Canada in Afghanistan

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

This ought to put a smile on a few face overs there...

The real question, though, is what are they going to do with our Leo1s?

August 16, 2007

German Leopard 2 tanks arrive in Kandahar

By MARTIN OUELLET

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CP) - The first of 20 Leopard 2 tanks Canada has leased from Germany arrived in Kandahar this morning aboard an Antonov transport aircraft.

The tank operators encountered a minor technical glitch with the turrets, but military spokesman Capt. Hubert Genest says the problem can be repaired easily.

The rest of the tanks will be shipped in the coming weeks. They are replacing the aging Leopard 1 tanks, which were made three decades ago and are currently being used in battle.

Col. Christian Juneau, the deputy-commander of Canadians in southern Afghanistan, says the new tanks will increase security because of their superior firing capability and protection from landmines.

But Lt.-Col. Stephane Lafaut, the incoming commander of the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team in Afghanistan, says the new tanks won't give Canadian soldiers much more protection from roadside bombings.

He says insurgents tend to target less robust vehicles, like Canada's LAV3, Nyala and Bison armoured vehicles. Still, he says the tanks will likely make a "difference" in the field because they project an image of strength.

"It's another weapon in our arsenal," Lafaut said. "It could give our soldiers more confidence and be a bit of a shock for enemy troops."

Over the longer term, Canada will get 100 more Leopard 2 tanks from the Netherlands. The first shipment is set for the fall of 2008.