Augustdorf.
Defense Minister Pistorius takes a close look at the Leopard tanks. The first delivery to the Ukraine is to take place soon.
The way of German help for Ukraine in the war against Russia can be well described along with an old report. And based on a fresh scene in the mud of Augustdorf, a military training area near Bielefeld. The report comes from the end of February 2022, a few days after the outbreak of war: Germany is delivering 5,000 helmets. That drew more ridicule than respect. Read the commentary: 5000 helmets go to Ukraine – a laughing stock
Barely a year later, Germany delivered some of the heaviest war equipment that the armed forces has. The Leopard 2A6 Main Battle Tank. 1500 hp powerful, around 70 km/h fast, eleven meters long, 60 tons heavy, equipped with a 120 mm smoothbore gun barrel, range of the projectiles: several kilometers. The cannon barrel alone weighs more than a ton. The colossus consumes between 500 and 700 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers.
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Leopard tanks: Germany wants to deliver them at the end of March
The new one is just racing Secretary of Defense Boris Pistorius across the muddy terrain, the engines of the Leopard tanks roaring. Pistorius looks out of the gap above, he wears headphones against the noise. He will later say that his hands were “clammy” from the cold air. It is precisely this tank in which Pistorius is now sitting that, together with others in eastern Ukraine, is soon to set the frozen front in motion to Ukraine’s advantage. At the end of March, Germany wants to extradite the Leopards.
14 battle tanks go to Ukraine, five more are loud Pistorius Provided as a “backup” but not yet going to the war zone. All military equipment comes from the 203rd Tank Battalion based here. Some of the soldiers are currently still deployed in Lithuania as part of the NATO alliance. The federal government also wants to send two armored recovery vehicles to Ukraine. You can transport broken vehicles from the front.
Soldiers from Ukraine are to be trained in Munster
will be soon Soldiers from Ukraine Trained for a few weeks at the Panzertruppenschule in Munster with the Leopards. “Only rudimentary,” as Captain Martin Waltemathe of Panzerbrigade 21 emphasizes. The “Leopard” system is easy to learn, at least when it is fully operational. It becomes more difficult if part of the automatic targeting fails, for example if the tank is hit. Repairs on the battlefield are even more complicated, says Waltemathe. A German soldier serves three years before becoming a tank commander.
Then shots are fired on the field in Augustdorf, only training ammunition. The tanks race across the field of the training ground. Over a loudspeaker, a soldier explains how the telescopic sight and all-round telescope work. Smoke rises, clouds waft across the muddy earth. Read here: Five million rubles kill bonus for a Leopard tank
After the delivery, the tank battalion has hardly any tanks left for practice
The German “Leopard” is considered one of the most modern battle tank in the world, although it has been on the market for around 60 years. The “2A6” type accounts for around half of the 320 vehicles currently in the Bundeswehr’s inventory.
It was a long political journey to the military training area in Augustdorf. But now the device is coming. The 203rd Panzer Battalion then had hardly any tanks left for practice. The troops must see how they continue to train officers on the Leopard. replenishment material does not exist yet. “It takes time,” said Pistorius. After only two weeks in office, he got used to the procedures in the Bundeswehr.
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