±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: HighestAce
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6648

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 408
Total: 408
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Home
03: Home
04: Photo Gallery
05: Home
06: Community Forums
07: Home
08: Home
09: Member Screenshots
10: News Archive
11: Member Screenshots
12: Community Forums
13: Home
14: Downloads
15: Home
16: Member Screenshots
17: Member Screenshots
18: Member Screenshots
19: Home
20: Community Forums
21: Community Forums
22: Community Forums
23: Photo Gallery
24: Member Screenshots
25: Photo Gallery
26: Member Screenshots
27: Downloads
28: Home
29: Community Forums
30: Community Forums
31: Home
32: Photo Gallery
33: Home
34: Community Forums
35: Community Forums
36: Photo Gallery
37: Member Screenshots
38: Home
39: Member Screenshots
40: Community Forums
41: Home
42: Community Forums
43: Downloads
44: Community Forums
45: Photo Gallery
46: Community Forums
47: Home
48: Home
49: Home
50: Photo Gallery
51: Home
52: Member Screenshots
53: Home
54: Community Forums
55: Member Screenshots
56: Community Forums
57: Community Forums
58: News Archive
59: Community Forums
60: Member Screenshots
61: Downloads
62: Photo Gallery
63: Member Screenshots
64: Community Forums
65: Community Forums
66: News Archive
67: Home
68: Home
69: Home
70: Home
71: Community Forums
72: Statistics
73: Photo Gallery
74: Community Forums
75: Community Forums
76: Photo Gallery
77: News Archive
78: Home
79: Community Forums
80: Photo Gallery
81: Community Forums
82: Photo Gallery
83: Photo Gallery
84: Photo Gallery
85: Community Forums
86: Home
87: Statistics
88: Community Forums
89: News Archive
90: Community Forums
91: Home
92: News Archive
93: Community Forums
94: Community Forums
95: Photo Gallery
96: Home
97: Home
98: Member Screenshots
99: Member Screenshots
100: Home
101: Downloads
102: Member Screenshots
103: Home
104: Photo Gallery
105: Community Forums
106: Home
107: Community Forums
108: Home
109: Photo Gallery
110: Home
111: Home
112: Community Forums
113: News Archive
114: Downloads
115: Home
116: Photo Gallery
117: Member Screenshots
118: Home
119: Photo Gallery
120: Community Forums
121: Photo Gallery
122: Home
123: Photo Gallery
124: Member Screenshots
125: Community Forums
126: Photo Gallery
127: Downloads
128: Member Screenshots
129: Community Forums
130: Home
131: News Archive
132: Community Forums
133: Community Forums
134: Downloads
135: Community Forums
136: Home
137: Statistics
138: Photo Gallery
139: Community Forums
140: Home
141: Home
142: Community Forums
143: Community Forums
144: Photo Gallery
145: Member Screenshots
146: News Archive
147: Community Forums
148: Community Forums
149: Community Forums
150: Home
151: Photo Gallery
152: Home
153: Home
154: Home
155: Community Forums
156: Home
157: Home
158: Home
159: Home
160: Community Forums
161: Home
162: Home
163: Community Forums
164: Community Forums
165: Photo Gallery
166: Home
167: Community Forums
168: Home
169: Photo Gallery
170: Home
171: Home
172: Home
173: Home
174: Community Forums
175: Member Screenshots
176: Home
177: Photo Gallery
178: Home
179: Photo Gallery
180: Home
181: Home
182: Member Screenshots
183: Photo Gallery
184: Community Forums
185: Home
186: Statistics
187: Member Screenshots
188: Home
189: Photo Gallery
190: Member Screenshots
191: Member Screenshots
192: Home
193: Home
194: Member Screenshots
195: Community Forums
196: News Archive
197: Photo Gallery
198: Photo Gallery
199: Community Forums
200: Community Forums
201: Community Forums
202: Community Forums
203: Community Forums
204: Member Screenshots
205: Photo Gallery
206: Home
207: Community Forums
208: Member Screenshots
209: Downloads
210: News Archive
211: Community Forums
212: Home
213: Community Forums
214: Home
215: Photo Gallery
216: Home
217: Photo Gallery
218: Community Forums
219: Community Forums
220: Community Forums
221: Member Screenshots
222: Community Forums
223: Community Forums
224: Home
225: Community Forums
226: Home
227: Member Screenshots
228: Photo Gallery
229: Community Forums
230: Community Forums
231: Home
232: Home
233: Photo Gallery
234: Community Forums
235: Member Screenshots
236: Home
237: Community Forums
238: Community Forums
239: Photo Gallery
240: Photo Gallery
241: Community Forums
242: Community Forums
243: Statistics
244: Photo Gallery
245: Home
246: Community Forums
247: Community Forums
248: Home
249: Home
250: Community Forums
251: News Archive
252: Downloads
253: Photo Gallery
254: Home
255: Statistics
256: Home
257: Community Forums
258: Your Account
259: Home
260: Statistics
261: Member Screenshots
262: Photo Gallery
263: Home
264: Home
265: Community Forums
266: Your Account
267: Member Screenshots
268: Member Screenshots
269: Photo Gallery
270: Community Forums
271: Community Forums
272: Community Forums
273: News Archive
274: Statistics
275: Home
276: News Archive
277: Photo Gallery
278: Downloads
279: Downloads
280: Community Forums
281: Home
282: Home
283: Photo Gallery
284: Home
285: Home
286: Home
287: Member Screenshots
288: Home
289: Downloads
290: Home
291: Member Screenshots
292: Community Forums
293: News Archive
294: Home
295: Home
296: Home
297: Home
298: News Archive
299: Photo Gallery
300: Community Forums
301: Community Forums
302: Community Forums
303: Community Forums
304: News Archive
305: Community Forums
306: Community Forums
307: Home
308: Home
309: Member Screenshots
310: Downloads
311: Member Screenshots
312: Statistics
313: Your Account
314: Statistics
315: Home
316: Photo Gallery
317: Home
318: Home
319: Photo Gallery
320: Home
321: Photo Gallery
322: Community Forums
323: Community Forums
324: Member Screenshots
325: Home
326: Downloads
327: Member Screenshots
328: Community Forums
329: Home
330: Community Forums
331: Member Screenshots
332: Home
333: Home
334: Community Forums
335: Downloads
336: Photo Gallery
337: Member Screenshots
338: Photo Gallery
339: Home
340: Home
341: Member Screenshots
342: Photo Gallery
343: Photo Gallery
344: Community Forums
345: Member Screenshots
346: Home
347: Community Forums
348: Member Screenshots
349: Photo Gallery
350: Community Forums
351: Community Forums
352: Community Forums
353: Community Forums
354: Member Screenshots
355: Member Screenshots
356: Home
357: Home
358: Downloads
359: Community Forums
360: Member Screenshots
361: Community Forums
362: Downloads
363: Home
364: Community Forums
365: Home
366: Home
367: Your Account
368: Member Screenshots
369: Community Forums
370: Member Screenshots
371: Home
372: Photo Gallery
373: Home
374: Photo Gallery
375: Member Screenshots
376: Statistics
377: Community Forums
378: Home
379: Downloads
380: Community Forums
381: Community Forums
382: Home
383: Home
384: Community Forums
385: Community Forums
386: Community Forums
387: Home
388: Home
389: Community Forums
390: Home
391: Community Forums
392: Photo Gallery
393: Home
394: Downloads
395: Photo Gallery
396: Photo Gallery
397: Member Screenshots
398: Home
399: Home
400: Photo Gallery
401: Home
402: Photo Gallery
403: Community Forums
404: Community Forums
405: Community Forums
406: Home
407: Home
408: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
Australian Leopards say goodbye
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
MARKMILES77
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 10, 2006
Posts: 25

PostPosted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:21 am
Post subject: Australian Leopards say goodbye

Army Newspaper

Top Stories
Leopard’s last blast
By Lt Joseph Ternowetsky

Edition 1163, April 05, 2007

WITH a thunderous volley of 105mm main armament rounds, the Leopard tank has marked the end of a long and proud military career.

Exercise Southern Reach, held in Cultana from February to May, is the Leopard’s last show of duty after having served the Australian Army for 30 years.

The Leopard was brought into service on November 4, 1977, to replace the British Centurion. At the time the Army purchased 103 Leopards after choosing it over the American M60 tank.

Included in this total were five AVLB bridge layers and eight AVRM recovery vehicles.

CO 1 Armd Regt Lt-Col Duncan Hayward said the tanks – which are being replaced by the Abrams – had served the country well.

Although the tanks had never been deployed overseas, they offered fundamental firepower and support to the Australian military as a whole, he said.

“It has provided heavy hitting power to the Australian Army,� he said. “Lacking a viable tank would undermine a combined arms team.�

As a way of honouring the tanks, 1 Armd Regt Leopards formed up and fired in unison during a range practice in Cultana on March 14.

But this will be it for the 18 Leopards that took part in the exercise. The tanks officially end their service in three months when a final parade will be held to commemorate the changeover.

“We will run a parade on July 7 where the first operational Abrams squadron will replace the last operational Leopard squadron,� Lt-Col Hayward said.

From there, the majority of tanks will be sent to Bandiana, Victoria where they will be disposed of under a DMO plan.

“A small number of tanks have been earmarked for military museums. Two will remain in Darwin as a monument,� Lt-Col Hayward said.

The transition marks an exciting time for the Army, according to Col Damian Cantwell, who was CO 1 Armd Regt from 2003-04 and is now Director General Future Land Warfare. He said the Leopard tank had more than proved itself.

“It remains the best tank of its age, it’s just the technologies of protection and firepower have moved forward around it,� Col Cantwell said.

He paid tribute to the “energetic professionalism� of tank crews, RAEME tradesmen and support staff in maintaining and sustaining the Leopard fleet throughout its life.

“They often worked in very trying conditions in the demanding Top End climate, without the benefit of unit operational deployments. Without them the tank and our combined arms capability would have suffered a slow demise years ago,� Col Cantwell said.

During the Leopard’s time in service, 1 Armd Regt conducted training in places such as Mt Bundy, High Range Training Area, Shoalwater Bay, Cultana, Woomera and Puckapunyal.

After a decision to centralise 1 Bde in the Darwin region, 1 Armd Regt and the Leopard tanks made the move in 1995.

Col Cantwell said the tank did receive some minor upgrades such as improvements to firewall insulation, an electronic digital gunner’s aide and mobile camouflage systems.

Full coverage of Exercise Southern Reach will appear in the next edition of Army.

TANK FACTS

Armament: 105mm L7A3; Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot (APDS) travelling at 1478m/s with a range of 2500m; High Explosive Squash Head (HESH) travelling at 732m/s with a range of 400m direct, 8000m semi-indirect; Canister with a range of 400m; 2 Machine Gun 7.62mm MG3 Coax and AA.

Crew: Crew commander, loader/operator, gunner, driver.

Dimensions: Length – 9.54m gun front; Width – 3.37m; Height – 2.62m; Weight – 42,400kg combat weight.

Engine: MTU MB 838 Cam-500 37.4L four-stroke, multifuel, twin mechanical supercharged engine; 610 kW at 2200rpm and 2860nm at 1500rpm; Fuel consumption – 165L/100km

Performance: Max Speed – 70km/h forward, 24km/h in reverse; 60% climb, 30% sideslope; Vertical step – 1.15m; Trench – 3m; Fording – 1.2m or 2.25m with minimal preparation, 4m with a tower.





. Sad
Back to top
View user's profile
Sabot
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 380
Location: Kentucky
PostPosted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 11:08 am
Post subject: Re: Australian Leopards say goodbye

Wow, I never realized the Aussies only had 103 Leos. That's less than a US tank heavy brigade (58 per battalion or 116 total) during the Cold War era.

I remember firing the last M60A3TTS gunnery in Germany in 1989. I also remember some high ranking people come and ask us to fire these neat looking sabot rounds with brass casing. We placed tarps inside the turret so when the casing was ejected, it would not get banged up.

I guess they wanted them to polish up and save or use as awards.

_________________
RobG
Back to top
View user's profile AIM Address
Neil_Baumgardner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3942
Location: Arlington, VA
PostPosted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 1:18 pm
Post subject: Re: Australian Leopards say goodbye

You gotta realize the Australian army active force is little bigger than 1 division.

Neil
Back to top
View user's profile
Maple_Leaf_Eh
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 517

PostPosted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:40 am
Post subject: Re: Australian Leopards say goodbye

- Neil_Baumgardner
You gotta realize the Australian army active force is little bigger than 1 division.

Neil


Ditto for the Canadian Forces
Back to top
View user's profile
Larso
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 09, 2007
Posts: 9

PostPosted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:59 pm
Post subject: Re: Australian Leopards say goodbye

I was on exercise only once with the Leopards. As things happened I got only a brief look at them but one thing stuck in my mind. A few went past and one looked just like a Jagdpanther but without the gun. I've had a look at the variants on the web but none seem to look like the one I remember seeing. Did Australia have a command or support version that could be the vehicle I saw?

Thanks
John

_________________
Formerly of 2/14th Light Horse
Back to top
View user's profile
Neil_Baumgardner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3942
Location: Arlington, VA
PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 12:17 am
Post subject: Re: Australian Leopards say goodbye

I'd have to guess a Bergepanzer armored recovery vehicle variant.



Neil
Back to top
View user's profile
Larso
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 09, 2007
Posts: 9

PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:19 am
Post subject: Re: Australian Leopards say goodbye

Thanks Neil, that was probably it, though the one I saw didn't have it's crane attached which accentuated the crew compartment in a Jagdpanther type way.

I recall someone saying at the time, it was an anti-tank missile version but they may have had no real idea themselves. I do remember seeing a couple of tank destroyer type vehicles in various books but I think they were mostly from the 1950s/60s. Kanone rings a bell. Anyway thanks for that.

John

_________________
Formerly of 2/14th Light Horse
Back to top
View user's profile
bsmart
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 11:39 am
Post subject: Re: Australian Leopards say goodbye

There was the Jagdpanzer Kanone that was built in the late 50s to equipe the New German Army. It may be considered a predecessor to the leopard but I don't believe it was part of the leopard family. There is one at Aberdeen (This is where I ask Neil if he has a picture Wink ) I always thought it looked more like an updated JgPz IV than a Jagdpanther .

Looking back at your message it would depend on where you saw it as to whether the Jagdpanzer Kanone would be a possibility. I don't think they were used outside Germany so if you saw it down under it wouldn't be a possibility.

_________________
Bob Smart ([email protected])
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
A2_Prius
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 27, 2006
Posts: 112

PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 1:41 pm
Post subject: Re: Australian Leopards say goodbye

The Jagdpanzer Kanone was armed with a 90mm gun mounted in a mantlet. The vehicle's over all appearance recalled that of the Sturmgeschutz.
Back to top
View user's profile
Roy_A_Lingle
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1997
Location: El Paso & Ft Bliss, Texas
PostPosted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 5:23 am
Post subject: Re: Australian Leopards say goodbye

Hi Folks!

- A2_Prius

The Jagdpanzer Kanone was armed with a 90mm gun mounted in a mantlet. The vehicle's over all appearance recalled that of the Sturmgeschutz.


The Kanone version was followed by a ATGM version. Maybe that is what John saw (if you were in Germany).

Sgt, Scouts Out!

_________________
"You can never have too much reconnaissance."
General G.S. Patton Jr.
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
bsmart
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 7:29 am
Post subject: Re: Australian Leopards say goodbye

I think the ATGM version was based on a different chassis. If I recall correctly the Jagdpanzer Rackete ( I think that was spelling) was based on the Marder APC/IFV chassis. I always figured the gun vehicle needed a larger, heavier chassis to handle the recoil

_________________
Bob Smart ([email protected])
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Roy_A_Lingle
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1997
Location: El Paso & Ft Bliss, Texas
PostPosted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:00 am
Post subject: Re: Australian Leopards say goodbye

Hi Bob! Hi Folks!

- bsmart
I think the ATGM version was based on a different chassis. If I recall correctly the Jagdpanzer Rackete ( I think that was spelling) was based on the Marder APC/IFV chassis.


The 90mm cannon, the SS11 ATGM, followed by the HOT and TOW ATGM vehicles are all based on the HS.30 APC. A much older and a bit smaller vehicle than the Marder. All are 10 to 30 ton vehicles while the Marder is 40 plus tons. Check out the follow site.

www.panzerbaer.de/type...z_90-b.htm

I think the Marder chassis has only been used with one other system and that was the Roland SAM system.

Sgt, Scouts Out!

_________________
"You can never have too much reconnaissance."
General G.S. Patton Jr.
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Joe_D
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 29, 2006
Posts: 2068
Location: Razorback Country
PostPosted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 12:04 pm
Post subject: Re: Australian Leopards say goodbye

Roy,
Don't forget the TAM,

Joe D
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JimWeb
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1439
Location: The back of beyond
PostPosted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 2:55 pm
Post subject: Re: Australian Leopards say goodbye

- Roy_A_Lingle

The 90mm cannon, the SS11 ATGM, followed by the HOT and TOW ATGM vehicles are all based on the HS.30 APC.


Roy you may like to go read that page again... Otherwise I may have to take the piss out of that statement for months to come Wink

Those with access may like to peruse the undermentioned

www.jedsite.info/fullt...eries.html

Cool

_________________
TTFN
Jim

If your not a member of JED then your
not serious about anything military..

***********************
www.jedsite.info
JED Military Equipment
***********************
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website ICQ Number
Roy_A_Lingle
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1997
Location: El Paso & Ft Bliss, Texas
PostPosted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 11:24 pm
Post subject: Re: Australian Leopards say goodbye

Hi Jim! Hi Folks!

- JimWeb
- Roy_A_Lingle

The 90mm cannon, the SS11 ATGM, followed by the HOT and TOW ATGM vehicles are all based on the HS.30 APC.


Roy you may like to go read that page again...


Well, let me start by saying, I don't read German. But I though that site was showing the linkage as I remembered off the top of my head.
Digging out my old Jane's books (31 years old), I went back and looked up the SPZ- 12-3 (that's what it was called back then) or HS.30 as Panzer Baer now calls it. The APC version was build from 1958 to 1962.

The Jagdpanzer JPZ-1-3 was the HS.30 chassis mounting a 90mm cannon.
The Jagdpanzer Rakete JPZ 3-3 replaced the 90 mm cannon with a pair of SS-11 ATGM launchers.

The Jagdpanzer JPZ 1-3 with the 90 mm cannon didn't stand up to the recoil of the cannon very well, so a bigger chassis was developed leading to the Jagdpanzer Kanone JPZ 4-5 and later the Jagdpanzer Raketes, again with SS-11 ATGMS. That vehicle was followed by the Jagdpanzer Jaguar 1 SP mounting HOT ATGMs. Then Jaguar 2 mounting the TOW ATGM.

A spin off of the larger chassis development to support the 90 mm cannon lead to the Marder chassis.

So as I under stand my old Jane's, all of them are related.
HS.90 > JPZ 1-3 > JPZ 3-3 > JPZ 4-5 > Raketes > Jaguar 1 > Jaguar 2.
...............................\/ > Marder. (Something I didn't know)

That was what I was trying to say.
My follow up 2 cents.
Sgt, Scouts Out!

_________________
"You can never have too much reconnaissance."
General G.S. Patton Jr.
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 2
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2  Next



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum