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 The
Norwegian Army bought 52 used Leopard 2A4 MBT's from the Dutch
Army. The agreement was signed February 8 2001 and is worth
1,5 billion NOK
The first tanks was delivered in December 2001. The German
produced tanks were build for the Dutch Army from 1983 to
1985, and have been slightly used. The Norwegian Army are
pleased with the high standard of the used equipment.
The 52 Leopard 2's will replace 59 obsolete Leopard 1A1NO.
They will be phased out acording to the CFE agreement.
The Dutch army has reduced the number of tanks in service
from 900 to 180 in few years. Chile, Austria and Norway are
some of the buyers of used tanks.
When the tanks arrive Norway, they will be modified, upgraded
and adapted for Norwegian conditions. The smoke dischargers and machine gun mount will be changed from Dutch to Norwegian vesion, and Norwegian radio will be mounted. Leopard 2A4/A6 is not an issue in Norway.
 In
1978 Norway took delivery of 78 Leopard 1 (Resembling the
German Leopard 1, 4th batch). The Norwegian vehicles underwent
a modernisation programme ended in 1994, when the hydraulic
gun control system was replaced by an all-electric system
and EMES 18 Fire Control System installed, bringing them up
to A5-standard. A further batch of 92 Leopard 1A5 have been
upgraded for the Norwegian Army, designated Leopard 1A5NO2,
with additional turret armour and silenced thermal sight.
The Norwegian Leopard has an external snow grouser box mounted
on the glacis plate, and the commander has an additional high
front periscope.
The tank crew of a Norwegian tank are prescripted "dragoons"
(private) and an officer trained at the Cavalry
Officer Academy (BSK). The crew serves in the cavalry
for one year only. It is not possible to work as a professional
soldier. The crew consists of a driver, loader, gunner and
the commander. A "tropp" (platoon) is made up by
four tanks, where two tanks are commanded by sergeants, one
by a second leutenant and the platoon leader is a leutenant.
Three platoons forms a "eskadron" (company) lead
by a "rittmester" (captain).
Today Norway has a tank fleet of 170 Leopard 1. This tank
is too small for the modern battlefield, and has a weak 105mm
main gun. But it has great mobility - needed in the Norwegian
mountainous terrain. In fact the Leopard 1A5 outrun all IFVs/APCs
during the APC purchase test program. Finaly the CV9030N managed
to drive where the Leopard coulnd't reach, but the belt had
to be upgraded and adjusted to Norwegian conditions in order
to do so. The Bradley was one of the weakest.
The old Leopard 1A1 are phased out, and the army is looking
for a succesor. The replacement must be a modern powerful
tank, capable of beeing deployed in Nato or UN missions. Leopard
2 is probably the chosen tank, and The Netherlands are selling
out used Leopard 2A4. Within 2015 Norway will probably have
replaced all their Leopard 1 serie tanks.
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The First Norwegian battle
tank was the light M24 Chaffee. The tank was made in the USA,
and was part of the Marshall Aid. The Chafee was in use from
1945 to 1970. (The pre WWII tanks made in Sweden was not widely
used, and is not taken care of)
In addition, the Norwegian armed forces
had some medium battle tank, PzKW III. Made in Germany. In
use from 1948 to 1960
Medium battle tank M48/M48A5. (Also as
recovery vehicle). Made in the USA. In use from 1963. Now
out of service.
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