Leopard C2 in Kandahar

Carl Schulze takes an in-detail look at the first MBTs deployed to Afghanistan.

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Canada was the first nation contributing forces to ISAF that deployed main battle tanks to Afghanistan. The deployment was based on an operational requirement for tracked vehicles and more fire power issued by field commanders. During operations in the Taliban-controlled Panjwai District it had become clear that the deployed LAV III lacked sufficient fire power, armour protection and cross country mobility to deal with the insurgents who sheltered in fortified positions and used anti-armour