recently i interested in the MBT,enjoy Leopard II

after WWII,the KMW's Leopard II MBT is one of the best MBTs in the world,but any people know the history of the company Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann?and which panzer did the KMW made in WWII? Thxs

The Leopard 2A6 is definitly a great tank, one of the best in the world but probably not THE best.

Something I never understood was the sloped ridge under the turret, doesn't that increase the chances of a round piercing the armor? instead of deflecting it?

Originally posted by eiven
after WWII,the KMW's Leopard II MBT is one of the best MBTs in the world,but any people know the history of the company Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann?and which panzer did the KMW made in WWII? Thxs

The company Krauss-Maffei was built in 1931, as a fusion of the bavarian Maffei (founded in 1838) and Krauss & Co. (founded in 1860), both companys were residential in Munich. Both were one of the first leading german producers of trains; Maffei produced also other vehicles with steam engine. In the 1930ies they produced tracked vehicles and tanks. In WW II, they totally changed their production to arms, especial tanks. After the war they at first produced busses and eingines. By rearmament of germany they reactivated the arms division. 1963 they were allowed to produce the Leopard for the german armed forces, in 1972 same for Leopard II, 1976 the Flaktank Gepard's production began. In the 70ies Krauss-Maffei took part on the development of the Transrapid magnetical train. 1999 there was a fusion of Krauss-Maffei with the Mannesmann DEMAG Ag to the Mannesmann Demag Krauss Maffei AG. The arms division was put in a joint venture with the arms company Wegmann from Kassel united to "Krauss-Maffei Wegmann". The Mannesmann Demag Krauss Maffei AG was sold by vodafone to Siemens, its now part of Atecs Mannesmann AG, an industrial holding of Siemens. The cooperation with Wegmann started in nazi germany, Wegmann produced as example the cannons for Krauss-Maffei tanks.




(the tanks it produced were the standard ones germany used in that time)

thanks wodan
i think Leopard II MBT is fineness,but like all MBT in west,is too heavy,i'm afraid it's not fit for the road in china or all of the asia,because in asia ,the high way isn't as develop as europe.
but i also think is a best MBT,i enjoy it