The Canadian Army yesterday formally opened a new energy-efficient maintenance facility for the service’s main Leopard II main battle tank.
The $6.7 million facility, located at 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown at 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, is a single storey, 1,740 square metre maintenance and storage building which features a new 52-tonne crane and two of the maintenance bays allow for full turret rotation and the third bay dedicated to standard maintenance.
“I am very pleased to officially open this new facility,” Col. Daniel MacIsaac, Commander 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, said during the opening ceremony. “It will contribute to the success of our mission by enabling the work of our professional maintainers to keep the equipment functioning at its optimum capacity, and to keep the training mission on target.’’
The Leopard II is heavily protected against direct fire enabling it to continue to be relevant on the modern battlefield. The tank has proven itself as a deterrent to attacks and has allowed Canadian soldiers to safely cross terrain impassable for wheeled vehicles. The Leopard II is a key element of the warfighting capability of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Other facts:
- The building was designed to Green Globes standards and its energy efficiency was increased through the use of equipment such as energy-efficient lighting fixtures, lamps and ballasts, lighting controls, energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, high-efficiency boilers, energy-efficient hot water service systems, and building automation systems.
- In addition to the newly constructed Leopard II Main Battle Tank Maintenance Facility, the existing building also underwent upgrades. The eight service bays in the existing building had concrete slabs upgraded so that the floor can take the point loads of the Leopard II on jack stands. Ventilation, mechanical, and electrical services were also upgraded.
- The new building consists of open and closed office space; a conference room; washrooms; three maintenance bays; a power pack storage room; a supply storage room for engines and major assemblies storage (EMAS); small parts storage; and storage space for petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL).
