Leopard 2A4M CAN, Trackpad

CANADIAN LEOPARD 2A4M CAN (Model Foto Focus Series).

This attractive photo album, the second Model Foto Focus from Trackpad Publishing includes colour full-view and walkaround captioned photos of Canada's latest battle tank. Using photos taken by Dan Hay, Peter van Iren, Anthony Sewards and Matthew Worth, compiled into an attractive album, this Model Foto Focus includes colour full-view and walkaround captioned photographs making for a compelling collection of photos. In the 80 pages are well over 250 photos, some of which are full page size.

In July 2009, Canada commissioned KMW to upgrade twenty second-hand Leopard 2s for deployment to Afghanistan. The new version, the Leopard 2A4M CAN, was specifically designed for operations in that theatre. Knowledge from the previously-used Leopard 2A6M CAN, plus state-of-the-art technology developed by KMW, was used in the development, conversion and overhaul of these former Royal Netherlands Army tanks.  This was successfully carried out in less than one year, converting them into modern operational units.

They were delivered in October 2010 and five Leopard 2A4Ms were deployed to Afghanistan the following December. With the cessation of Canadian combat operations in Afghanistan in July 2011, all Leopard 2s were brought back to Khandahar airport, before returning to Germany for repair and maintenance, and then home to Canada.

The protection of the Leopard 2A4M CAN was augmented with appliqué armour developed by KMW which resembled that found on the then-recent Leopard 2A7+ demonstrator, changing the look of the 2A4 considerably. In addition, small areas of slat armour were added around the rear quarters, in contrast with the previous fully-slatted 2A6M CANs.

Mine protection was enhanced with belly armour under the forward hull to protect the crew. Other modifications included an all-electric digital turret, a digital central logic/main distribution system, a new commander system control unit, enhanced brakes, an upgraded suspension and driver viewing aids. Environmental enhancements included chilled cooling vests for the crew and new camouflage nets.

Though originally planned to be up-gunned to the L55 for consistency with the 2A6M CAN, the longer-barreled guns (optimised for tank-vs-tank warfare) were found to be less than ideal in Afghanistan, and therefore it was decided to retain the shorter L44 barrel.

Leopard 2A4M CAN has now become THE main battle tank of the Canadian Forces alongside the 2A6M CAN (the subject of our first Model Foto Focus) which has been retained and upgraded. 

Competition for this book is provided by Tankograd Publishing with a book of the same title. Trackpad’s book is more expensive, but in its 80 pages you get 250 photos. Where the Tankograd book concentrates on the tank in Afghan guise, the Trackpad book looks at the tank in service in Canada without the slats and without the Barracuda (though Afghanistan is also well covered). The Trackpad book also takes a brief look at the ‘ordinary’ 2A4 in Canadian service. With the new model from HobbyBoss now in release, both books should have room on the bookshelf of any Leopard fan. In our opinion, the two books do not clash with each other, but compliment each other nicely.

Tags: LEOPARD 2