File:Leclerc-openphotonet_PICT6015.JPG · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Type
- Main battle tank
- Place of origin
- France
- In service
- 1992–present
- Wars
- Operation Joint Guardian , UNIFIL , Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)
- Designed
- 1983–1989
- Manufacturer
- KNDS France
- Unit cost
- €16 million (FY2022)
- Produced
- 1990–2008 (The last unit was produced in 2007 and the production line was closed, although Nexter retains the capability to build more if there is a need)
- Number span no built
- ≈862
- Mass
- Series 1: 54.5 tonnes Series 2: 56.3 tonnes Series XXI : 57.4 tonnes
- Length
- 9.87 m (6.88 without gun )
- Width
- 3.60 m
- Height
- 2.53 m
- Crew
- 3 (Commander, gunner, driver)
- Armour
- Modular composite armour, SXXI version include titanium and semi-reactive layers.
- Main armament
- GIAT CN120-26/52 120mm tank gun , 40 rounds (1 round ready to fire in the chamber, 22 rounds inside the autoloader magazine with additional 18 rounds cylinder in the hull)
- Secondary armament
- 12.7 mm coaxial M2HB machine gun (1,100 rounds) 7.62 mm machine gun (3,000 rounds)
- Engine
- V8X SACM ( Wärtsilä ) 8-cylinder diesel engine , 1,100 kW (1,500 hp)
via Wikipedia infobox
~27 min read
Encyclopedic overview
The Leclerc is a third-generation French main battle tank developed and manufactured by KNDS France. It was named in honour of Marshal Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, a commander of the Free French Forces, who led the 2nd Armoured Division in World War II.
The Leclerc is in service with the French Army, Jordanian Army and the United Arab Emirates Army. In production since 1991, the Leclerc entered French service in 1992, replacing the AMX-30 as the country's main armoured platform. With production now complete, the French operate 222 Leclercs (with 184 more in storage, for a total of 406), while the United Arab Emirates (UAE) possesses 388.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Leclerc” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.