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Leo C2s, Afghanistan
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It would seem that the Canadian Forces are taking some of the lessons re-learned during Operation Medusa in Afghanistan to heart. Canada’s DND:

“The heavily protected direct fire capability of a main battle tank is an invaluable tool in the arsenal of any military. The intensity of recent conflicts in Central Asia and the Middle East has shown western militaries that tanks provide protection that cannot be matched by more lightly armoured wheeled vehicles…. [Canada’s existing Leopard C2/1A5] tanks have also provided the Canadian Forces (CF) with the capability to travel to locations that would otherwise be inaccessible to wheeled light armoured vehicles, including Taliban defensive positions.”

In October 2003, Canada was set to buy the Styker/LAV-III 105mm Mobile Gun System to replace its Leopard C2 tanks. In the end, however, the lessons of war have taken Canada down a very different path – one that now has them renewing the very tank fleet they were once intent on scrapping with one of the world’s best tanks, and backing away from the wheeled vehicles that were once the cornerstone of the Canadian Army’s transformation plan. This updated article includes a full chronology for Canada’s new Leopard 2 tanks, and adds information concerning DND’s exact plans and breakdowns for their new tank fleet…

• Why New Tanks Now?
• Choices, Choices: Leopard 2s For Canada [updated]
• Next Steps and Updates [new]
• Additional Readings

Why New Tanks Now?

LAV-III: stuck & broken
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As noted above, existing Leopard 1A5-CAN tanks (designated C2) have been a welcome addition to the fighting in Afghanistan, and their MEXAS ceramic-composite armor kits and combat engineering attachments increase their versatility. The Canadian Forces are also deploying tracked M113 armored personnel carriers, which offer much less complete protection but similar mobility benefits.

Canada’s LAV-III wheeled armored personnel carriers have played useful roles, using their sensor suites and 25mm autocannon in road overwatch and patrols. The Panjwai district’s mud-brick compounds and its irrigation ditches, however, presented the LAV-IIIs with limits they could not easily overcome – and would have done the same for the LAV-III/Stryker MGS systems, had Canada gone ahead with that purchase.

Canadian sources tell DID that in addition to direct fire support from the Leopard C2s’ 105mm gun, the tanks’ heft and traction are equally significant because they can crumble low-lying brick walls by using front-mounted engineering attachments like dozer blades – or just their own weight. This clears a path for other forces, and allows the tanks to continue moving forward and providing fire support.

Leo-C2: into Afghanistan
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The Leopard C2s have their own deficiencies, however. The first – and biggest – issue, is heat. Temperatures in southern Afghanistan can reach 50C/122F in the summer time, which can easily become a life-threatening 65C/150F inside the vehicle due to its enclosed nature plus heat generated by the tank’s hydraulic systems. Australia managed to add air conditioning to its Leopard 1s, but the Canadian version has a number of unique characteristics; any retrofit project could face delays and complications. With vehicles committed to the fight and needed in the field, failure was not an option.

The second issue is protection. Even with its add-on MEXAS armor, the 1970s vintage Leopard 1s lack the all-around protection possible in the latest main battle tanks like the American M1 Abrams, German Leopard 2, et. al. The M1 TUSK and Leopard 2A6M versions can ignore single-warhead anti-tank rockets, and add belly armor kits to improve protection against IED land mines.

The third issue is electronics and maintenance. Retrofitting modern digital communications and force tracking systems into tanks like the 6th generation Leopard 1 is an effort, while 7th generation vehicles are designed and equipped to include them. In addition, by 2012 there will no longer be logistics support and spare parts for the turrets of Leopard 1s. By 2015, it may well become impossible to maintain them.

With their LAV-III MGS and the combined anti-air/anti-armor LAV-III MMEV procurements in limbo, and the tactical rationale for these programs brought into question, the Canadians chose a different path.

Choices, Choices: Leopard 2s For Canada

Snow Leopards:
C2 top, 2A6 bottom

A number of options for renewing Canada’s tank capability were considered, ranging from refurbishment to surplus to new. Buying new was also examined, but delivery time was of the essence and DND’s examination determined that the cost per vehicle meant paying up to 3 times as much for equivalent capability bought on the surplus heavy tank market. New systems entering the market like the CV90-120 light tank may offer full tracked mobility and similar firepower at less cost, but delivery time remains an issue and if weight is a tactical plus in theater, their 32-ton heft may not be ideal.

Accordingly, the Canadian government approached 6 allied nations regarding surplus main battle tank sales, and received proposals from 3 of them. It then went ahead and made two purchases.

Leopard 2A6
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Thanks in part to the great DeutschePanzerSchlussverkauf (German Panzer fire sale), the Leopard 2 and its variants have been bought by Germany, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden, and Turkey. We can now add Canada to that list.

As an interim measure to ensure the availability of air-conditioned, effective tanks on the front lines, 20 German Leopard 2A6M mine-protected tanks will be leased from Germany. They will be delivered by this summer (2007) to replace the current Leopard 1A5/C2 tanks in Afghanistan. Their electric turret systems produce less heat, and air conditioning will be added in theater. The Leopard 2A6 is the most modern variant of the Leopard 2 tank.

Leopard 2A4
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The follow-on order of 100 tanks was won by the Dutch, who are serving under NATO ISAF beside Canadian forces in southern Afghanistan. Training for 5 years and initial spares will also be provided. Cooperation between these nations is not new. Dutch PzH-2000 mobile howitzers have already proven very helpful during Operation Medusa, and so have their CH-47 Chinook medium-heavy helicopters – some of which were bought as surplus from the Canadians in the 1980s. The cycle continues. And so it goes.

In the aftermath of their sales to Norway, Denmark, and now Canada, The Dutch will be left with 110 Leopard 2A6-NL tanks in their arsenal [DID: dropping again to 73 if the proposed December 2007 sale to Portugal goes through].

Canada’s 100-tank buy includes 20 Leopard 2A6-NL, and 80 Leopard 2A4s. Why 100? Because Canada’s Department of National Defence believes this is the minimum fleet size to support a deployed tank squadron:

Badger AEV
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40 for deployed operations. The Canadian Forces need 2 combat-ready squadrons of approximately 20 tanks each: one for deployment and a second for rotation into theater to allow for depot repair and overhaul of the first.

40 for training. An additional two squadrons of 20 tanks each are required for collective and individual training in Canada: individual training at the Combat Training Centre at CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick and squadron training at CFB Wainwright at the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre in Alberta. These tanks do not need the same up-armoring conversion as the 2A6Ms, but they do need the same guns ad electronics if training is to be faithful.

20 specialists. The final 20 vehicles will consist of key support vehicles such as armored recovery vehicles (Canada’s Leopard 1 version: Taurus ARV, one was deployed to Afghanistan), armored bridge-laying vehicles (Canada’s Leopard 1 version: Beaver bridge-launcher), and armored engineering vehicles (Canada’s Leopard 1 version: Badger AEV, also deployed to Afghanistan and used in preference to LAV-III engineering vehicles). See DID’s coverage of the Swiss “Geniepanzer” purchase for the Leopard 2 “Kodiak AEV” variant. The 20 Leopard 2A4s would make good Kodiak conversion stock. On the other hand, without turrets that drive a 2015 expiration date, it may be practical for Canada to simply keep many of their existing Badger and Taurus vehicles for this role.

In the end, the 20 specialist vehicles were reduced to 8 ARV-3 Armored Recovery Vehicles, and 12 vehicles used for spare parts.

Next Steps and Updates

Leopard 2A6-PSO
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March 19/08: Canada’s plans for its new Leopard tanks are now clear. Germany will be offered 20 of the Dutch Leopard 2 A6NLs, converted to match German equipment and standards, as replacements for their loaned tanks in Afghanistan. This allows Canada to keep the German tanks in Afghanistan, and saves a great deal of money on shipping. Another 20 Dutch tanks might be upgraded to Leopard 2 A6M CAN standard (creating a force of 40), but a final decision has yet to be made.

Of the 80 Leopard 2A4 tanks, the 40 training tanks will receive a longer L55 120mm smoothbore gun like the Leopard 2A6M, but not the additional armor. The number of these Leopard 2 A4+ tanks in Canada’s inventory may rise to 60 if Canada decides not to have 40 2A6M CAN models right now, and elects to leave the add-on armor and remaining 2A6M conversion as a pre-deployment option.

The remaining 20 Leopard 2 A4s will see 8 converted to Bergepanzer 3/ Buffel Armored Recovery Vehicles: 2 deployable, 2 in reserve, and 4 for training. These vehicles can be used to tow Canadian armored vehicles out of trouble, and can perform light combat engineering. The other 12 tanks will be used as sources of spares. CASR report & MERX solicitation W8476-080001/A.

Dec 14/07: Canada signs a formal purchase agreement with the Netherlands for the purchase of 100 Leopard 2 battle tanks. The ceremony is held at the De Salaberry Armoury in Gatineau, Quebec, near the capital city of Ottawa. The Canadian Forces release once again offers a breakdown of 40 deployable, 40 training, and 20 specialty vehicles (“i.e. tanks for laying bridges, armoured repair vehicles and armoured engineering vehicles.”).

Aug 16/07: The first leased German Leopard 2A6M tanks arrive in Afghanistan, carried in on a leased AN-124 aircraft Source.

AEV-3 Geniepanzer/ Kodiak
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July 25/07: “Canadians train on the Leopard 2A6M” discusses ongoing training in Munster, Germany for Canada’s future Leopard 2A6M crews. Training actually began in May 2007 [source], and Germany will be the training site for Canada’s next 2 deployment rotations to Afghanistan. See also CF video.

April 12/07: Canada and the Netherlands announce an agreement in principle for 100 tanks. At this point, Canada’s Department of National Defence is still negotiating government-to-government agreements with Germany and the Netherlands, and expects to pay C$ 650 million (then about $570 million) for the lease, the purchase, required “Canadianization” upgrades, and initial spare parts. The money will come “from existing departmental allocations,” which in all likelihood means the monies once set aside for wheeled LAV-III variants. The German Leopard 2A6Ms were sent to Afghanistan in Summer 2007.

Once negotiations are complete, the DND statement said that that Dutch Leopard 2 tanks will be transported to Canada, for necessary upgrades to final Canadian Forces standards. That standards set is unclear at this point, and could resemble Leopard 2A6 Peace Support Operation standards that add combat engineering, improved armor, and other enhancements well-suited for operations in Afghanistan. It is also unclear how many of the Leopard 2A4 taks could end up being converted into ARV-3 Bergenpanzer Armored Recovery Vehicles, AEV-3 Kodiak Armored Engineering Vehicles, et. al.

This process presents a pair of industry opportunities: upgrade work, and long-term support of the new Canadian Leopard 2 fleet. The Canadian DND expects to issue RFPs in these areas once government-government negotiations are complete. Industrial offsets will be expected from foreign bidders. Dutch MvD release [in Dutch] | Canadian DND Backgrounder | Canadian DND release.

Additional Readings

• Canadian DND – Current Operations.

• Armor Site – Leopard 2. By far the best reference available for the Leopard 2 and all its variants.

• KMW (June 23/06) – Leopard 2 PSO Peace Support Operation release. Developed by KMW as a privately-financed initiative.

• Defense Update – Leopard 2 PSO

• Rheinmetall Defence – Armoured Recovery Vehicle 3 Buffalo. The vehicle will almost certainly have a different designation in Canada, due to a name conflict.

• DID (Jan 15/07) – I Dream of Geniepanzer: Swiss Order 12 Leopard-2 Engineering Vehicles. Covers the new AEV-3 Kodiak. Now it has also been ordered by the Dutch and Swedes.

• Army.ca – Leopard C2

• Army.ca – Badger AEV

• CASR – Hard Numbers – CF Afghanistan Casualties by Vehicle Type. Note that many of the LAV-III casualties stem from the practice of riding with soldiers’ bodies outside of various hatches. This is the result of a tradeoff between the need for all-around awareness, and the benefits of having locals see your faces and presence; and protection.

• CASR – Assessing the Threats to CF Leopard Tanks in Afghanistan: IEDs are Bad Enough. Are Leopards Facing Guided Missiles?

• CASR (May 2007) – Leopard-kampvogne til Afghanistan?: a Little Help from our Friends. Looks like Canada won’t be the only NATO country with Leopard 2 tanks in Afghanistan. Denmark looks set to take 5 of its Leopard 2A5-DKs in country…

• Dutch MvD (April 12/07) – Nederland Verkoopt Leopard Tanks Aan Canada

• Canadian DND (April 12/07) – Backgrounder: Renewing the Canadian Forces’ Tank Capability

• Canadian DND (April 12/07) – Protection the top priority with tank acquisition

• Toronto Star (April 5/07) – Defence minister defends use of aging tanks in Kandahar. “Earlier this week, Gen. Andrew Leslie, Canada’s top army officer, said he might have to pull the tanks out of service this summer because of the heat.”

• Halifax Chronicle Herald (April 4/07) – Green light on new tanks. Reported rumors of the recently-announced buy, and added: “The army now has 17 of its old 45-tonne tanks patrolling the desert and dirt roadways of rural Kandahar. The biggest drawback to the vehicles is their lack of air conditioning in a climate where daytime summer temperatures soar above 50C. Defence Department researchers have looked at installing air conditioners in the vehicles but that would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per vehicle. Another idea proposes to give tank crews cooling vests – the same kind used by race car drivers – but they would be cumbersome when layered along with existing body armour.”

• CASR – Background – Leopard 2 A6M / 2 A4 Tanks for the Canadian Forces?

• CASR (December 2006) – Punching at Panjwaii – Canadian Leopard Tanks in Combat

• US Air Force Link (Oct 10/06) – ‘Spirit of McChord’ gives Canadians a lift. Ferrying Leopards to Afghanistan.

• Canadian DND (Sept 15/06) – Military Strengthens its Reconstruction and Stabilization Efforts in Afghanistan. Announces deployments of additional vehicles and units.

• Canadian Press (July 8/06) – Harsh climate, terrain take toll on Canadian military gear in Afghanistan. Note that all temperatures are in metric, so “60 degrees” means 140F. Vehicle surfaces or interiors without air conditioning may indeed get that hot, but surface temperatures do not. Quote: “For the most part it is putting stuff back together again with bubble-gum and tape, whatever you can think of at the time,” said Cpl. Kirk Lewis of Salisbury, N.B. “As soon you get off the highway and into the wadis (dry river beds) – it’s the suspension, the tires, the heat, the strain of driving up and down the hills all day at slow speeds and high idle. It just seems to murder the vehicles.”

• Designated Import (July 29/06) – Canadians on the front lines of Afghanistan. Email account of a Canadian LAV commander’s experiences during the Battles of Panjawai: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Includes descriptions of the US and British efforts, as this was a multinational operation – again, the good, the bad, and the ugly are depicted. DID cannot verify the email’s authenticity, but we believe it to be so.

• CASR – Climate Control Systems for Leopard Tanks in Afghanistan. Notes the Australian experience.

• Pentagon’s DefendAmerica.MIL (April 28/05) – Afghan Army Gets Armored Personnel Carriers. The the 2nd Kandak (Battalion) Mechanized Infantry, in the 201st Corps’ 3rd Brigade, located in Kabul receives 63 M113A2s and 16 M577 command vehicles. The vehicles do not appear to have advanced armor, and they also lack the upgraded engines and transmissions of the M113A3 variant. The The U.S. M113A2s are classified as “excess defense articles,” which allows them to be donated.

• Canadian DND (Oct 29/03) – Minister of National Defence Announces Acquisition of a Mobile Gun System. This project was eventually canceled.

Additional Readings: Doctrinal

LAV-III, FOB Robinson
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TAW (Sept 19/04) – MacGregor on the Army’s Transformation Plan. Excerpts from Col. MacGregor’s testimony to the House Armed Services Committee on July 15/04. See this PDF file for the full transcript.

Armor (March-April 2004) – Transformation Under Fire: Revolutionizing How America Fights. Reviews Col. Douglas MacGregor’s book of that name.

Canadian DND (Oct 22/03) – Embracing Reallocation, Embracing Change. Speech by The Honourable John McCallum, P.C., M.P. Minister of National Defence to the Canadian Defence Industries Association. Note that this represents the former plan, and the previous Canadian Liberal Party government.

M113A3 ‘TLAV,’ May 2007
FOB Gundi Ghar
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Parameters (Autumn 2001) – Army Transformation: A Tale of Two Doctrines

American Reformation Project (Dec 7/2000) – Memorandum to Secretary of Defense Designate Donald Rumsfeld: A Feasibility Study on the Chief of Staff of the Army’s Transformation Plan. Argues for Gen. Shelton’s dissent over Gen. Shinseki’s ideas, and is highly skeptical of the Future Combat Systems concept as a combat solution.