A tank of your very own
If a buyer cannot be found, the tanks and their teutonic steel face an even worse fate – the scrapyard.
The Leopard tanks first arrived in Australia from Germany in 1976, ending a selection and trials process which started in 1971 when the army decided it needed a replacement for the British Centurions which entered Australian service in 1952.
Australia purchased 103 Leopard tanks, each worth about $600,000.
They are now set to be retired with the arrival of the first of 59 rebuilt US Abrams tanks next month.
The retirement of the Leopard tanks, which will be offered for sale by public tender, will occur progressively as the Abrams enter service over the next year.
"A small quantity will be retained for museums. The balance will be presented for sale, and failing that, disposed of as scrap," a defence spokesman said today.
Defence has no idea what sort of return it can expect from the sale of the Leopard tanks, saying it all depends on the market.
Under an end-use agreement, German government approval is required for all disposal action.
Defence says German government approval will also determine whether the tanks are sold as a going concern, still equipped with working weaponry, sights, night vision equipment and radios.
Unfortunately for the Australian Defence Force, the global used-tank market is awash with vehicles due to military downsizing following the Cold War.
Australia's vehicles are all early model Mark 1 Leopard tanks, albeit significantly upgraded. A number of European nations have sought to sell their much more desirable surplus Mark 2 Leopard tanks.
August 30, 2006 12:00am
Article from: 
"FOR sale. Used tanks. One careful owner. Never fired a shot in anger. Make an offer."
That's set to be the fate of the Australian army's old but still serviceable Leopard tanks.If a buyer cannot be found, the tanks and their teutonic steel face an even worse fate – the scrapyard.
The Leopard tanks first arrived in Australia from Germany in 1976, ending a selection and trials process which started in 1971 when the army decided it needed a replacement for the British Centurions which entered Australian service in 1952.
Australia purchased 103 Leopard tanks, each worth about $600,000.
They are now set to be retired with the arrival of the first of 59 rebuilt US Abrams tanks next month.
The retirement of the Leopard tanks, which will be offered for sale by public tender, will occur progressively as the Abrams enter service over the next year.
"A small quantity will be retained for museums. The balance will be presented for sale, and failing that, disposed of as scrap," a defence spokesman said today.
Defence has no idea what sort of return it can expect from the sale of the Leopard tanks, saying it all depends on the market.
Under an end-use agreement, German government approval is required for all disposal action.
Defence says German government approval will also determine whether the tanks are sold as a going concern, still equipped with working weaponry, sights, night vision equipment and radios.
Unfortunately for the Australian Defence Force, the global used-tank market is awash with vehicles due to military downsizing following the Cold War.
Australia's vehicles are all early model Mark 1 Leopard tanks, albeit significantly upgraded. A number of European nations have sought to sell their much more desirable surplus Mark 2 Leopard tanks.
posted by Space at
12:23 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home