Michael Jerchel was born in 1956 and is interested mainly in Western and former Soviet military equipment, reflected in his work as a freelance journalist and author. He is a recognised authority on modern German armour, having previously published New Vanguard 16: Leopard 1965-95. Uwe Schnellbacher was born in 1962 and has a lifelong interest in military matters, especially tanks. During the eighties he served as an officer with the Signal Corps of the Bundeswehr.

Mike Badrocke is one of Osprey's most highly respected and accomplished illustrators, notably in the field of precision 'cutaway' artwork, as exemplified in this volume. Over the years, he has produced quality artwork for numerous books, magazines and industry publications throughout the world, not only in the field of militaria, but also in the intricate and technically demanding sphere of aviation publishing.

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.