Leopard C2s have been deployed an in combat in Afghanistan since late 2006.

The trend of mounting weapon systems and armoured shields on the loader's positions of modern main battle tanks is interesting. It is great to have the protection up top for the loader but their job is not to be a machine gunner....it is to load the main gun and coax and keep them functioning. That means the loader is down inside the turret doing his job.

Being an ex-tank commander I know that there is a use for a turret top mounted MG. in both the AA role and ground role. Some things to consider about having a mount like the one shown is mobility. A mount like that with a .50 Cal mounted doesn't just swing around easily. Add ammunition boxes and that's even more weight. The standard NATO .50 box has 100 rounds so ready ammo needs to be kept close.

Other issue is does that mount traverse or is it just over the back deck? It does not appear to be able to traverse and engage effectively past the turret mounted sight. I just can't see how that mount moves around.

Is the mount just for engaging targets to the rear of the turret?

Again great photos and just some food for thought about the MG mount.

I agree!