KF51 Panther

[eleks12 1,079]

Hi Guys.

 

Today i want to Suggest the latest Prototype coming out of the factory at Rheinmetall. The KF51.

 

 

 

Background.

 

On June 13 2022 Rheinmetall officially presented their latest tank at the Eurosatory 2022 show. I bring a new Turret on a heavily modified Leopard 2A4 hull chassis. With the latest gun being the Rh-130 L/51 130mm Cannon.

Due to this being a new Prototype. Not much is known about the KF51. The tank showcases it's abillity to uprade old Leopard 2 hulls from the ground up to the very latest standards of Main Battle Tanks. The tank has a new Turret able to carry the 130 mm L/51 is showcased to be loaded by an autoloader. However the amount of Crew is still 4 with a Driver, Gunner, Comander and a Drone/Radio operator.

The Armor is completly classified. But from my guesstimation. It seems to be a significant uprade to the Current Leopard 2A7 currently in service with the German military. Using what appears to be Composite Side skirts and Turret cheecks simular to the Leopard 2A4 Revolution.

After the showcase. It is believed to be one of the main contenders for Germany's next tank acquisition alongside the Franco/German EMBT program.

One of the main interresting features of this tank is it's abilities is it's Drone launcher on top of the Turret. It is able to use to both for reconnaissance and kamakazi strikes simular to the US Switchblades.

 

 

 

The Rh-130 L/51 130mm Smoothbore cannon background.

 

Going into specific details about the 130mm cannon is that it is intended to counter the most modern tanks in the world like the Russian T-14 Armata. The Ammunition for the L/52 is believed to both DM-73 APFSDS in a larger cartridge, A Next Generation of APFSDS which uses a semi combustible cartridge case, A programable HE round which can be both an Airburst or an Impact round, And a Anti Bunker round which in War Thunder would work similar to APHE.

The L/52 cannon is said to have a 50% increase in Performance comparred to the Rh-120 L/55 120mm gun. So if we take the DM-73 APFSDS which is said to have a penetration of around 850mm to 950 mm against RHA while using the 120mm L/55. But if we use this shell in the 130mm L/52 cannon the Penetration could be around 1050mm to 1150mm against RHA.

 

 

 

Armor speculation.

While the both the Armor layout and NERA elements of the turret is currently unknown. The best speculation that could be brought for the turret is that it would most likely be better than the Leopard 2A7 variants. And guessing from the pictures I would argue that the turret front is aprotimatly 1000mm of RHA and the turret sides being diffirent. And there is also the possibility that the turret are using armored screens like the ingame Leopard 2A5 both in the Front and Side turret.

As for the main hull armor. It is believed to be identical to the standard Leopard 2A4.

 

 

Imagespam

Spoiler

 

 

 

Hero-120 Loitering munitions

 

https://uvisionuav.com/portfolio-view/hero-120/

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/hero-120-loitering-munition-selected-for-usmc-opf-m-system-requirement

 

 

TAPS - Top Attack Protection System - Roof APS

 

 

Cameras and sensors overview

 

 

Rear Autoloaders without the Hero-120 Drone launchers

 

 

 

specifications.

 

 

 

In War Thunder

 

In War Thunder i believe this tank could be perfect for an end of the line German Ground Tree Vehicle. When we eventually get to the most modern vehicles currently in service. And i guess this would be a great vehicle at a future BR of over 12.0.

 

 

Endnote

 

Hope you like the Suggestion. And if i made any errors please feel free to respond. And i will see you in Battle. 

 

 

Sources

 

Rheinmetall – Panther KF51 main battle tank (rheinmetall-defence.com)

 

Rheinmetall - Latest News

 

Ελληνικός Στρατός: Χτίζοντας το μέλλον των ελληνικών Τεθωρακισμένων, η περίπτωση των νέων αρμάτων μάχης Panther Kf-51 - Defence Review

 

Weltpremiere des mittleren Kampfpanzers KF51 Panther (esut.de)

 

Rheinmetall Debuts KF51 Panther Main Battle Tank At Eurosatory 2022 - MilitaryLeak

 

KF51 Panther – Rheinmetall stellt Kampfpanzer mit 130-mm-Kanone vor | STERN.de

 

ronkainen7k15

 

 

Edited December 18, 2022 by eleks12
more sources.

[kurururocks 210]

Open for discussion

[戦闘妖精雪風 18]

too ugly

[Epsilon160 270]

I mean, we'll probably get there eventually. also the turret is comically large.

[Evo3s 55]

Love how it looks, pretty much a futuristic Leopard. Absolutely digging it's looks (and finally a Leopard 2 with an auto-loader excluding the PT16 then)

 

[WreckingAres283 4,262]

 

Edited August 22, 2022 by WreckingAres283

[Arakneo 856]

the hull of the panther is the hull of a 2A4 with external composite add on so it should be sligthly above the Strv 122 level of protection but still remain weak compared to a 2A7

[Kingtiez@live 606]

+1 but not until vehicles such as the Armata and other similar capable vehicles.

[dotEXCEL 5,969]

hell yes (for when gaijin decides to introduce the T-14)

1 hour ago, WreckingAres283 said:

....yea...nice.......

 

@WreckingAres283too slow my man

Edited June 14, 2022 by dotEXCEL

[dotEXCEL 5,969]

@eleks12
https://bit.ly/39hFJ6H
link contains walkaround pics of a friend of mine
 

 

[dotEXCEL 5,969]

4K Wallpaper
Enjoy guys

[PlanyKaanere 722]

Here's more on the loitering munitions, the HERO-120

 

https://uvisionuav.com/portfolio-view/hero-120/

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/hero-120-loitering-munition-selected-for-usmc-opf-m-system-requirement

[WreckingAres283 4,262]

44 minutes ago, dotEXCEL said:

@WreckingAres283too slow my man

 

Slow ?  I do it at least thoroughly and with effort ... Not that I mentioned it often enough that I would make it ...

 

[dotEXCEL 5,969]

42 minutes ago, WreckingAres283 said:

 

Slow ?  I do it at least thoroughly and with effort ... Not that I mentioned it often enough that I would make it ...

 

i know it was a joke, just post your suggestion in here as addon to the OP's @WreckingAres283

Edited June 14, 2022 by dotEXCEL

[PEAKVIRGIN 1,254]

all of the br choices seems too low xD 

[WreckingAres283 4,262]

4 hours ago, dotEXCEL said:

i know it was a joke, just post your suggestion in here as addon to the OP's @WreckingAres283

 

I definitily won´t waste my time for that, either I make the suggestion or not at all

 

I don´t even start thinking about doing an "additional" suggestion when there is one already, no matter how bad it is

_{(not refering to this one)}

 

Edited June 14, 2022 by WreckingAres283

[dotEXCEL 5,969]

5 minutes ago, WreckingAres283 said:

 

I definitily won´t waste my time for that, either I make it or not

 

would increase the chance of consideration... but hey... suit yourself

[Fireraid233 4,274]

+1

[WreckingAres283 4,262]

4 hours ago, dotEXCEL said:

would increase the chance of consideration

 

You can suggest this thing a thousend times or even spam post "KF-51 when ?" all day, neither will affect the consideration or implimentaion into the game in any way - I won´t waste a day of work for a 50% / additional suggestion  

 

4 hours ago, dotEXCEL said:

... but hey... suit yourself

 

??

 

Edited June 14, 2022 by WreckingAres283
I am still pissed

[eleks12 1,079]

5 hours ago, PlanyKaanere said:

Here's more on the loitering munitions, the HERO-120

 

https://uvisionuav.com/portfolio-view/hero-120/

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/hero-120-loitering-munition-selected-for-usmc-opf-m-system-requirement

 

Will add it to the OP. Can see i didn't mention the loitering munitions that much while being a key part of this new machine! 

[Milocat 4,854]

Looks pretty cool, if the game goes full modern this would be fun to see.  +1.

 

[konngou0224@psn 583]

On 6/14/2022 at 12:43 AM, eleks12 said:

Armor speculation.

While the both the Armor layout and NERA elements of the turret is currently unknown. The best speculation that could be brought for the turret is that it would most likely be better than the Leopard 2A7 variants. And guessing from the pictures I would argue that the turret front is aprotimatly 1000mm of RHA and the turret sides being diffirent. And there is also the possibility that the turret are using armored screens like the ingame Leopard 2A5 both in the Front and Side turret.

As for the main hull armor. It is believed to be identical to the standard Leopard 2A4.

The tanks are lightweight for the huge guns, many added components and external modules.

Following the logic Gaijin uses against Japan, the armor on the KF51 would be worse than the 2A7 (or Strv122).

[spacenavy90 1,402]

You guys are fast haha

Sure, why not?

[TERVEPIG3 23]

On 14/06/2022 at 14:17, Arakneo said:

the hull of the panther is the hull of a 2A4 with external composite add on so it should be sligthly above the Strv 122 level of protection but still remain weak compared to a 2A7

For Sure it is not a 2A4 Hull. It is going to participate for the new Tank after the Leopard 2 for the Bundeswehr. 

 

[Arakneo 856]

11 hours ago, TERVEPIG3 said:

For Sure it is not a 2A4 Hull. It is going to participate for the new Tank after the Leopard 2 for the Bundeswehr. 

 

yeah sorry but the version that was shown at eurosatory is cleary a modified 2A4, even the turret armored block remain those of a 2A4 as shown here 

Spoiler

 

credits goes at scav for the pic

 

wich make sense with the 59t figures.