The Leopard 1 “Taurus” armoured recovery vehicle (ARV), acquired in 1979 by Canada, supports damaged or disabled tanks with a 35,000 kg winch and heavy crane. It clears obstacles, constructs berms, and can remove tank turrets.
Armed with machine guns and a grenade launcher, Taurus served in Afghanistan from 2006 to 2011 with 15 Leopard C2 tanks during Operation ATHENA — the first full Canadian tank squadron deployed since the Korean War.
Maximum speed: 62 km/h
Used by Canada: 1979 to present
Crew: 4
Armour: up to 70 mm
Weight: 40.5 tonnes (loaded)
Main armament: 7.62 mm machine gun and 76 mm multi-barrel grenade launcher
