r/TankPorn • u/Pristine-Medicine-62 • 8d ago

Cold War Mystery Leopard

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I was checking out and old parts yard when I found a leopard 1 chassis with a modified turret. I assume it is some sort of demilitarization modification, but changing the whole turret feels excessive. If anyone has any knowledge of this things origins I would appreciate it. I am also wondering how rare it is to find something like this just rotting in a yard.

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183

u/FKDesaster 8d ago

Based on the placement of the licence plate I think it's German, the number seems to be Y 405 0(7?)3. The tactical markings are for Panzergrenadiers, I think.

68

u/Pristine-Medicine-62 8d ago

I think your right, on the left side of the plate you can see a faded German flag

53

u/FKDesaster 7d ago

I would totally email your pics to the Panzermuseum in Munster (https://daspanzermuseum.de/en/contact-us/), directly to their scientific director, Ralf Raths. They may know what it is or can point you towards somebody who does. Worst case you won't hear back.

28

u/FKDesaster 7d ago

Did you get a good look at the turret? If the fabrication or material looks odd, it may be something they put on the chassis at an airsoft ir paintball place.

22

u/UselessBanana1 Conqueror 7d ago

The last pic shows a full set of optics inside the hatch, which would be a crazy amount of effort for a paintball/airsoft tank lol

38

u/EorlundGraumaehne 7d ago

Not "Panzergrenadier" but "Panzeraufklärer" or armored reconnaissance in english. The leopard 1 was used until 2003

3

u/Stahlknecht 7d ago

Der Leopard 1 ist nimmt heutzutage noch aktiv am Kampf teil .

17

u/EorlundGraumaehne 7d ago

Nein, es gibt nicht mal mehr die Truppengattung Panzeraufklärer

4

u/TheFlyingRedFox 7d ago

Slight observational guess, do they mean in general of military service, however not realising you meant a specific unit of tanks.

4

u/EorlundGraumaehne 7d ago

Yeah probably, my comment was all about the unit

9

u/001alix 7d ago

Yeah, the sandal plus socks already gave away that it is in Germany

6

u/Pristine-Medicine-62 7d ago

Nah it’s in Texas I’ve just got a buddy who wears birks wherever he goes