-
Leopard I TVK frontal view, spare tracks mounted on glacis plate, also serve as defacto applique armor. Infra-red search light on top of gun mantle, these lights used IR wavelength to search night-time battlefields for enemy formations. Developed during WW2, IR equipment was integrated into main battle tanks of 1950s-1970s. Nowadays, IR is only of the spectrums used in today's  tanks, other medium includes light-ambient (amplification of moon and star light usually rendered in green-hue imagery) and heat variances (heat absorbed or generated by objects, usually rendered in grey-scale imagery). Infrared - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared
-
Inset 1 : Leopard I TVK late model variant during 1980s-era NATO exercises, hand-hold rods attached to turret armor for any accompanying infantrymen. Small multi-tube apparatus on top of gun barrel is electrically-fired concussion grenades, they simulate a big bang from gunfire during these combat maneuvers. Small tubes on turret side are electrically-fired smoke dischargers, angled to cast a wall of smoke for tank to hide behind when reversing the vehicle.
- Side history note, given NATO's 1950-1980s military readiness against possible Soviet / Warsaw Pact invasion of western Europe, all major armor exercises were executed on West Germany soil. By mid-1980s, West Germans were increasingly fatigued over annual NATO exercises (which churned up and destroyed various public roads and private property, especially when a 60-ton tank burrow through one's flower garden and mailbox). This Cold War fatigue attributed in-part to the rise of the pacifist German Green Party which became a significant force in German politics up to modern era. German Green Party - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_green_party
-
Rollover : Top view of Kampfpanzeren, although both vehicles possess the "Leopard" title, they are two separate tank designs. Both tanks were sold to NATO countries, such as Denmark-Austria-Norway still operating their Leopard I tanks, while Switzerland and Poland have their batch of Leopard II tanks. Current upgrade to Leopard II tanks is the Leopard II A6 with add-on ballistic gun mantle armor. Leopard 2A6 geht in Stellung - youtube.com/watch?v=Yfs93aH7IRI&feature=related
- 1991 collapse of Soviet Union enabled Eastern European nations
 (ex. Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic) to join both NATO and European Union at the open displeasure of Russian Federation. Despite losing direct military control over Eastern Europe in 1990s, Russians still view area as their sphere of influence. Hence, view NATO/EU expansion as potential threat to its political stability and economic dominance in the region. NATO Expansion - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_expansion
- Inset 2 : Early Leopard IA1, as indicated by IR search light, smooth edge cast turret, side skirts for track protection (less for armor protection, more to prevent obstacles from breaking track links), along with thermal sleeve for gun barrel. Sleeve designed to efficiently dissipate heat generated from continous firing to prevent barrel warp. Leopard IA1 - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_I#Leopard_1A1
-
Inset 3 : Very early Leopard I with IR search light, alluded to bylack of side skirts and no thermal sleeve for  gun barrel. Leopard I - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_I#Leopard_1
-
Kampfpanzer Leopard 1 MBT - youtube.com/watch?v=klPIvxk8N1A
-
Leopard 1 Variants - youtube.com/watch?v=qJEK8U4lroI
|
