In 1963 West Germany and the United States signed an agreement to develop the best tank in the world the MBT/KPz-70. Though by 1970 this project was stopped, West Germany used the components created for the MBT/KPz-70 to develop a new main battle tank the Leopard 2. Since 1979, when the first Leopard 2 rolled off the production line, the Leopard 2 has undergone various modifications, and has been exported to various European countries. Enhanced by Osprey's signature colour plates and cutaway artwork, this book examines the development of the Leopard 2 from the first batch to its evolution into the improved Leopard 2 A5, detailing its features and variants.

Michael Jerchel was born in 1956 and is interested mainly in Western and former Soviet military equipment, as is reflected in his work as a freelance journalist and author. He is a recognized authority on modern German armour, having also published New Vanguard 6: T-72 Main Battle Tank 1974-93 and New Vanguard 24: Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank 1979-1998. He lives and works in Hanover, Germany.
Peter Sarson has produced graphic cutaways for many armoured vehicle publications, and is regarded as one of the world's great illustrators of military vehicles. Peter lives and works in Dorset.