Leopard 2A4  

In 1998, Denmark reveiced 18 Leopard 2A4s from German stocks, with another 33 on it's way. . These tanks are to be modernized to a 2A5+ level, started in 1999. The goal is to make them equivalent to the Swedish Stridsvagn 122. For further detail about the tank, see the Leopard 2 page.

  Leopard 1A5-DK  

Denmark adopted a total of 120 tanks, which were Leopard 1A3 (designated Leopard 1 DK). The delivery ended in the autumn of 1978. Later these tanks were upgraded to Leopard 1A5-DK. These are not identical to the German A5's, because they still has the welded turret. The A5 was fitted with the EMES 18 fire control system, thermal sleece for the gun, muzzle reference collimator at the end of the barrel, laser rangefinder and thermal image device

All Danish Leopard 1MBTs were modified to carry either a dozer blade or tracked width mine plough (TWMP). The Danish variant has stowage boxes above the track skirts in place of the usual external tools mounted there. A Danish tank company consist of 10 mbt's. One for the company leader, and 3x3 platoons. In each platoon there is a tank fitted with the dozer-KVG.

The Danish tanks used to be equiped with a camouflage matting, but this was later removed due to the difficulty to decontaminate it.

The tank crew are trained to fire at targets beyond the range of the firing computer. To succed this task, they have to learn basic artilley skills and calculate the gun elevation with a manual calculator. This is tough because Denmark is just as flat as the ocean.

Denmark is the only Scandinavian country to enter "war" with a modern tank force. In the autumn of 1993, the Leopard 1A5-DK (three with dozer blade and three with mine plow, designated Leopard 1 DK 1 in SFOR service) supported by one Bergepanzer 2 AVLB and four M113 APC went to Tuzla, Bosnia as a part of the UNPROFOR force. They earned great respect down there. They had to deploy from Split to Tuzla by tank transporters and their own tracks. During that journey they fired two 105 mm rounds at a Serbian 40 mm gun, destroying it. In another incident, incoming fire from light infantry weapons, fired from fortified Serbian positions, was answered with several rounds. The Danish also destroyed mortar postitions, bunkers and missile launchers. For service with UNPROFOR, the Danish Leopards mounted halogen searchlight "loanded" from the MK41 DK-1 light tank on the mantlet, which becam a very useful tool. The tank also had a air conditioning system fitted. The area immediately in front of the EMES 18 housing is painted black in order to stop reflections from confusing the gunner's sight. Most of the tanks carried an additional stowage box, "borrowed" from old Danish trucks, on the turret rear. (Shown on the picture of the white tank).

When NATO agreed the ceasefire in Bosnia in 1995, the IFOR was established, and the Danish units joined this force. And later they joined SFOR and KFOR.

Today, Denmark has 230 Leopard 1 in service.

  Centurion  

The Centurion was developed in 1945, and was the British first post war tank. Approx 4000 tanks were built. They are in service in Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa and Sweden. Denmark had a total of 216 MBTs.

It is armed with the English 105 mm L7A1 gun (the Leopard 1 has the L7A3) and the German MG 62 machine gun. Some tanks were upgraded with laser rangefinder and night vision equipment in 1985. Some were equipped with dozer blades.

According to the CFE-treaty (Negotiation on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe) of 1990, Denmark were only allowed to posses 300 MBT´s. As a result 146 Centurions have been demolished from 1993 - 1995. 2 of those went to museums, 8 to static display and 8 as targets for the shooting range.

The tank is now phased ouit, but was lately in service at the Island of Bornholm in a defencive role.

  M41 DK-1 Walker Bulldog Light Tank  

The M41 was developed in the US shortly after the Second World War to replace the M24 Chaffee light tank. First production vehicles were completed in mid- 1951 and 5,500 vehicles were completed by the late 1950s. In US Army service it was replaced by the M551 Sheridan light tank.

Driver sits front left, turret in centre and engine and transmission rear. Commander sits on turret right with gunner in front and loader on left side of turret.

The 76 mm gun power-elevates from -9° to +19° with turret traverse 360°, and fires HE, HEAT, HVAP-DS-T, HVAP-T, HVTP-T smoke and training rounds. A 7.62 mm machine gun is mounted on turret roof for anit-aircraft defence.

The Danish version has many improvement from the original design. It is fitted with a new engine, NBC system, thermal sights and skirts. it is the only tank that is "made" (modified) in Denmark.

The M41 DK-1 was phased out in 1998. They were lately primary used in the cavalry. Latest on the island Bornholm by the Light Tank Squadron. No one is preserved. One went as an museum object, the rest became target practice.

   Link to other resources:   

• More info regarding the new Leopard 2A5DK
• Hærens Kampskole
• Preserved AFV's in Denmark