14.07.2023

"We are concerned about the possibility of capturing Leopard 2": General of the Bundeswehr assessed the use of German APU tanks

Sections: Land, Markets and cooperation, Global safety

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Image source: topwar.ru

In the "civilized world" they continue to believe in the advantages of Western technology over Russian products, despite the fact that it has not become a panacea for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, capable of dealing with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces are conducting a counteroffensive using MBT and armored vehicles from Germany, attacking the reinforced Russian defense, protected by minefields and artillery. The Russian Armed Forces also have air superiority

- it is said on the website of the German Ministry of Defense.

The practice of using German Leopard 2 MBT was evaluated in these conditions by Brigadier General Bjorn Schultz, who heads the Bundeswehr Armored Forces school since 2022:

The destruction of the Western MBT by Russian troops has again caused controversy about the advantages of supplying weapons to Ukraine. Although from the very beginning it was clear that tanks would not solve everything in the war, but would only have a powerful influence on its course.

According to him, Leopard 2A6 "technically surpass their counterparts from Russia":

They can fall on the enemy thanks to armor protection, firepower, mobility, which together provide a hard blow to the enemy. It is necessary that crews and commanders can use tanks in such a way that their technical superiority can also be transformed into tactical superiority.

As he explained, the MBT cannot fight alone, but must interact with infantry, artillery, aviation and other forces, since the war can only be won in a combined arms battle.

According to the general, intelligence plays an important role before attacking Russian positions. Without a clear picture of the situation on the battlefield, you can lose:

We have a mine barrier strip, which was installed by the Russian defense. There is practically not a meter where I could freely maneuver equipment, where there are no mines and where anti-tank barriers are not installed.

Image source: topwar.ru

As Schultz noted, at the same time, the barriers are installed by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation covertly, it is extremely difficult to bypass minefields: the Armed Forces of Ukraine deal with "terribly wide and long mine belts." However, the Leopard 2A6 is designed in such a way that in the event of an explosion, "little harm is done to the crew, ideally nothing at all."

The general explained that it is also difficult to defend against drone attacks from the air. To counter UAV attacks, it is necessary to move in an open formation or using shelters. However, there is nowhere to hide, since "some woodlands no longer exist at all." Therefore, it is important to disguise the machines, at least as an improvised solution, so that they are not so easy to detect.

Schultz does not rule out that Russia will seize Western tanks. Including Leopard 2, and will study them:

War is full of risks. Crews have to abandon tanks in case of their destruction. But don't be afraid of [technological] espionage, it's a common thing. We are concerned about the possibility of capturing the MBT, this should be avoided, but it is clear that this will happen.

According to the general, it is necessary to send additional weapons from the West for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. New high-tech systems will allow you to stand up against an opponent who cannot be broken.

Ukraine will have to fight a numerically superior enemy with fewer people and equipment until Russian troops are finally forced out of the country. This should be helped by the provision of excellent equipment

- the German general concludes.