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Originally Posted by SubSerpent
I wonder why? The A2 viariant is a better machine than the A1, probably the best MBT in the world. I think they should add it in, after all there are 3 versions of the Leo represented.
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No, only two Leo 2 and one Leo 1 - but in no way you can include them in the same tank family - the Leo 1 has nothing in common and has nothing to do with the Leo2 family. Leo2 is not a later developement or evolution phase of the Leo 1, but was a totally new design from scratch. the Leo 2 shares more similiarities with the Abrams than with the Leo1. Both vehicles also represent very different design philosophies. The Leo1 in principle is a heavy tank turret mounted on a medium tank-hull (both rates heavy and medium according to their timeframe). It was to beat the enemy by outmaneuvering missiles that were relatively new at it's time. The T-72 which was to counter the M60 and the Leo1, was a very well designed machine for that job of neutralizing these two new Western tanks. The later Leo2, however, is one of the remnants of the attempted US-German joint venture for a new tank, a project that later was given up. It is truly a heavy turret on a heavy hull, and now armour played a much more important role instead of agility (it still outperforms a Leo1 in that regard which is very amazing considerng the differences and the higher weight). In fact, the US army was considering to buy the Leo2 for some time, but later that was scrapped in favour of a more patriotic solution of producing a truly American tank - the Abrams. both tanks exchanged some design components, however, most famous the German Rheinmetall 120mm cannon which replaced the Abram's initial 105mm.