The Leopard I

[Guardian 5]

Team - We have a Leo II thread and a thread on a Leopard wrist watch, so I thought it was high time to start a thread on the Leopard I.

The Leopard I was the first German designed tank to enter Bundeswehr service during the Re-Armament. In my humble opinion, it was hands down the best looking tank of the post war era, far outshining its NATO and WARPAC counterparts. From what I hear, it wasn't too shabby on the firing line either....

There was something about the angled mantlet, wavy side skirts, and the Iron Cross emblazoned on the turret that made me stop and go "Wow!", everytime one passed me by in a cloud of dust at Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels.

We got some great photos and stories on the Leo II thread from both German and Allied users, including some outstanding info on Canadian Leo IIs deployed in Afghanistan. I'm sure we'll awesome stuff on this thread as well.

I'll start things off with some photos from my personal collection. This old military intelligence photo shows a Leopard 1A4 at speed on a tank trail.

All the best - TJ

[Guardian 5]

This 1973 dated post card from "Dieter" in Grafenwoehr to the Family Schneider in Pforzheim depicts an early model Leopard I.

[Guardian 5]

The next series of photos taken in 1983 shows a "Modell 3" on static display. Note too the restored World War II assault gun in the background.

Tell me the Leo I isn't a cool looking tank!

[Guardian 5]

Another shot of the static display tank.

[Guardian 5]

Here's a group photo in front of a Leo I.

I wonder why the officer in the middle of the photo has decided to wear his service cap instead of a beret. He appears to be wearing major's rank, but I suppose he could be a brigadier general as well. I say this because of the hat and his postion in the middle of the photo; a space usually reserved for the senior officer present. The third officer from the left is a full colonel.

All the best - TJ

[Ralph P]

TJ - A interesting series of photos posted and I would be interested what other photos can be dug out of collectors collection and posted in this thread...

[Mike C]

Probably one of the last pictures of a Leopard 1 in combat - Zhari/Panjaywi districts in Kandahar province in 2007.

Mike

[Mike C]

And their replacement...

[Ralph P]

Mike - thanks for the additional photos...do you by chance know what country owned the tanks when they were in Zhari/Panjaywi districts...was it the Brits? I do see US personal around the tanks...

[Mike C]

Ralph,

These are Canadian Leopards. They were the first tanks deployed into Afghanistan (in 2006) to be followed by Danish Leo 2s in 2008 and Brit Challengers and USMC M1s in 2010.

Mike

[Mike C]

And this is a picture of a Danish Leo 2 in Helmand...

[Mike C]

And a Canadian Leo 2...

Mike

[Mike C]

For some reason the last post missed the attachment.

Mike

[Ralph P]

Mike, thanks much for your follow up posts and for the additional photos...

[Gordon Craig]

Mike,

Interesting photo of the Danish Leo 2. The sand coloured covering looks as though it could provide additional armour protection as well as camouflge. Do you know anything about it?

Regards,

Gordon