The story

The development of the Leopard 1 project began in 1956, in West Germany, and was completed in 1963. With the aim of replacing their American-origin tanks, the project was entrusted to the German company Krauss-Maffei (KMW). The vehicle to be developed should have high mobility, effective firepower, and good protection.

Upon entering service in the German army in 1965, the Leopard 1 was equipped with a 105 mm L7 cannon from Royal Ordnance, featured sloped armor, and sophisticated suspension systems, which provided greater stability and maneuverability on rough terrain. With a maximum armor of 70mm on the front and 35mm on the sides

About 6,485 vehicles were built, with 4,744 being combat cars and 1,741 others for various functions, such as the Gepard, an anti-aircraft vehicle.

The Leopard 1 was widely used in various conflicts around the world and stood out for its reliability and performance. However, with the advancement of combat technologies and the need for more advanced tanks, the Leopard 1 was gradually replaced by more modern models in many armies. Despite this, the Leopard 1 left a significant legacy as one of the most important tanks of the 20th century, marking a milestone in the development of armored vehicles and influencing the design of other subsequent tanks.

Over the years, the Leopard 1 has undergone various updates and improvements. Starting with the 1A1 version and ending with the 1A5, each one with improvements in terms of protection, electronics, and overall performance.

In the 1A5 A version, systems derived from those developed for the Leopard II were incorporated, such as the EMES-18 fire control system with a laser rangefinder and thermal vision for night combat, and the Zeiss optical system.

The Brazilian Army acquired a batch of Leopard 1A5 in 2006. After being refurbished and overhauled, they were delivered to Brazil, with the last shipment received in October 2009.

Assembly completed