Trumpeter – 07193 – Leopard 2A6M CAN МВТ

Description:

Unassembled plastic model kit in 1/72 scale of a Canadian Leopard 2A6M tank, note than this M designation is not the same than for German Leopard A26 from 2015, but an earlier series of modification for its service during the deployment in Afghanistan, operating from 2007 to 2011.

20 Leopard 2A6 where initially loaned by Germany to Canada, during the deployment in Afghanistan, and once the operation ended they were acquired by Canada, in Canada purchased another 20 Leopard 2A6 and send them to Germany, retaining the original leaned vehicles.

These Canadian Leopards has some interesting modifications, the “M” designation comes from the mine protection belly armor that was added. You’ll notice the distinctive tan-colored boxes mounted on the rear of the turret, which house Canadian Forces’ designated communications and anti-IED (improvised explosive device) jamming gear, including the “T” antenna stands and stand-off slat armor.

Up front, the upper hull got an armored plate by the driver’s hatch.

Trumpeter address most of these modifications with a new separate sprue, where the slat armor is probably the most noticeable, but it also contains the communication boxes for the rear turret and also the distinctive T shaped antennas located in the upper rear turret part. All together kit consists in just around 50 parts, as hull, turret or tracks are very simplified in a small number of parts.