Historical Skins: Leopard Evolution “Schweppermann”

[p]Commanders![/p][p]We have recently shown you the new camouflages we will have for you in the future but that’s not all the German-themed content we will have for you. We’ll also be introducing the first skin for the Leopard Evolution Main Battle Tank called “Schweppermann.”[/p][p][/p][p]Now, we promised we’d continue with the topic of knights and here it is. This skin paints the Leopard 2 Evolution in Bundeswehr colors, including its camouflage and unit insignia. Now, the skin is obviously not based on a specific one vehicle because Leopard Evolution is not (and likely never will be) used by the Bundeswehr. It basically was an export configuration that would later be superseded by Leopard Revolution. However, the skin’s specific elements are taken from existing vehicles. Let’s take a look at them one by one.[/p][p]The camouflage is, of course, the standard NATO one. It entered service around 1986 (it therefore predates unified Germany) and consists of three basic colors – green, black and brown. However, as you can see, the tank features additional white stripes across its hull and turret. These stripes (also known as the “Zebra” camouflage) were seen on several Leopard 2 tanks belonging to the 304th Tank Battalion (Panzerbataillon 304) during winter exercises at Hohenfels in the January of 1996. According to the Germans, this pattern obscures the tank silhouette fairly well at around 2500 meters.[/p][p][/p][p]The tank, however, does not belong to Panzerbataillon 304 – based on its insignia, it belongs to Panzerbataillon 33. This unit was using Leopard 2A4s (the Leopard Evolution is based on) in the early 1990s and was the first one to switch to the newer Leopard 2A5 model. Back then the unit belonged to the 1st Panzergrenadier Brigade (before its disbandment in 2007).[/p][p]The tactical number and the license plate also belong to a tank from the same unit, as does the unit emblem (a palm tree) on the left side of the turret and the knight image on its right side. This charging knight emblem was seen during the same exercise as the camouflage (Hohenfels, January 1996).[/p][p][/p][p]The only truly unhistorical element is the tank’s name – Schweppermann. The name matches the knight emblem nicely, we thought, as Seyfried Schweppermann was a legendary 13th and 14th century German knight who served Emperor Ludwig IV. He was known not only for his piety and bravery, but also for fighting well into his 60s. The barracks of Panzerbataillon 123 are named after him (we’ll have a decal belonging to the unit as well), bringing the reference to a full circle.[/p][p][/p][p]And that’s it, commanders. The skin will be available alongside the abovementioned camouflages and decals in October. We hope you’ll like it and, as always:[/p][p]See you on the battlefield![/p]


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