Tried to get this out early this morning but, exprienced log-in issues.
My focus is simply to close the loop concerning the
LEOPARD 2A6FIN. The
previous/last post is an
important part of this process.
I can say
without a doubt in my mind that, operationally speaking, the Dutch
LEOPARD 2NLA6 and the Finnish
LEOPARD 2A6FIN are the same tanks. So a
direct copy will work in this case into Finland's OOB.
Units noted in my last.
Several other items were bought along with the tanks to include the
trainers (
Which were the only item to be later upgraded by THALES. The trainers will be completely made current. The advantage for the Finnish Army is should they decide to further upgrade these tanks in the future, the crews will be able to train on the new systems before they are put into the tanks.),
Ammo and
Engineer tanks.
Also in the search for any further upgrades to the
LEOPARD 2A6FIN, the only other item that came up was that Finland will be buying additional ammo for these tanks from
Israel during
this and next year. I did not save that article as again I don't think there's that much difference between the ammo made by
Elbit Land Systems (
Formally IMI.) and
Rheinmetall of Germany where the Dutch bought theirs from. But most of this buy is for
HE 120mm tank ammo.
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/n...rd-2a6fin-mbts
(Bottom para with the upgrades made, again non-game issues.)
But a two week earlier ref brings up the next issue, this concerning
UNIT 024 LEOPARD A24S it would appear, well let me do it this way first from the next ref...
"The
Leopard 2A6s will replace the Finnish Army’s
Leopard 2A4s as the main battle tank of the Finnish Army. The
Leopard 2A4s have been moved into reserve or training units following the delivery of Leopard 2A6s, with the
exception of 12 that were converted into combat engineering and bridging vehicles, and will remain in frontline service. The Finnish Army will retain them (
2A4s-mine) for driver training and as a source of spare parts for the Leopard 2A6s." So...
OP#1: If we accept the following from above, "The Leopard 2A6s
will replace the Finnish Army’s Leopard 2A4s as the main battle tank of the Finnish Army."
AND assuming the last batch (
OCT. 2019.) became operational by
JAN. 2020 then I recommend
UNIT 024 LEOPARD 2A4S END date be changed to
JAN. 2020 vice DEC. 2025.
OP#2: But if we go with the next sentence from above, "The Leopard 2A4s
have been moved into reserve or training units following the delivery of Leopard 2A6s (Which delivery?-Mine), with the exception of 12 that were converted into combat engineering and bridging vehicles, and will remain in frontline service." As I go on in the below para,
it's anyone's guess.
Given the
ambiguity of those two statements, I rather would want to go with
OP#1 and be "
SAFER THEN SORRIER", I feel it's the best option as I can't find
anything to support the same for an earlier date for
withdrawal of the Finnish
LEOPARD 2A4S from frontline service. I can even see and support
NLT JUN. 2020 as well if you think it best. Certainly the
LEOPARD 2A6FIN (Last batch received last OCT. 2019.) would've been fully integrated into the Finnish Army by last month and there haven't been any articles to the contrary, I came across in my search on both these tanks.
https://www.overtdefense.com/2019/10...a6s-delivered/
An early article concerning the
first delivery. You'll notice the information has stayed
consistent from May 2015 through essentially NOV. 2019.
https://world-defense.com/threads/fi...herlands.2134/
Now I'm off to bed, before someone thinks, it's with my head for not going to bed sooner!?!
Almost forgot we'll need another LEOPARD 2A6FIN with HE ammo as they got that from the Dutch and the buy from Elbit Land Systems will primarily consist of HE ammo as also.
Regards,
Pat
