Historical Skins – Leopard 2A6 Bundeswehr

Commanders!

Today, we’d like to tell you more about the Bundeswehr skin for the Leopard 2A6 Tier 9 progression MBT.

To those of you who have been with us for some time, the name might seem familiar. And indeed, last year, we also had a Bundeswehr skin, changing the standard look of a progression Leopard to that of a tank used by the Bundeswehr, including its NATO camouflage, camouflage net and its insignia. Last year, we offered you this option for the Leopard 2A5 Tier 8 MBT whereas this year, we’re aiming one Tier higher. But that’s not all there is to this skin – it comes with a significant plot twist.

You see, this skin effectively converts your Leopard 2A6 into a Leopard 2A7. Perhaps a bit of history first, to explain what we mean.

In the distant past, the Tier 10 Leopard 2 had two configurations – a stock one that looked effectively like a Leopard 2A6, and an improved one that you know today as Leopard 2AX (with the Espace armor kit). During one of the past rebalances of the game, the stock configuration was removed because it did not fit the new Tier 10 balance. However, you’ve been asking for the introduction of a Leopard 2A7 ever since, ideally to replace the unhistorical Leopard 2AX on Tier 10.

Sadly, we can’t do that and here’s why. The most important reason is that for all intents and purposes, the 2A7 variant is in the game already. When you upgrade your Leopard 2A6 to its best configuration, you end up with all the essential improvements that make the Leopard 2A7 a Leopard 2A7. You’ll have improved ammunition and improved FCS. The other 2A7’s upgrades that are essential in real life – such as the additional APU – have no real meaning in Armored Warfare. In fact, the upgraded 2A6 armor model – which is based on a rather obscure Leopard 2A6EX prototype – isn’t a part of the core 2A7 program, so you effectively have a better vehicle on Tier 9 than a Tier 10 Leopard 2A7 would have been.

Nevertheless, we considered for some time the ways to bring you what you are asking for and decided to implement the Leopard 2A7 as a skin. At first, we thought it would be a good idea to simply name the skin “Leopard 2A7”, but after some deliberations, it was decided that this name would carry the expectations of improved performance with it and this is, after all, still only a skin. That is why we settled on the “Bundeswehr” name.

Aside from the camouflage and markings, the best way to tell it’s a Leopard 2A7 is the bulges in the rear that are housing an APU. They are sleeker and better integrated than the boxy modules of the earlier 2A6EX.

The camouflage net, the insignia and the license plate have all been modeled after a specific Leopard 2 belonging to Panzerbataillon 393 (393rd Tank Battalion), stationed in Bad Frankenhausen (Thüringen, central Germany). This unit has recently (September 2021) received its Leopard 2A7 MBTs, replacing the older Leopard 2A6 models.

The skin will also be available in the upgraded armor configuration. While not realistic for the Bundeswehr, it roughly matches that of the Danish Leopard 2A7DK MBTs.

We hope that you’ll enjoy this and, as always:

See you on the battlefield!