The Versuchsträger Gesamtschutz VTGS: An odd-looking Leopard
The Leopard VTGS, officially known as the Versuchsträger Gesamtschutz VTGS in German, in English it means "Total Protection Test Vehicle", also known as the "Leopard Total Protection Testbed" or "Stealth Leopard" was a prototype testbed made to test new tank protection systems as a secondary goal, with its main goal being to test the reduction of IR and radar signatures on tanks.
The prototype was made by Pietzsch GmbH at the municipality of Schlangen, near the town of Paderborn in the mid-1980s. The VTGS was made upon the Leopard 1A3, presumably the 1972 - 1974 model from the fifth production batch, which had a welded turret replacing the famed cast turret.
The tank's internal changes were made mainly to allow it to don its new "costume" or look, as the tank received a modified gearbox to accomodate an improved ring cooling system instead of a simple flat cooler on the sides.
The prototype was made by Pietzsch GmbH at the municipality of Schlangen, near the town of Paderborn in the mid-1980s. The VTGS was made upon the Leopard 1A3, presumably the 1972 - 1974 model from the fifth production batch, which had a welded turret replacing the famed cast turret.
 |
| The image above shows a Leopard 1A2, presumably from the same batch, stripped down to see the cast turret. Next to it is the Leopard 1A3 from the ffith production batch with the welded turret. |
The tank's internal changes were made mainly to allow it to don its new "costume" or look, as the tank received a modified gearbox to accomodate an improved ring cooling system instead of a simple flat cooler on the sides.
 |
| View of the original Leopard 1's thermal signature; there is a exhaust vent on the sides, thus increasing its thermal signature at an angle that can view the sides. |
The new ring cooling system made the exhaust gasses significantly less visible and the heat could be evenly distributed or dispersed onto the entire rear under a shield and the lower portion of the rear, not like the sides of the previous Leopard 1 designs, which was a beneficial change as it wouldn't stand out as much when viewed by thermal sighting complexes, alongside the benefit of not being able to sufficiently resemble a tank.
Compared to the "normal" Leopard 1 models, it boasted much lower IR signatures, mainly due to the changes made.
Compared to the "normal" Leopard 1 models, it boasted much lower IR signatures, mainly due to the changes made.
 |
| A view of the lower rear of the VTGS, where the heat was supposed to be distributed. |
 |
| The main idea of the tank's cooler design was so that the heat signature could not be easily seen. |
The result of this design? A tank with a nearly non-existent thermal signature, as seen in the picture below:
Now the job was half done: only task left to complete was to reduce its radar signature. The 1980s to 1990s saw an unexpected, yet widespread concern for a tank's radar signature, as seen in examples like the CR2's design, which was to reduce its radar signature, and now this. Though it seemed impractical, several ground radar designs had already existed by then. I couldn't find any existing 1980s - 1990s ground radar examples, but the 9P157-2 Khrizantema-S (Chrysanthemum-S) possessed a radar that could function as a secondary means of spotting ground targets.
It had several deflective plates mounted across the which was coated in a special kind of radar-absorbent paint, similar to the ones found on nearly every 5th-generation fighter jet. The surfaces were designed with shape in mind, the main effort being focused on keeping it with as little corners and irregularities as possible. The front however, was designed with a larger emphasis on reflecting as many radar waves as possible.
The tank was also coated in a 3-colour Flecktarn pattern. Though introduced in 1976, many Bundeswehr tanks were yet to receive this kind of camouflage.
Now the job was half done: only task left to complete was to reduce its radar signature. The 1980s to 1990s saw an unexpected, yet widespread concern for a tank's radar signature, as seen in examples like the CR2's design, which was to reduce its radar signature, and now this. Though it seemed impractical, several ground radar designs had already existed by then. I couldn't find any existing 1980s - 1990s ground radar examples, but the 9P157-2 Khrizantema-S (Chrysanthemum-S) possessed a radar that could function as a secondary means of spotting ground targets.
It had several deflective plates mounted across the which was coated in a special kind of radar-absorbent paint, similar to the ones found on nearly every 5th-generation fighter jet. The surfaces were designed with shape in mind, the main effort being focused on keeping it with as little corners and irregularities as possible. The front however, was designed with a larger emphasis on reflecting as many radar waves as possible.
The tank was also coated in a 3-colour Flecktarn pattern. Though introduced in 1976, many Bundeswehr tanks were yet to receive this kind of camouflage.
 |
| The VTGS located at the Munster Tank Museum (Panzermuseum Munster). |
However, despite its developments, it was still what it was designed to be - a testbed. As such, once the tank was fully developed, studied, results recorded, the tank saw a fate eerily similar to many Soviet prototypes - it sat sitting in a warehouse for many years, unkept and uncared for.
...until 2019 came, and the VTGS was officially handed over to the Munster Tank Museum, where it now resides.
With only a single unit built, it is a miracle that the VTGS was able to be taken care of by a museum.
The VTGS later went on the inspire the design of the, still German GTK Boxer armoured personnel carrier and the Puma infantry fighting vehicle.
Sources: German WIkipedia, Reddit's slightly better summary (of the Wikipedia), a Facebook video by the Panzermuseum Munster
Comments
Post a Comment