Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
The Leopard 1 has almost no armour protection against anything. I'd give good odds on the BMP-2's 30mm autocannon with AP rounds piercing the frontal armour (max 70 mm) of a Leopard 1. Just look at the driver's feet, no way that thin band of rolled steel is protecting our man here.Not sure how realistic this would be:
Rheinmetall is ready to undertake the modernization of Leopard 1 and Challenger 1 tanks for Ukraine.
Rheinmetall is ready to undertake the modernization of Leopard 1 and Challenger 1 tanks for Ukraine. - Warubn.news
The Poles showed their true intentions and nature back in spring 2022 with that silliness over the MiG-29s to Ukraine through USA in Germany scheme. But I wish someone had asked the German minister if anyone else has asked if their Leopards can be sent. If the Germans aren't holding up the tanks, and the Poles aren't either, then who is?So, yeah, if some people here would set their emotions aside for one minute, they would see there is more than meets the eye here.
The Poles showed their true intentions and nature back in spring 2022 with that silliness over the MiG-29s to Ukraine through USA in Germany scheme. But I wish someone had asked the German minister if anyone else has asked if their Leopards can be sent. If the Germans aren't holding up the tanks, and the Poles aren't either, then who is?
The better investment is to buy up every T-72 variant across Africa and Asia and ship them to Ukraine.The Leo 1s could be good for training Ukraine's tank crews to the new concept of 4-men crew.
To be fair, the fourteen Challengers Britain just sent (or is sending) represent nearly 4% of the entire British Army's 386-strong MBT force, including units in reserve/storage. I could see the British sending up to 20% of their fleet to Ukraine, or about 75 tanks. But that's about it.And this goes for everyone, not just Poland, Sweden, Germany, and Spain. Why has the US not sent Abrams? Why has France and England not sent more tanks?
The better investment is to buy up every T-72 variant across Africa and Asia and ship them to Ukraine.
To be fair, the fourteen Challengers Britain just sent (or is sending) represent nearly 4% of the entire active British Army's 386-strong MBT force, including units in reserve/storage. I could see the British sending up to 20% of their fleet to Ukraine, or about 75 tanks. But that's about it.
If Leopards are off the table for 2023, and Macron won't part with Lecercs, then I think with the exception of a dozen-odd Challengers, Ukraine needs to settle for T-72 and T-90 variants. How many more of these in usable condition are available in Africa and Asia from regimes willing to part with them? Too bad India is so pro-Russian, as they have thousands of these.
Can Ukraine take back the occupied territory and Crimea without Western tanks but with a steady supply of other systems like MRLS, MANPATS/PADS, Bradleys, etc?
That's even less likely than MBTs. This war's been going on for eleven months and the only western-designed manned aircraft provided to Ukraine are a trio of mothballed retired-FAA Westland Sea Kings. Not even a single UH-1 helicopter, and forget anything fixed wing that can fire a radar-guided missile.Ukraine needs air superiority foremost. When that happens, anything the Russians have on the ground will at risk.
Very reminiscent of pictures of Belgian and French towns taken during WWI. Heartbreaking.
There's also the possibility that behind closed doors NATO is happy enough for Ukraine and Russia to return to their pre-2022 borders, with Russia holding Crimea and Russian-backed separatists holding Donbas. There will be those who just want the wheat, oil and money flows to return to what they were.Whatever back room discussions are taking place between Germany, Poland, USA, and probably a butt load of other countries needs to get it sorted out.
The task is not finished until the paperwork is completed and filed....(notice on privy wall)
There was a meeting of 50 countries to discuss sending further equipment to Ukraine, and pressure Germany to give approval on 20th January. From what I read, it's not only Poland waiting for approval, but they may be the noisiest ones.Whatever back room discussions are taking place between Germany, Poland, USA, and probably a butt load of other countries needs to get it sorted out.
Poland likes to play the blame game on Germany. It's part of their political agenda to blame everything on Germany and EU.