M1 ABRAMS AND LEOPARD 2 'NATO MAIN BATTLE TANK COMBO' (2 KITS IN THE BOX)

The M1 Abrams is a modern 3rd generation American Main Battle Tank. The first prototypes of the vehicle were created in the 1970s, and serial production started in 1979 continues to this day. To date (2018), about 10500 tanks of this type have been produced. The M1 Abrams is powered by a turbo-shaft (turbine) engine Avco Lycoming AGT-1500C 1500 hp. The vehicle is armed with a 105mm M68A1 tank gun in the M1 version, and a 120mm M256 tank gun in the M1A1 and later versions. The additional armament is 1 12.7 mm machine gun and 2 7.62 mm M240 machine guns. The M1 Abrams was created in response to the demand for a new Main Battle Tank announced by US Army already in the 60s of the twentieth century. The new vehicle was to replace the Patton family tanks (M47-M48-M60) in the US Army. Initially, cooperation with German companies was initiated in the project designated as MBT-70. However, after a few years, the cooperation was terminated and further work was focused only on American companies, especially in the Chrysler Defense concern. Despite a very long process of analytical, study and experimental work lasting almost 15 years, it was introduced to the line in the early 1980s M1 Abrams It turned out to be an almost revolutionary structure and far superior to the then Soviet ones. M1 Abrams It is primarily characterized by unprecedented - before 1979 - in tanks of this class, mobility and maneuverability, thanks to the use of a powerful 1500 HP engine. Another thing is that the choice of the turbine engine turned out to be not very successful because it requires very careful maintenance and is prone to catching fire. M1 Abrams it also has very good armor, using composites and SKO (fire control system). In the M1A1 version, it was also armed with a great 120mm gun. Several versions of the tank were created in the course of serial production M1 Abrams. The first significant improvements were made to the M1A1 version, the production of which was launched in 1985 - mainly by using a much more effective 120 caliber cannon instead of the 105mm gun. In 1992, the M1A2 version entered the line, with much richer electronic equipment than previous versions and armor using depleted uranium. Then came the M1A2 SEP version with even more perfect armor. The last development versions of the Abrams tank are the M1A2 SEPv2 and M1A2 SEPv3 versions, which have advanced information exchange, battlefield control, fire control systems and improved secondary weapon control systems. The M1 Abrams tank was exported to several countries, including: Saudi Arabia, Australia, Egypt and Kuwait. Vehicles of this type took part in several operations, the most important of which were the Gulf War in 1990-1991 and the Iraq War in 2003.The Leopard 2 is a modern 3rd generation German Main Battle Tank. The first prototypes of the vehicle were made in 1973, and serial production started in 1979 continues to this day. To date (2018), 3,480 tanks of this type have been produced. The Leopard 2 is powered by the 1500 HP MTU MB 873 Ka 501 engine. The vehicle is armed with a single 120mm Rheinmetall Rh-M-120 gun and two 7.62mm MG3 machine guns. The Leopard 2 was developed in response to the demand for a new Main Battle Tank announced by Bundeswehr already in the early 1960s. The new vehicle was to replace the Leopard 1 tanks in the West German army. Initially, cooperation with American companies (e.g. Chrysler) was undertaken in a project designated as MBT-70. However, after a few years, the cooperation was terminated and further work was focused only on German companies. Despite a very long process of analytical, study and experimental works lasting almost 15 years, the Leopard 2 introduced to the line in 1979 turned out to be revolutionary and outclassing the then Soviet designs. Many analysts consider it to be the first tank of the third generation in history, including the M1 Abrams, the French Leclerc or the much later Russian T-90 tank. The Leopard 2 is primarily characterized by unprecedented - before 1979 - mobility and maneuverability in tanks of this class, thanks to the use of a powerful 1500 HP engine. It also has very good armor, using composites and SKO (fire control system). It was also armed with the great Rh-M-120 gun, which in the 1980s and 1990s became a standard for many NATO countries. Several versions of the tank were created in the course of serial production Leopard 2, two of which deserve special attention: A 4 and A 6. The A 4, which appeared for the first time in 1985, has a highly advanced and improved over the previous SKO versions, as well as improved turret and front armor hull. It is also the most widely exported version. At the beginning of the 21st century, the A 6 version was created, which mainly received the Rh-M-120 gun with a significantly longer barrel (L / 55), which significantly improved its penetration capacity. The latest development version of the Leopard 2 tank is the A 7 version, which entered the Bundeswehr's equipment in 2014. Due to its very high combat value, the Leopard 2 was exported to many countries, including: Austria, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway or Poland, which has 247 tanks of this type in versions A 4 and A 5.