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The '''Leontas 1''' (Leontas meaning Lion in Aetolian) is a [[Aetolia|Aetoliian]] main battle tank that entered service in 1974. The Leontas 2 was designed by the then recently nationalised AITBO (Aitoliki Biomichania Oplon; Aetolian Weapons Industry), and for the most part produced at its factories. Featuring a - for the time large - 127 mm gun and an autoloader, it was also the first domestic Aetolian main battle tank to feature composite armour. It was mass produced to replace older Aetolian MBTs in service at the time, and its heavily upgraded variants are still used in large numbers by the Aetolian Armed Forces.
The '''Leontas 1''' (Leontas meaning Lion in Aetolian) is a [[Aetolia|Aetoliian]] main battle tank that entered service in 1974. The Leontas 2 was designed by the then recently nationalised AITBO (Aitoliki Biomichania Oplon; Aetolian Weapons Industry), and for the most part produced at its factories. Featuring a - for the time large - 127 mm gun and an autoloader, it was also the first domestic Aetolian main battle tank to feature composite armour. The Leontas 1 - in its upgraded form - is still in service with the [[Aetolian Armed Forces]], serving alongside its successor, the [[Leontas 2]].


==Development and design==
==Development and design==
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*'''Leontas 1M1:''' The first production variant of the Leontas 1, entered service in 1974. Featured an IR lamp for the image intensifier mounted on the top of the mantlet, rubber sideskirts and external storage comparments, as well as an AA mount, mostly for the M2H .50 heavy machine gun.
*'''Leontas 1M1:''' The first production variant of the Leontas 1, entered service in 1974. Featured an IR lamp for the image intensifier mounted on the top of the mantlet, rubber sideskirts and external storage comparments, as well as an AA mount, mostly for the M2H .50 heavy machine gun.
*'''Leontas 1M2:''' Upgraded variant that entered service in 1985. Featured an improved gunner's sight (OSP-10), an improved, more powerful engine (MBO2, 900 hp), as well as heavier, metal sideskirts. Additionally, the turret composite armour was reinforced with a ceramic-rod filler.  
*'''Leontas 1M2:''' Upgraded variant that entered service in 1985. Featured an improved gunner's sight (OSP-10), an improved, more powerful engine (MBO2, 900 hp), as well as heavier, metal sideskirts. Additionally, the turret composite armour was reinforced with a ceramic-rod filler.  
*'''Leontas 1M3:''' Upgrade program introduced in 1996. The 1M3 upgrade replaced the imagine intensifier and old commander's sight with the OSP-20T system with a thermal channel. The could also see the OSP-23T's view via a screen similar to that of the gunner. The variant also featured an improved autoloader, additional smoke grenade launchers, as well as "Thorax" 2nd-generation explosive reactive armour package.
*'''Leontas 1M3:''' Upgrade program introduced in 1996. The 1M3 upgrade replaced the imagine intensifier and old commander's sight with the OSP-20 system with a thermal channel. The commander could also see the OSP-20's view via a screen similar to that of the gunner. The variant also featured an improved autoloader, additional smoke grenade launchers, as well as "Thorax" 2nd-generation explosive reactive armour package.
*'''Leontas 1M4:''' Modernisation programme launched in 2014. The upgrade features a new, modular turret bustle with a new autoloader system, an "Aspis" applique composite armour package, a "AOSA-14" indipendent commander's sight with a thermal channel, additional smoke grenade launchers and an MBO5 engine, with a power of 1,100 hp.
*'''Leontas 1M4:''' Modernisation programme launched in 2014. The upgrade features a new, modular turret bustle with a new autoloader system, an "Aspis" applique composite armour package, a "AOSA-14" indipendent commander's sight with a thermal channel, additional smoke grenade launchers and an MBO5 engine, with a power of 1,100 hp.
==See also==
==See also==
'''Tanks of comparable role, performance and era'''
'''Tanks of comparable role, performance and era'''

Latest revision as of 04:59, 24 October 2019

Leontas 1
Leontas 1 camo.png
A Leontas 1M2 of the 10th Armoured Brigade, c. 1985.
TypeMain Battle Tank
Place of origin Aetolia
Service history
In service1974-Present
Used bysee users
Production history
DesignerAITBO
Designed1968-1974
ManufacturerELVO
Produced1971 (Leontas 1 prototype)
Specifications (Main Battle Tank)
Weight50 tonnes
Length9,77 m (32 ft)
Width3.6 m (11.8 ft)
Height2.59 m (8.0 ft)
Crew3

ArmorSteel and composite armour, later with ERA.
Main
armament
127 mm LPA-74 smoothbore gun
Secondary
armament
1 × .50-caliber (12.7 mm) M2HB heavy machine gun with 900 rounds
1 x 7.62 mm MG3A1 (4,750 rounds)
EngineAchelos MBO1 diesel engine,
870 hp
Payload capacityx42 main gun rounds, x5,650 machine gun rounds
SuspensionTorsion-bars, hydraulic dampers
Operational
range
600 km
Speed60 km/h

The Leontas 1 (Leontas meaning Lion in Aetolian) is a Aetoliian main battle tank that entered service in 1974. The Leontas 2 was designed by the then recently nationalised AITBO (Aitoliki Biomichania Oplon; Aetolian Weapons Industry), and for the most part produced at its factories. Featuring a - for the time large - 127 mm gun and an autoloader, it was also the first domestic Aetolian main battle tank to feature composite armour. The Leontas 1 - in its upgraded form - is still in service with the Aetolian Armed Forces, serving alongside its successor, the Leontas 2.

Development and design

Service history

Export

Variants

  • Leontas 1 prototype: The prototype of the vehicle. Only 3 were built and were later coverted.
  • Leontas 1M1: The first production variant of the Leontas 1, entered service in 1974. Featured an IR lamp for the image intensifier mounted on the top of the mantlet, rubber sideskirts and external storage comparments, as well as an AA mount, mostly for the M2H .50 heavy machine gun.
  • Leontas 1M2: Upgraded variant that entered service in 1985. Featured an improved gunner's sight (OSP-10), an improved, more powerful engine (MBO2, 900 hp), as well as heavier, metal sideskirts. Additionally, the turret composite armour was reinforced with a ceramic-rod filler.
  • Leontas 1M3: Upgrade program introduced in 1996. The 1M3 upgrade replaced the imagine intensifier and old commander's sight with the OSP-20 system with a thermal channel. The commander could also see the OSP-20's view via a screen similar to that of the gunner. The variant also featured an improved autoloader, additional smoke grenade launchers, as well as "Thorax" 2nd-generation explosive reactive armour package.
  • Leontas 1M4: Modernisation programme launched in 2014. The upgrade features a new, modular turret bustle with a new autoloader system, an "Aspis" applique composite armour package, a "AOSA-14" indipendent commander's sight with a thermal channel, additional smoke grenade launchers and an MBO5 engine, with a power of 1,100 hp.

See also

Tanks of comparable role, performance and era