The United States did not copy the German Leopard II tank. The Leopard II was designed and developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) in Germany, and it first entered service in 1979. The M1 Abrams tank, on the other hand, was designed and developed by Chrysler Defense (now General Dynamics Land Systems) in the United States, and it first entered service in 1980.

There are some similarities between the Leopard II and the M1 Abrams, but these similarities are due to the fact that both tanks are modern main battle tanks (MBTs) that were designed around the same time. Both tanks have a 120mm smoothbore gun, both tanks have a crew of four, and both tanks are capable of speeds of up to 60 mph.

However, there are also some important differences between the Leopard II and the M1 Abrams. The Leopard II is slightly lighter than the M1 Abrams, and it has a more powerful engine. The Leopard II also has a different turret design, and it uses a different type of ammunition.

In short, the United States did not copy the German Leopard II tank. The two tanks are similar in some respects, but they are also different in important ways. The M1 Abrams is a uniquely American tank that was designed to meet the specific needs of the US military.