[Goose]

It seems on top of the recent modern tanks pledged, there are also a number of Leopard 1A5 tanks that will head to Ukraine.  It sounded like some will be ready now and some will take a while, but I've seen over 100 potentially going to Ukraine.  How effective will they be?  They have a much smaller gun, 105mm, but the more modern version have decent upgrades.  Will they be comparable to the most common T-72B3 tanks Russia has been using?  Would they be used more in reserve?

My read is probably too lightly armored and not a big enough gun to go tank V tank against upgraded T72s, but mobile and plenty of firepower for infantry and anti-structure support, which is mostly what tanks have been used for in this conflict. Will be more vulnerable to ATGMs then the more modern tanks though.

I agree, most of the utility of tanks has been and probably will continue to be fire support against fortifications/strong points. The Leopard 1A5 has a fairly modern gun-sight and gyro stabilization, but it is not in the class of a 2A6. It is however probably better in both areas than the upgraded T72s. It can fire on the move better. This probably won't matter for the above reasons.

The Leopard 1A5 is considerably more difficult to operate than the 2A6. The gunner and commander have much better displays that "see" further and more clearly in the 2A6 and they are easier to use. Again, it probably won't matter. It is just too bad that Ukraine might have to train crews to use the less capable tank. It also is probable IMO that once people start looking seriously (like a fixed price contract) at what it will actually take (in time and money) to get these tanks operating, they probably will rethink the effort. It is always harder than you think and these tanks have been in storage for quite a while in most cases.

[Goose]

It seems on top of the recent modern tanks pledged, there are also a number of Leopard 1A5 tanks that will head to Ukraine.  It sounded like some will be ready now and some will take a while, but I've seen over 100 potentially going to Ukraine.  How effective will they be?  They have a much smaller gun, 105mm, but the more modern version have decent upgrades.  Will they be comparable to the most common T-72B3 tanks Russia has been using?  Would they be used more in reserve?

My read is probably too lightly armored and not a big enough gun to go tank V tank against upgraded T72s, but mobile and plenty of firepower for infantry and anti-structure support, which is mostly what tanks have been used for in this conflict. Will be more vulnerable to ATGMs then the more modern tanks though.

I agree, most of the utility of tanks has been and probably will continue to be fire support against fortifications/strong points. The Leopard 1A5 has a fairly modern gun-sight and gyro stabilization, but it is not in the class of a 2A6. It is however probably better in both areas than the upgraded T72s. It can fire on the move better. This probably won't matter for the above reasons.

The Leopard 1A5 is considerably more difficult to operate than the 2A6. The gunner and commander have much better displays that "see" further and more clearly in the 2A6 and they are easier to use. Again, it probably won't matter. It is just too bad that Ukraine might have to train crews to use the less capable tank. It also is probable IMO that once people start looking seriously (like a fixed price contract) at what it will actually take (in time and money) to get these tanks operating, they probably will rethink the effort. It is always harder than you think and these tanks have been in storage for quite a while in most cases.