"Upgraded Norwegian Leopard 1." Topic

This picture shows an upgraded Leopard 1 in Norwegian service presumably to Leopard 1A5 standard.

Interestingly it shows an upgrade without the appliqué armour normally associated with the 1A5. Were all the upgraded Norwegian Leopards like this? Did any other country upgrade tanks without the appliqué armour? Were any of the welded turret versions upgraded with the improved FCS, laser rangefinder and thermal imaging?

It's pretty common to leave off applique armor for peacetime exercises to save money on suspension and drive train maintenance.

Perhaps, though I don't see any of the mounting bolts that should show, even with the armor removed.

It did not have the additional Armour. It simplay had the older turret 1a1/2 with modifications. Finally the Leo 2 came along

Norway operated Leopard 1A1s, modernized as the 1A1NO (brought up to 1A1A1 standard) and then "upgraded to 1A5 standard, minus turret modifications, as the 1A5NO".

They also bought Leopard 1A5 rebuilds straight from Germany, designated 1A5NO2.

We have the cast 1A1 turret, which should be good for the 1A5NO, and the applique armour version is going to Chas this week, so there is your 1A5/1A5NO2 Fred.

Thanks guys. There was obviously a lot of variation in Leopard upgrades. The Canadian C-2 seems to have a very big turret bustle.
link
At least compared to the German Leopard 1A5.

Although I thought it was based on ex German Leopard 1A5's which the Canadians bought and then sold the hulls back to Germany.
Anyone got any information on upgrades to welded turret versions, 1A3 and 1A4?

The C2 does indeed have a very different bustle. I have photos of the one at Bovington (I mean he literally climbed onto his tank with a tape measure and measured it for me!) to be able to add that shortly.

I'm just modifying the basic 1A3 to the C1, then I'll get onto the C2 because I owe one to the chap at Bovvy :-)

Leopard C2:

Note there is also a very different turret, called the C2 MEXAS (Modular Expandable Armor System) introduced in 1994.

Makes a distinctive looking tank!

Still trying to understand the Norwegian acquisition of the Leopard 1. I've read various sources, some stating that they first acquired the Leopard in 1970, which would mean to me that they were either the base model Leopard 1, or the 1A1 model. Any idea which they initially acquired? This link seems to indicate the 1A1 became the Leopard 1NO: link

Looking at these pictures, link many of early pictures do not have the side skirts (unsure about the thermal sleeve on the barrel), so maybe they're 1A1s and they just left off the skirts?

That first link also says that they acquired some surplus 1A1A1/1A1A2 from the Bundeswehr, but do not know when; presumably sometime in the late 80s or early 90s? Says these became the Leopard 1A1NO.

Then they upgraded their Leopard 1NOs to 1A5NO in the mid 90s, and bought surplus Bundeswehr 1A5s, also making them 1A5NOs.

Does all that sound about right?

James, 1995, says they first received Leopards between 1970 and 1971. All Norwegian Leopards were upgraded to 1A5 standard, "but will retain the cast turret", the work being completed by 1994.

This would suggest the basic 1A1 turret, as Janes also lists the 1A1A1 as being the version fitted with Blohm & Voss add-on armour. The 1A1A2 is the 1A1A1 fitted with PZB200 LLLTV. These two versions were apparently retrofitted with new stabilisation, fire control systems, laser rangefinder and thermal imaging to become… the 1A5.

The 1A5 had upgraded fire control and thermal imaging. It refers to "measures are also to be undertaken to enhance the ballistic protection of the Leopard 1 by add-on armour…" although the details given previously suggest that the Norwegian upgrade to '1A5 standard' is mainly referring to the fire control and thermal imaging/sighting system, not necessarily the armour upgrade package too.

So they appear to have:
1A1NO: 1A1 modernised to 1A1A1 standard (laser designator, fire control etc) but without additional armour
1A5NO: As above but with 1A5 modernisation to fire control, etc, but still no appliqué armour
1A5NO2: As above but with additional turret armour.

That should of course read Janes (Armour and Artillery)… not James.