Introduced into the West German Army in 1965, and armed with a 105mm main gun, this tank formed the backbone of the German army for many years, and over 6000 were produced by the time it was (mostly) replaced by the Leopard 2. Sold to many of the NATO Countries as well as many countries around the world, this vehicle, by any standards, was (and still is, being in action in the Ukraine as well as other countries) an excellent tank.