Posted on Feb 20, 2023
Leopard tanks like a Mercedes, says Ukrainian soldier training in Germany
603
10
4
5
5
0
A Ukrainian soldier compared Germany's Leopard 2 tanks to a Mercedes as he underwent training with them ahead of their arrival on the battlefield, saying he hoped they would bring a breakthrough in the war.
He is among dozens of Ukrainian troops Germany is training on Leopard 2 simulators and then the tanks themselves at its largest military training ground, in Munster, before sending them to Ukraine.
He is among dozens of Ukrainian troops Germany is training on Leopard 2 simulators and then the tanks themselves at its largest military training ground, in Munster, before sending them to Ukraine.
Leopard tanks like a Mercedes, says Ukrainian soldier training in Germany
Posted from reuters.com
Germany
Tanks
Russia
Ukraine
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
2
2
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
...""It is crucial that we use this modern weapon wisely, it will bring the breakthrough and we will win in the end," said the 57-year-old soldier.
Asked about the difference between Western and Soviet systems, he said: "You can imagine it like the difference between a Mercedes and a Zhiguli" - referring to a Soviet car sold under the brand name Lada in the West.
The version of the tanks Germany will be sending, produced by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, weighs more than 60 tonnes, has a 120 mm smooth bore gun and can hit targets at a distance of up to 4 km (2.5 miles).
Ukraine's foreign minister said last month he expected to receive 120 to 140 Western tanks in a "first wave" of deliveries from a coalition of 12 countries, including the German Leopard 2, with time needed for training.
In all, Germany is training several hundred troops on various aspects of warcraft as part of a European effort to instruct some 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers.
Another soldier, who was being trained on the Marder infantry fighting vehicle, said the Western systems were not that far removed from those of Soviet-built vehicles the Ukrainians have been using.
"We have experience with similar weapons systems ... The logic is the same, sometimes we don't even need the interpreters to understand the instructors," said the 33-year-old, like his colleague wearing a scarf pulled up over his face and orange-tinted ballistic glasses to hide his identity.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said he was impressed by the Ukrainian troops.
"Talking about a war is different from looking into the faces of people who ... came here directly from the frontline, and who will go back there with the tanks once they have completed their training," he told reporters."...
...""It is crucial that we use this modern weapon wisely, it will bring the breakthrough and we will win in the end," said the 57-year-old soldier.
Asked about the difference between Western and Soviet systems, he said: "You can imagine it like the difference between a Mercedes and a Zhiguli" - referring to a Soviet car sold under the brand name Lada in the West.
The version of the tanks Germany will be sending, produced by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, weighs more than 60 tonnes, has a 120 mm smooth bore gun and can hit targets at a distance of up to 4 km (2.5 miles).
Ukraine's foreign minister said last month he expected to receive 120 to 140 Western tanks in a "first wave" of deliveries from a coalition of 12 countries, including the German Leopard 2, with time needed for training.
In all, Germany is training several hundred troops on various aspects of warcraft as part of a European effort to instruct some 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers.
Another soldier, who was being trained on the Marder infantry fighting vehicle, said the Western systems were not that far removed from those of Soviet-built vehicles the Ukrainians have been using.
"We have experience with similar weapons systems ... The logic is the same, sometimes we don't even need the interpreters to understand the instructors," said the 33-year-old, like his colleague wearing a scarf pulled up over his face and orange-tinted ballistic glasses to hide his identity.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said he was impressed by the Ukrainian troops.
"Talking about a war is different from looking into the faces of people who ... came here directly from the frontline, and who will go back there with the tanks once they have completed their training," he told reporters."...
(2)
(0)
1
1
0
Gen. Jack Keane: Biden admin doesn't want Putin to lose
Fox News senior strategic analyst provides insight on the Ukraine-Russia war on 'The Story.' #FoxNewsSubscribe to Fox News! https://bit.ly/2vaBUvASWatch more...
Biden blew it! He could have convinced the allies 51 weeks ago to donate tanks and Ukraine armor soldiers could have trained in NATO bases. It takes 6 to 8 months to fully train these crews and put them through gunnery and field training exercises to be able to coordinate with artillery, infantry and aviation.
General Jack Keene's criticism is valid 10 months later.
https://youtu.be/6EGtybmCBuE
General Jack Keene's criticism is valid 10 months later.
https://youtu.be/6EGtybmCBuE
(1)
(0)
(1)
(0)
LTC (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) understood. I am an experinced tanker and me going from an Abrahms to a Russian T-80/ T-90 takes time. Biden waited until 2 months ago to give the approval. The Ukraine armor people have to learn the systems of:
1. Abrahms M1a1 or M1a2
2. Challenger 2
3. Leopard one and leopard 2.
4. Italian centauro armored car with 105 gun.
4. Bradley Fighting Vehicle with t o w missile launcher.
It will be a maintenance crew nightmare. There are other armored vehicles I didn't include that come from Australia and Canada but they're more like Brinks armored cars.
Too many weapon systems, too many different types of ammunition ,too few tanks to make a difference unless it's being used in the defense. My concern is to little training and no coordination with adjacent units and Aviation.
The main gripe I have is President Biden should have approved this almost a year ago.
SGT (Join to see)
1. Abrahms M1a1 or M1a2
2. Challenger 2
3. Leopard one and leopard 2.
4. Italian centauro armored car with 105 gun.
4. Bradley Fighting Vehicle with t o w missile launcher.
It will be a maintenance crew nightmare. There are other armored vehicles I didn't include that come from Australia and Canada but they're more like Brinks armored cars.
Too many weapon systems, too many different types of ammunition ,too few tanks to make a difference unless it's being used in the defense. My concern is to little training and no coordination with adjacent units and Aviation.
The main gripe I have is President Biden should have approved this almost a year ago.
SGT (Join to see)
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google 