The AUSSIE Leopard AS1

Museum Assistant Manager and former tank commander, Jason, takes us through the Aussie Leopard AS1
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[@fredfarnackle5455]

Another masterclass from someone who knows what they are talking about in fine detail. Thank you. And thank you for your military service!🇦🇺

[@peterpanini96]

Masterwhatever useless in combat...

[@reanukeevesau]

​@@peterpanini96 how do you know he was useless in Combat? Or you just Assuming??

[@delinquenter]

@@reanukeevesau Bro is just hatin'. When you're the best of the best, you will always get people trying to shut you down. That's why I couldn't care less as a german. It proves us, what we're good at ;D

[@peterjanvanbijnen226]

i was an dutch leopard 1V gunner and i did not know that the barrel had a life span of 250 apds rounds, i learn every day.

[@drewschumann1]

Your Master Gunner kept a round count on your barrel, based on your commander's reports

[@mikkorenvall428]

@@drewschumann1 ammunition consumption also tells a lot.

[@matthewcullen1298]

Probably a silly question but is that a good lifespan for a tank barrel

[@hansmeyer7225]

Maybe in peace times ​@@matthewcullen1298

[@kaspervoshart7137]

Ik ook! A59/ 85/4 en jij.?

[@The1nsane1]

Fantastic video. When someone has served on the tank under discussion you get great info. Well done Jason.

[@Rapid-5]

I was a Leopard tank commander from 2003 to 2007 when we transitioned to the M1A1 Abrams. I loved it, although it did tend to go through engines a fair bit, but when she would overheat we would jump out with the water Jerry’s, pour water in and away you would go. Pack changes were always super easy and quick. Two steering pressures as well which made it super fun to drive, you could easily drift it on the wet grounds in pukka but wasn’t wise! Loved shooting the 105mm at Bundy and still remember cleaning guns first thing in the morning with an oversized pull through, a can of oil and a whole bunch of us pulling and pushing before chucking the dehumidifiers in…such good memories. Every single thing he said gave me instant memories and they all came flooding back!

[@PosthumousAddress]

What a great comment, very evocative

[@brianspeck4226]

Thanks for the video. I was a Charlie tank commander for two years (1985/86) in West Germany with the RCD on a Leopard C1. Was a part of the Canadian team on the CAT 86 competition in Grafenwohr. FYI, we always referred to the ballistic computer as "Hermann the German." 😊

[@andreasrothmund9147]

Hi Jason, thanks for this excellent chat about 'your' Leopard. Back in the mid-70ies I was trained as gunner, loader, commander in the German army. Initially on a Leopard 1A2 which was soon switched for a brand new 1A4 whose 1st gunner I had the honor to be. This had the same welded turret as your tank, but different sights. Commander's sight was a PERI R12, and the gunners main optics / rangefinder was an EMES 12A1, both connected to a hybrid firecontrol computer FLER-HG. No other sensors or a laser - nevertheless, once you knew your stuff, extremely accurate. Ammo-wise we also fired the APDS and the HESH/HEP, but additionally we had a HEAT with the freely spinning band to counter-act the rifling, all with the associated training rounds. Well, I loved that beast!

[@OldSkoolGrandad]

Great to have a tank veteran at the museum , nothing beats personal experience 👊

[@keithad6485]

Some Aussie Leopard tank trivia for the viewers. I set up and managed a Aussie defence manufacturing engineering business in Melbourne in the late 1990s specialising in manufacturing parts for the Leopard AS1, M113A1 and ASLAV. The very first contract we were awarded was manufacturing the splash guard, these are found on the extreme front corners of the Leopard 1 over the tracks and can be seen very easily in this video. This tank behind the speaker has a splash guard from the German manufacturer on one side; and an Aussie made splash guard from my factory (on the drivers side - right hand drive). German made splash guard is moulded from one piece rubber with two layers of reinforcing fabric. My factory produced the splash guard in two piece rubber reinforced with 4 layers fabric which can be identified on this tank by the row of 10mm hex head screws in the upper inner corner of the splash guard. The German description is - Spritz schute kette - Chain, spray, cover (Germans call tank track - kette (chain)). The German price per unit in 1998, was AU$1500 each! Our price per unit was approx 30% of the German price. We were making spare parts for the M113 and Leopard AS1 until both were withdrawn from service in the 2000s, and ASLAV. The Leopard fleet management guys I dealt with at Victoria Barracks Melb told me the change over to the Abrams was cos the Leopard 1 was most unbattleworthy. Armour was only proof against 25mm cannon rounds. There is an Leopard 1A4 turret at the Puckapunyal Tank Museum which had a 105mm round fired at it to test its ability to resist penetration by MBT rounds, it pierced the side of the turret, continued on and pierced the opposite side of the turret and went clean through! Not good for combat up against modern MBTs. Thanks for reading my two cents worth.

[@leightonscott3242]

I found that interesting, thank you!

[@aussmith5335]

We can clearly see and hear that you have served on these tanks, excellent. I drove CVRT during my service and still remember all the torque settings and operation of my tank👍

[@grahamejohn6847]

The Germans made such good-looking tanks. The Panther and the Leo 1 were two of the best-looking.

[@jomoma8576]

Kinda subjective but the Panther is dopey looking to me turrets just a misshapen cube. Now the jagged panther now that was handsome

[@FoxFrostXPINC]

@@jomoma8576opinions differ

[@joshuamitcham1519]

Yes they did! ❤ I like the Henshel Tiger 2 made by Henshel, it is gorgeous! Leopards, particularly the Canadian C2A1 Mexas is just beautiful although this AS1 is just a stunning peice of armor. Clean. That turret is fine! ❤ And yes, Jagdpanther is nice looking.. for a casemate. 😂

[@grahamejohn6847]

@@jomoma8576 Yes I agree it's not really a tank though but it still is quite handsome.

[@Altair885]

But not the tiger! Which looks like a chest of drawers that's fallen over😂

[@contributor7219]

Spent quite a few years on these in RAEME at The Regiment and The Centre. I have lots of (mostly) fond memories of working on them. A great run-through and it was fun seeing inside one once again after so many years. There are a few updates since I was last inside one in the mid-eighties though! I remember quite a few going for turret lifts after the micro switch on the turret ring pump failed and they were traversed with inflated ring seals - they were the less fond memories! I had to URPC the tubes on those after inspecting them at their EFC life, before they went to ROFB for final condemnation and recycling. My other 'fond' memory was keeping well clear of the main armament when first firing up the turret hydraulics, just in case the stab decided to get a 'ghost in the machine'. I ended up working with Mr Jarrat's son in Canberra, many years later, during my second career. Mr Jarrat had a Cent at that stage, not sure if he's still got it. It was a little strange that fate would dictate a connection in that way, but I'm very glad I got to be part of our Leopard era.

[@aymonfoxc1442]

Thanks for sharing your reflections. I always like learning from an Aussie veteran. 🫡

[@jeffho1727]

Greeting from RCEME. Gave the boys a hand every now and again, couple of packs, final drives, heater ( that was a bit of contortion in the turret back). Great vehicle. Played enemy force for an exercise with almost every Canadian Leo attacking us. Impressive!!

[@Mrbuckaroonie..]

I live in Innisfail. I got to get up to Cairns and see this museum. I actually sat on a Leopard in 1986 while it was live foring. It was pretty cool.

[@TheTomyossarian]

Watching someone who is genuinely into their subject talk about it will never get old.

[@itt2055]

Thanks to all who have served and allowed me to enjoy my life.

[@gaborgredely1848]

Yes. T 55.

[@michaelfrank2266]

We had an old tanker joke that a turret spun too many times counter- clockwise the turret would fall off. : D

[@robertcousins2603]

Special tank Jason. My old man served in the infantry during the Hat Dich battle. When I visited the museum and saw it. Was mesmerised. I always wondered where it ended up.

[@lukefriesenhahn8186]

Happy Australia Day! The Leopard 1 is an amazing vehicle.

[@gerardhogan3]

Ohhh nice drills Jason. Nothing better than a soldier who knows his shit describing it to his audience

[@kiereluurs1243]

No-no-no, no shit involved! Luckily.

[@markmalone3532]

As a grunt from the 70s i remember these beasts, you sir are a credit to the tank unit mate, so proud of your professionalism.

[@gernaneering]

Thar Aussie leopard would be my favourite post ww2 ,and cold war favourite western tank, love the philosophy of speed as a better defence than than having thick over heavy, love all the features including ease of maintenance, engine swap etc etc The Leopard is one of my personal favourites along with some other later day ones such as the weasel some have some specialist weapons incorporated into the design such as auto mortar fitted etc etc . Many thanks

[@Fiasco3]

They got a deal with them, they had bridge-layers and recovery vehicles as well. The thing with Australian procurement of tanks/vehicles is ease of maintenance, environmental survivability and most importantly range.

[@Mark-vq5dz]

Can't outrun a SABOT though.....I suppose Aussie army wouldn't really need a big tank force

[@iamasmurf1122]

@@Fiasco3there is zero point to having the inventory of tanks that we never use

[@rodroper211]

i was at pucka mid 1977 when we had a field day for the great and the good to show off the new toy. laying the gun on and doing doughnuts was a crowd favorite

[@hitime2405]

Fantastic video, Happy Australia Day, from the U.K.

[@mikestanmore2614]

This was one of the best "walk-around" videos on any AFV I've seen. Very interesting, very informative. Thankyou!

[@doodskie999]

Such a good presentation and a very knowledgeable presenter. The Germans always had the tank game on hand.

[@stevestruthers6180]

Well, the presenter is a former Leopard tank commander, so he should be very knowledgeable.

[@danmeehan1390]

I served on the Canadian Leo 1. Our original Leos had the same turret as presented. It was much later in it's service life that we went to the cast turret with the add on armour.

[@EmmanuelBorg-z4h]

Great video. Thanks. I was the gunner on HAT-DICH for 6 months in 2003 for LTCOL D.M. Cantwell during Ex Croc O3 in Shoalwater Bay. Tpr E.Borg, served most of my time in C Squadron.

[@MuseumsBloke]

Fantastic. No need for a written script here! Greetings from the UK.

[@davidbutterfield2949]

Thanks Jason, love the Aussie Leopard 👍🏻🇦🇺

[@RobertLewis-el9ub]

Jason does it again - fantastic.

[@JBTSO]

Are you ex B Sqn Rob Lewis?

[@exharkhun5605]

Good effort but this manual lacks depth in certain vital areas. Firstly, not having access to splendid chaps running around the place in shorts, fixing all and whatnot, how do I tension the tracks on my own Leopard? Secondly, can by some simple test perhaps be established how long it would take to evacuate the tank in case of say, a fire? I'm also very interested to know what kind of rubber is used in the trackpads so the tanks stick securely to the underside of the globe and don't fall into space all the time.

[@tbilisicentralv2]

Soviets had a smoothbore since T-62, same with T-72 and so on, no problems in spinning HEAT rounds there... the outer spinning ring was invented by the French for their Giat 105mm tank gun

[@ldkbudda4176]

Exactly! I wrote in the coments that too!

[@f1matt]

Leo1 looks great wearing Aussie camo.

[@imsim6064]

i'll be there. what a machine

[@fireabend_1226]

really a nice detailed lecture about the technology of the Leopard 1. Camera work, editing and sound are excellent. 👍

[@biggles1024]

That was home until I went to OCS. They were practically brand new then.

[@SteamCrane]

Excellent presentation, Jason knows his stuff. So much good information in 13 1/2 minutes!

[@gasgaslex_photos]

Beautifully informative, well done... and a sweet historical Aussie tank

[@charlesemerson6763]

Thanks Jason for the informative chat and for you service as well.

[@michaeldarby3503]

We need more these talks by Jason, love his knowledge and passion for his subject.

[@lappin6482]

Aussie legend

[@Tam0de]

For a few moments there, i closed my eyes & pretended i was listening to Steve Irwin talk about a tank in great detail instead of crocs & various other critters. I know it's kinda odd but hearing that accent reminded me of Steve.

[@tacfoley4443]

The additional 'armour' around the turret of the early Leo's including the Canadian version you showed, is actually a very heavy rubber/mesh composite designed with a stand-off as you can clearly see. This is to reduce the effect of an incoming HEAT round from say, and RPG-7, SAGGER, BMP round or similar.

[@Darth_Barnaby]

There really isnt anything like the Leo 1. My dad served as a driver on the danish Leo 1a5DK (upgraded a3's and a5's, so still the welded turret) in the 1990's, and also drove it in Bosnia. He always had funny stories to tell about his tours and his tank mates, and not least the tank itself! Its a shame we traded 430 leo 1's for about 50 leo 2's in the early 2000's. If nothing else, we should have kept them for the beautiful sound of the V10

[@iatsd]

Nothing like it, aside from the AMX30 - which was slightly better protected. And the OF40. And the Vickers tanks, Mk 1, 2, & 3. ;) :)

[@DavidThomas-ke7ih]

Did a lot with the 1st Armoured Regiment at good old Puka range as part of 1st Brigade 5/7 RAR Mech 89- 95 and always in the bloody winter too very cold times but very good times hearing those beasts ripping across the the range and when we were doing a combined attack, it was a scramble to so who could get to the tank telephone on the back so you could have a bludge for awhile and have a chat with the commander

[@MGB-learning]

Jason always does an Outstanding presentation of all his walkaround reviews.

[@thehat2951]

I spent some time in the belly of the leopard in the 90s as a TFCS tech. Great flashback Jason, brings back some memories.

[@dtrain1634]

One of the best channels hands down 😮 well impressed :)

[@PosthumousAddress]

What an absolutely brilliant video! You can just tell the guy knows whereof he speaks, wonderful

[@brettcoles5262]

I use to carry them all over the place back in the old 158 Transport troop days.

[@desmcharris]

I met Jason at the museum last September. Great guy to talk to, like all the staff at the museum. This was a fantastic walk through. Cheers.

[@stumclean1946]

Great as always thank you

[@jimjasper9851]

I was present at the trials and run ups of these glorious tanks in 1976 as an invited guest ( I was in RASIGs at that time) what an absolute beauty of a machine, pity to see the Centurions leave though. Top video

[@lachg1714]

Love the Leopard that’s on display in Canberra near Manuka. Seeing it lifts my spirits every time.

[@aymonfoxc1442]

It seems incredibly spaciouus!

[@steveyountz9184]

Amazing. That was soooo much information I will need to watch it a few more times to understand it all. Really great problem to have.

[@The-Master-Chief]

So I was travelling to where I’m staying for my holiday today and I have the luck to see one of the leopard as1’s on display outside. It was my first time seeing a tank in person and I really enjoyed it. If I ever come around near your museum I would definitely visit it as I am very interested in military stuff especially tanks and aircraft.

[@paoloviti6156]

I know very well the Leopard 1A2 when I was doing compulsory military service in Italy in 1971 and we Italians simply adored this tank. Very reliable and quite easy to maintain. I was very upset I couldn't drive because of my bad hearing 😢😢

[@qbi4614]

what was that?

[@paoloviti6156]

@@qbi4614 what do you mean what was that? I have impaired hearing!!

[@qbi4614]

@@paoloviti6156 SORRY, YOU WILL HAVE TO SPEAK UP.

[@paoloviti6156]

@@qbi4614 I have hearing aids!

[@sjc7853]

Belly forgot the best upgrade to the Leo, painting callsign 23B on it and naming it Bullwinkle…. Great episode and knowledge drop mate.

[@williamritchie693]

I commanded the first abrahms that got that callsign and name. 23b.

[@lukeguess5029]

Great rundown mate, well done. Some of my best time in these and the variants at the Regiment and SOA in the 80's and 90's

[@r2vape]

Somehow this came up on my suggested, amazing thorough explanation of this. Truely marvelled at what a tank actually has, had no idea about this. Thank you for this video

[@williamstoutjesdijk-ry2oz]

Good video, keep them coming…. 😃👍🏻

[@Ben_got_bored]

Go see this museum. It's in Cairns and it is so awesome that we spent well over 3 hours there looking at all the well preserved military hardware.

[@260bossute]

This guy was absolutely on top of his game! Well done!

[@jtvalente]

I love this place in Cairns! Best museum visit I’ve done in years! Can’t wait to get back! Hopefully for AusArmor fest

[@aussiedazvk4djh889]

That was a great presentation. Thank you.

[@danbusey]

Gotta LOVE someone that really knows the subject matter.

[@brenthartman502]

Fantastic video, so informative from a bloke that speaks to us all. Thanks a lot - look forward to your next one 👍

[@greg.kasarik]

HIya Mate. Former Aussie tank soldier here B, HQ and then C sqn, although I did a Corps transfer to Psych in the mid 1990s. Great to see your breakdown of the vehicle. Shame it wasn't a week ago, because I spent the afternoon, explaining fairly much all that you do in this video to a friend. Also, glad that you have some of the numbers that I couldn't find in my old manuals. Anyhow, great video. Will definitely be keeping it for future reference! 🙂

[@Zipy54]

Im going to try and make an rc tank 1/6 scale of this and this video was very useful. Great Video!

[@Christophercles]

I remember being at a family day at puckapunyal and seeing the Leopards emerge from the water, such an amazing site!

[@jaybazza248]

Love Commander Jason's reviews of any of the vehicles. He always jam-packs interesting and unknown info into his reviews

05:30 ish. I dont know about Ammunition beeing used in Australia, but German/American Heat rounds for L7 Guns also had rotating bands on them, to lessen the spinn imparted on the round whilst going through the barrel. As far as I know the negative effect of spin on the heat round is also not down to it wanting to spin of the target, but down to the negative effect on the formation of the HEAT jet. The spin makes it less coherent, and that reduces the penetration of the HEAT round massivly. A problem the french solved by using the Obus G Round with internal ball bearings.

[@Doctadeth]

If you're over West, The Army Museum of WA down in Fremantle has an AS1, as well as a couple of other really nice tanks and vehicles.

[@mongolike513]

And go see the Museum of Wrecks, brilliant. Also the ……Creek aviation museum.

[@svenomick5857]

Great to listen to someone that knows what they’re talking about

[@NPC-fl3gq]

Great video!! Well done mate, and thanks for your service!!

[@glenn8986]

WOW great in depth vid from somebody who operated one.

[@anselmdanker9519]

Thank you- very informative 😊 and thank you for your service.

[@davidbarnsley8486]

When I finished my electronics course in 89 I had two choices Puckapunyal to the tank squadron to work on the leopards or Sydney to the aviation squadron to work on helicopters I was keen on the tanks but have a young family we chose Sydney and then I ended up at Townsville on the Blackhawks So I missed the tanks but didn’t mind the flying instead I suspect you would have been there Graeme if I had gone there I still to this day think the leopard is a very good tank 👍👍👍

[@towarzyszbeagle6866]

I got to climb all over one of these when we were on COVID border deployment at Wodonga and housed in the base up there. Was a blast.

[@JRDavison]

Mate, thanks so much for your attention to detail in this post. The presenter did an awesome job and was very knowledgeable. Excellent stuff.

[@Ghostmaxi1337]

Oh my first thought about Hat Dich was, that it was just a joke name in German, Hat Dich -> Got you.

[@awf6554]

😂 That'd do as well.

[@wrxs1781]

Good video, Jason you know your tanks.

[@merlin51h84]

Love those Leopards. Great tank for what it is.

[@williammaxwell1919]

I'm enjoying the combo of "Workshop Wednesday" and an in-depth discussion of a particular tanks and self-propelled armour (when?)

[@hartle100]

Fantastic detailed information from a Pro. Thank you.

[@geeeeeee3]

That's kind of surprised at how informative and articulate he described each tank. But I doubt one of the best narratives of a tank technical information I have heard well done

[@michaelguerin56]

Great video. I understand that the Germans went for a smoothbore 120mm gun on the Leopard 2 mainly to increase barrel life.

[@kenbb99]

Wow! Expert on vehicles times expert on this vehicle = amazing knowledge.

[@tank_museum_guy]

I am always amazed (and educated) by the amount of information Jason presents in these videos. Keep them coming and Tanks.

[@clydelourensz4077]

Thanks heaps Jason. The folk at the Mount Gambia RSL really need to see your video as they have made a real hash of the paint job on the Leo they have there.

[@06colkurtz]

M48 had same gun M68 105mm. SABOT was right at 5000 feet per second. We also had beehive timed. Loader set the range and a bursted charge burster charge disbursed the flechettes. The life of the M68 gun is 4000 equivalent charges

[@MarkusJung-y1b]

This remainds me of my Service time in a Leopard 1a4 in germany. Thank you very much

[@tasman006]

Awsome vid on one of my favourite cold war tanks. Just to note they nearly saw combat service in East Timor with our forces there. They where going to be put on to a ship and sent over but it was cancelled because it was deemed overkill. Though they would have done a lot better than the Aslav to access certian areas of the Island. It was replased by the M1A1 Abrams in 2007.

[@skidlid4473]

Well done Belly, takes me waaaay back.

[@chrishewitt4220]

Brilliant talk around the Leopard, Jason. Thanks, mate! See you up in Cairns late August!

[@mecho68]

Very well-made and informative video, thanks Aussies.

[@Will-ce7tv]

I came here last year, loved it!

[@vincentwesolowski459]

Jason, I have to smile at your presentation. Your presentation exhibits the knowledge of a person who has spent many years in this tank, as you have stated. Were you an Armored Instructor?

[@jasonbelgrave2831]

I was qualified as a TTO (Trade testing Officer ) Guns and a Radio Instructor within the RAAC, however I was never at the School of Armour in that capacity as an Instructor, only within the 1st Armoured Regiment.

[@williamritchie693]

@@jasonbelgrave2831mate was an instructor on driving and serving and guns on leopard and abrahms. Mate your knowledge would have been a great benefit. Glad to see you still love the old girl.

[@paulwatson6013]

No aircon, Heater, no issue- German tank after all. Me, well played with plenty of them through the 90s into early 2000s. Good chance I played with this one. Always interesting watching the mechanics out on the test track with one minus the turret. Would cram a few extras into the hole where the turret would normally reside. Extra pickup on the throttle when u are down ~ 9 odd tonne. You could always pick the 'noobs'. They're the ones still hanging about the exhaust ports when that distinctive sound of a Leopard started rang out!!

[@johnkelley9877]

The Australian Leopard AS1 has always been one of my favorite tanks. I also just subscribed to your channel. Thank you Jason for the information on the AS1 and this was a very interesting tutorial.